In 1995, a small group of children began gathering in a community hall in Casablanca, near Gordon's Bay. There were no proper classrooms, precious few resources and an enormous need for early childhood care and education.
But there were people who believed that every child deserved a good start in life.
More than thirty years later, that modest beginning has grown into Kinders vir die Koning, an established early childhood development centre with a brand-new school building and a remarkable story of determination, generosity and partnership.
Proud Partners is privileged to have played a part in that journey.
Where the need was greatest
For many families in Casablanca and neighbouring Sercor Park, everyday life presents considerable challenges. Unemployment, poverty and social difficulties often place enormous pressure on parents and children alike.
Some young children have had limited opportunities for early learning and development, while older siblings have sometimes had to miss school to care for them.
Without the right opportunities, children can enter formal schooling without the skills and confidence they need, starting on the back foot and potentially falling behind from the start.
It was a need that could not be ignored.
Two mornings a week. A world of possibilities.
In 1995, Lynette van Dellen, a retired lecturer and member of the Dutch Reformed Church in Gordon's Bay, began a small children's programme in Casablanca.
With the support of a dedicated group of women, she established a preschool playgroup in the local community hall. Twice a week, children gathered for developmental activities, play and a nutritious snack.
There were few resources, but no shortage of commitment. Lynette devoted countless unpaid hours to helping the children prepare for school and giving them opportunities they might otherwise have missed.
As the initiative grew, so did the need for proper facilities and more structured teaching.
In 2007, Kinders vir die Koning became a registered non-profit organisation, with Elsa Verwey and social worker Wilma Piek among those who helped establish it.
Making room for everyone
In 2012, a donated container became the unlikely home of a Grade R classroom.
Cornelia Truter, a retired pre-primary school principal, joined Lynette in preparing the children for formal schooling. Their focus extended beyond the alphabet and numbers to the social, emotional, physical and perceptual skills children need when entering a classroom.
But there was another problem.
While the six-year-olds were receiving lessons in the container, the younger children who accompanied them had nowhere to go.
Proud Partners recognised an opportunity to help.
The organisation established a preschool playgroup called Proud Pellies, appointed three women from the community as educators and undertook to pay their monthly salaries.
Before long, more than 80 children between the ages of three and six were attending developmental activities in the community hall four mornings a week.
For the children, it meant a safer, more stimulating start. For the three women, it also meant employment and an opportunity to contribute directly to their community.
From containers to classrooms
The little Grade R classroom continued to flourish, even when conditions were far from comfortable.
In winter, the container could be bitterly cold, with rain turning the surrounding ground to mud. In summer, temperatures inside became so unbearable that lessons sometimes had to take place outdoors.
Something had to change.
In 2014, Proud Partners contributed R17,000 towards improving the facilities. Together with support from other donors, sufficient funds were raised to provide two new Nutec classrooms.
Two years later, in 2016, a further four classrooms were acquired with the assistance of sponsors.
What had once seemed an impossible dream was gradually taking shape.
A little diplomacy. A lot of goodwill.
Partnership can take many forms, sometimes from unexpected quarters.
In 2019, Proud Partners introduced the school to the Russian Consulate General, facilitating a meeting with Consul General Roman Ambarov and his team.
The Consulate subsequently donated a laptop and video projector to support the school's educational activities.
At the handover ceremony, the children entertained their visitors with songs before enjoying a screening of the Russian animated series Masha and the Bear.
It was a memorable occasion and another example of how a simple introduction can lead to something worthwhile.
At last, a place to call their own
For decades, the dream had been to give Kinders vir die Koning a permanent home.
A site had been donated in 2009, but bringing the building project to completion proved a long and difficult undertaking. Funding constraints, construction challenges and unexpected setbacks repeatedly delayed progress.
Then, in 2026, the dream finally became reality.
A contribution of R6.15 million from the Tirisano Construction Trust, facilitated through the ASLA Foundation, provided the crucial funding for the new school building.
On 7 September 2026, the children moved into their new home in Sercor Park.
Exactly one month later, on 7 October, the school celebrated its official opening, bringing together the people and organisations who had contributed to its remarkable journey.
Isabel Verwey attended on behalf of the Verwey family and Proud Partners, lighting a candle in remembrance of those whose dedication had helped make the day possible.
From a community hall and a converted container to a permanent school building, it was a milestone worth celebrating.
And a new beginning.
A partnership that continues
Over the years, Proud Partners' involvement with Kinders vir die Koning has extended from establishing Proud Pellies and supporting additional classrooms to helping secure educational equipment and contributing towards educators' salaries.
The organisation has also supported the school's website and its ongoing maintenance.
It is a relationship that has endured because of a shared belief in the importance of early childhood development and the power of people working together.
Today, Kinders vir die Koning continues to serve the children and families of Casablanca and Sercor Park.
The buildings may have changed beyond recognition, but the idea that started it all remains wonderfully simple.
Give children a good beginning, and you give them a better chance at everything that follows.
Visit the Kinders vir die Koning Website →