Evita’s Darlings

Grade R Education Centre

Fabriek Street, in rural Darling – since 2010

In order to address the lack of pre-school infrastructure and facilities The Darling Trust embarked on a project in 2008 for the construction of an Early Childhood Development Centre and local swimming pool. The centre is located at the entrance to New Town and the ASLA residential area in Darling North, next to the Darling Clinic. The land was made available by the Swartland Municipality who manage and maintain the swimming pool.

In addition to Pieter-Dirk Uys as the patron of The Darling Trust, the trust was proud to have had Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner, as well as Ms Sabine Plattner, philanthropist and co-founder of the Fancourt Foundation, as patrons for this project. Archbishop Tutu said the following about this remarkable project:

“…these facilities will be life changing to the young people in this town and their parents. The investment in their community will send the message that they matter, that they can be proud of where they come from and that the youth do have a future. I know from my own childhood what a difference it can make when someone takes an interest and cares.”

The centre consists of two classrooms and is also utilised for after school free music classes for the DMA – Darling Music for All.

On the 8^th of March 2010 these doors opened with ten children and currently 65 registered learners make up Evita’s Darlings ages between 5 and 7. The two Grade R classes comply with all Government requirements and are registered with the Western Cape Department of Education.

The focus at Evita’s Darlings is to provide an integrated and holistic learning and education program to ensure that learners are school ready and well-prepared when they enter Grade 1. Therefore DELP was initiated within Evita’s Darlings.