The year has almost come to an end and looking back one wonders as usual where has all the time gone. I will not attempt to re-count it all but we will take a look at what Mateya has contributed to Mfoloe Crèche through Susan’s generosity and the efforts of the Mateya staff.
Special mention has to go to Colleen who has put in a lot of work helping the school this year between her busy schedules doing the marketing for Mateya. She has put in a lot of her own time and the Kotze family have all contributed personally to the school with educational toys, puzzles, and a bike and with many other things, the list goes on.
This last quarter has seen a few changes take place with regards to the management of the trust. With Colleen moving to Hoedspruit, the responsibility now falls on Lisa and me. Hopefully we can, with the Mateya staff, have as a successful year next year.
In October Mateya donated the jungle gym from Tweedepoort house to the school. Sam, Lyle and I, along with a few little helpers from Molatedi village managed to dismantle the jungle gym at Tweedepoort and transport it to the school, where we re-built it under the scorching African sun, with only a few extra holes being dug, due to some poor draftsmanship on my part. In the end it was all worth the effort to see the excitement on all the children’s faces.
With summers arrival and the temperatures settling in the mid thirties, we got the request from the school to help them build an outdoor shaded class room. So in November we set to it, this time with some experience under our belts and with the added help of Andrew and Sidwelle we managed to complete the project in a few days.
During this time Lisa had been struggling to come to grips with our new photo copier and had made new colouring books for all the children at the school. Heidi had also been fighting with our infamous copier to produce report cards for the end of term which was fast approaching.
With December’s arrival and Christmas around the corner, all of us here at Mateya got busy preparing for a Christmas party for the school. Thanks has to go to the kitchen staff in particular Innocent
for making biscuits and Labius for the bread rolls, as well as the housekeeping ladies Anna, Stella and Grace who helped Mike and Heidi with setting up the party at Molatedi Dam.
Andrew, Sidwelle, Sam and I picked up all the children and teachers from the school in our game drive vehicles and set off to the dam with some great singing from the children. A lot of fun was had by all, and a lot of sweets where eaten and we where lucky to have a visit from Father Christmas in the shape of Sam, who handed out presents to all the children. Thanks have to go to Mavis and Bridget Job who donated the presents.
All in all through a lot of effort and contribution from everyone at Mateya 2003 has been a fun and successful year and we are all looking forward to making 2004 even more eventful and looking to new projects which the Mateya Trust can contribute to.
Michael Job (Ranger)