Avo Vision Turned Khulu’s Day Care Centre into a Thriving ECD in Itsoseng
What began as a mother’s attempt to better understand how to raise her own children has grown into a day care centre that now supports families across Thabo-Mbeki informal settlement, Itsoseng.
Kholeka Mehlomakhulu did not start out planning to open a centre. She is a mother of four, and at the time, she enrolled in an early childhood development (ECD) training programme for personal reasons.
“I took the training for my own knowledge as a mother. I wanted to invest in myself so I could raise my children well and understand how to guide them properly,” she said.
During the training, she realised something she had not expected. The course was designed for people who were already running ECD centres. At one point, a facilitator asked to visit her site, assuming she was already operating one.
“I realised I needed something practical to show, so I decided to take in a few children for free just so I could complete the training,” she explained.
She started with four children.
Starting With What She Had
In 2020, those four children were cared for in a shack (A makeshift building, often made from zinc or wood, usually used as informal housing) Kholeka cooked for them herself and created a routine using the knowledge she was gaining from the training.
Parents in the community began to notice. Over time, more people asked if she could take in their children.
“I am a strict and protective mother. I believe in raising children who fear God, who understand respect and discipline, especially in the kind of environment we live in,” she said.
What started as a way to complete a course slowly became something more structured.
Along the way, she took in a young boy who had come through the centre and later adopted him.
When Avo Vision and SEF support Came in
By 2024, Khulu’s Day Care Centre had grown, but like many small ECDs, most of the money went straight back into daily needs.
“Before, everything I made went back into the centre, buying food, learning materials and things the children needed. I couldn’t even pay myself,” she said.
That same year, Avo Vision’s Enterprise Development (ED) partnered with the Social Employment Fund (SEF) during Phase 3 of the programme. The Social Employment Fund is a government-supported initiative that creates jobs while supporting community organisations doing social work, including ECD centres.
Through this partnership, Kholeka began receiving support that changed how the centre operated.
“But when Avo Vision and SEF came in, I was able to earn something and also save. That made a big difference,” she explained.
She began putting money aside.
“I used the money I saved to build proper classrooms with bricks and also buy a JoJo tank so that even when there is no water, the children are still taken care of,” she said.
The shack was gradually replaced with brick classrooms.
Growing Into Something Stable
As the centre grew, so did the number of people working there. Today, Khulu’s Day Care Centre employs seven people, including teachers, a cook, and staff responsible for maintenance, security, cleaning, and child care.
The number of children also grew steadily, from the initial four to now 96 children enrolled at the centre.
Kholeka remained closely involved in the day-to-day running of the centre.
“You cannot be a principal who is always in the office while teachers are doing everything. You must be there with the children, know them by their names, and understand them,” she said.
She also made sure that her team understood how the centre should be run.
“Training is very important. Teachers must understand the policies, how to care for children, and how to protect them. Children must feel safe at all times,” she explained.
What The Children Leave With
Over time, the centre became known in the community for its approach to learning.
Kholeka made a decision early on to teach children in English.
“I make sure that children are taught in English so that when they go to primary school, they are confident and ready,” she said.
She explained that children often adjust quickly when they leave the centre.
“When they leave here, you can see the difference. They are ahead, and parents are encouraged to continue investing in their education,” she said.
For her, the centre is also about safety.
“When children are here, they are safe. They are not exposed to abuse, they are not roaming the streets, they are in a place where they are cared for,” she explained.
Using What is Available
Even as the centre expanded, Kholeka continued to use what she had. She often creates learning materials and toys using recycled items.
“I believe in using what you have. Even small things can be turned into something meaningful for children to learn and play with,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Kholeka also wants others to have access to the kind of support she received.
“If it wasn’t for Avo Vision, I would still be in a shack and not growing,” she said.
“I just hope more people can get the same opportunity, because it really changes lives,” she added.
She now wants to grow Khulu’s Day Care Centre into something bigger, an academy that can take in more children from Itsoseng.
