Anne’s Toddler and Welfare Centre is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Staff, pupils and parents are excited to commemorate the legacy of the woman who started it all, the late Anne Williams.
On Saturday June 2, a 40th anniversary celebration will be held at Muizenberg civic centre with The Rockets.
Ms Williams started the long-standing institution in 1978 with five children at a church hall in Lotus River.
With a dream to render a service to the community and to give pre-schoolers a safe and strong foundation, she later secured the property the centre still runs from in Buck Road.
Ms Williams died in 1998 but staff have been trying to keep her dream to help the community alive.
PrincipalHenry Stout said although the centre struggles financially because of lack of funding, the ethos of
Ms Williams is still evident.
“We started out as a welfare centre and had sewing, woodwork and other activities for the community but because of funds we were not able to continue these,” he said.
Today the centre has 86 pupils and occasionally feed seniors at nearby old age homes when the funds are available.
The centre is heavily dependent on donations, fundraisers, and sponsorship as subsidies from government has decreased significantly over the years and enrolments have also declined – their capacity is 275.
The centre also assists people who are not able to afford the full fee.
“We do not send anyone away. We try to assist but have to ask parents for a fee,” he said.
One of the parents and vice-chairperson, John Mouers, said with the help and support of the community the centre can continue its work for 40 more
years.
“Ms Williams sacrificed a lot to get the centre up and running. Our motivation is
to continue to provide a solid foundation for the children and we hope the community can assist us,” he said.
The building in Buck Road has had its
fair share of wear and tear. Sections of the roof leaks, it needs a new coat of paint and a solid fence for children to play in the courtyard safely.
To support or donate to the centre, contact Mr Stout on 061 117 1084 or support them at their fund-raiser this
Saturday, from 7pm until 1am. Tickets cost R180 .
The dress code is 1970s.
