What inspired you to work for Tshega?
There are so many little things that turn into big things. The team that I work with is one of my biggest inspirations. I love the opportunity to transform lives on a daily basis. I also love letting the people around me transform my life.
People come to Tshega, Lambs Haven Kindergarten, to reach out to other people but walk away being a better person. There are so many milestones for a child in Kindergarten and I get to be part of it year after year.
Describe a typical day at work.
By far my favorite part of my day is spent with the little children. I see their little happy faces as they come to school. Other than that I am handling any upcoming challenges, running the kindergarten, and managing the school.
I also work on the relationship between the school and the parents. I support my staff when needed and find new ways to improve the school the best I can.
Why do you do what you do?
I like to think that I have a calling to work with the little children and help them grow into successful children in the future so they can help others become successful people. Working with the next generation gives us the power to change the world. With just the right amount of love and discipline the world could be a better place. An act of kindness is never wasted.
Happy children make learning easy
What is your favorite part of your job?
With the children, it is impossible to have a bad day when you are with the children that love learning new things. There is always a new comment from the children that makes your heart melt. We learn so much from these little children.
It is wonderful to see the bond between my team members, how we celebrate the good times and support each other in the bad times. Overall, working in a place that you enjoy is always a blessing.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I have had space to grow as a person, and for this, I feel that I can help the people that cross my path on a daily basis. Now that I have the studies I need I can lead my team knowing that I am doing the best for the Kindergarten.
I have also had the opportunity to mentor a staff member that wanted to study ECD. Hopefully in the future there will be many more preschools that people can help at.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
We are an African school so there is a language barrier with the children, but lucky for me the children learn quickly and they pick up the English. Before they pick it up, I show them what I would like them to do.
Once the child got what you were trying to explain their faces light up, most of the time you bond with that child as well, because you have made a difference in his or her life. That is what we are all about.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Lamb's Haven Kindergarten is always growing and trying to find ways of improving the project. At the moment, we are really trying to grow in numbers, we are hoping for 100 children in 2023.
The teachers and I are trying to light little flames in the children that will last a lifetime. We do this by teaching how important it is to look after the world around us.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Sadly, I have not traveled myself but luckily I have many people coming in and out of my life that love to travel. When I talk to them they always say, " There is a whole world out there waiting for you to fall in love with. So if you feel the travel bug crawling in... Listen as there are amazing people to meet, great food to taste, and memories to be made".
The little things matter.
What makes Tshega special?
What makes Lamb's Haven one of a kind is that everything is done with love. The children come first. The children are so willing to share their love with anyone that joins them in their world. There is a feeling here, at Lamb's Haven Kindergarten, that can't be explained in words. You need to be here to fall in love with the place.
Why should someone choose Tshega over competitors?
There is so much going on here at TCM and Lamb's Haven Kindergarten. There are so many ways to make a difference in someone's life. It could be as easy as making a point of greeting the same child to show that he or she cares, to lending a helping hand to the child that needs it, all the way up to sponsoring a child in need. No matter your background, we can find a way for you to leave a footprint in someone's life.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
Lamb's Haven Kindergarten would like to see our little children grow up and become great, successful humans, so they can spread their love to their children. We want to teach the children that they can be anything they want to be. We would also love for Lamb's Haven Kindergarten to grow to the best we can be.
Are there any developments with Tshega that you would like to share with us?
We started as a class of 15 children a few years ago. Now we are at the point where we have our own space with four classrooms. We have spent many hours planning the future, and working really hard on making the kindergarten the best it can be. We plan to bring in STEM for the little ones as well as a mini sport field just for the small children.
What is Tshega’s mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to be a loving extension of home for each child, in a well-balanced innovative learning environment to create a holistic conducive learning environment guided by integrity and excellence, through providing a welcoming, loving, happy, safe, and supportive dynamic learning experience. Where each child is acknowledged and celebrated while learning to love to learn.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
Here at TCM - Lamb's Haven Kindergarten, we hope that the participants visiting with us will find themselves or find a purpose in their life. To make the people around us grow. To find a more positive outlook on life, to remember the small things in life make up the big things in life. There is so much to learn from these amazing people at Tshega.
There is always an opportunity to learn
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I am very lucky that I am where I love to be, with the children. I am in the place where I get to meet all walks of life through the children. There have been so many children that have walked into my life and changed me and have pushed me to be a better person for the children that will be stepping into my life on this journey.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
The children's backgrounds and home life. This is very hard sometimes as the stories are not always the happiest to tell. I have found that we should be honest with the people, because the truth might hurt but at least you understand the child better, and you can find a way to help the child. No matter how big or how small. There is always a way to show kindness.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
It is very easy to get stuck in your own little bubble and not worry about other cultures around the world. But, if you sit back and you look around the world at all the different cultures, they have so much to offer. There are so many cultures right here on our doorstep, it would really be a shame not to take all of it in.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Learning a new language works hand in hand with all the amazing cultures we have around us. When you take the time to learn a new language you really fall in love with the cultures. Greeting a person in their own language shows lots of respect to the person and you will find a bond with that person.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
When I see all our wonderful volunteers that come to Tshega, I see that meaningful travel is important for your soul. You become a part of a new family that you learn to love and care for in your time in your travels. There is always a reason why things happen, so by traveling you always leave the place with more than you came with.
How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
Here in South Africa all protocols have been lifted by the government, but we are always on our toes about what is happening with the Covid and any other threats that might come upon us.
