Tshepo Foundation Day-Care Centre gets a new face

The Tshepo Foundation, 'n daycare centre in the heart of Mangaung, is one of the organisations where third-year medical students were involved in as part of their service learning module – MEX354: Community Health. This centre cares for 170 pre-school children.

The Tshepo Foundation was established in 2001 in a tent and has now developed into a training centre registered at the Department of Social Development to help prepare children for school. This day-care centre supplies the children with care, meals and pre-school learning.

A group medical students in their third year was allocated to the Tshepo Foundation this year and they immediately started working on improving the site. They immediately bonded with the children that came to this school on a daily basis.

The started with a cleaning action and removed the garbage in the backyard. The also painted the building and put up a new recycling system.

The group also organised with the South African Police Service to do a demonstration with their dogs during a security day that was held at the centre. They also checked the children's teeth and tested their ears. They also arranged with dieticians and education students to supply services at the centre.

Their next goal is to get a sponsor for a rainwater tank, trees and equipment for the playground at the centre.