Hebron Mall, which will open officially on 27 October, has invested in the local community by building a new nursery school for Mama Rose, who has been teaching preschoolers in the Hebron area for 20 years. The facility was opened officially at an event on Thursday 20 October, attended by representatives from various stakeholders and partners.
Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mama Rose expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the project to fruition. “I would like to thank God and all who made this possible. I am very much humbled and grateful,” she said. The new nursery school will extend Mama Rose’s legacy well into the future and allow her to equip the next generation with the skills and confidence necessary for success in life.
The R2.1 million corporate social investment project developed by Hebron Mall has been supported by various partners. Leading clay brick and paving manufacturer Corobrik, the brick supplier for the shopping complex, donated 36 000 Country Classic Travertine clay face bricks worth R160 000 to the Mama Rose Nursery School upgrade.
Hebron Mall is a joint venture between Twin City and Moolman Group. Twin City, established in 1984 by Chairman Arnold Pistorius, focuses on developing, letting and managing high-quality shopping complexes throughout South Africa. All projects are carried out in line with the company’s vision statement of creating long-term value for all stakeholders.
Moolman Group is also a family business. Established in 1967, it has evolved into a respected property investment enterprise that owns and manages property across South Africa and abroad. In partnership with the local community, Mama Rose was identified through Twin City Foundation after various preschools in the area were visited.
Hebron Mall has no commercial stake either in the ownership or in management of the school. It is completely community owned and operated by Mama Rose. “We do not run the nursery school or own the facility; our investment is in people who, in turn, add extensive value to the entire community,” explains Twin City Foundation Head Dr. Eunice van Wyk. “The most important reason for this choice was the passion and dedication that Mama Rose has shown to the children in her care despite her very limited resources over the years.”
Twin City Foundation’s passion for early childhood development (ECD) was ignited by Dr. van Wyk. This is the stimulation of children in their formative preschool years. Research has revealed that the development of the brain between zero to three years, and then to a lesser extent from three to six years, is a critical formative window to develop brain capacity.
“It is the only time new neurons can be formed. Thereafter as we age, we lose neurons daily. By providing adequate stimulation, a child’s potential increases exponentially. We also understand that in poor communities the importance of this knowledge is not always available to young mothers or grandmothers,” points out Dr. van Wyk.
The investment into Mama Rose has not only involved a total rebuild of the school, but the teacher employed by Twin City Foundation has visited the nursery school over the past six months to put the framework in place for the planned ECD programme. During this time, and with the assistance of the professional team developing Hebron Mall, a large-scale facility upgrade was carried out. “We are actually building an entirely new nursery school, as previously it was housed in informal settlements, with no electricity or plumbing,” says Dr. van Wyk.
Corobrik Business Development Manager Johannetjie van der Linde says the company was more than happy to assist Twin City Foundation, as this project is in line with its own corporate social responsibility initiative of empowering local communities. In addition to donating the face bricks to secure Mama Rose’s legacy for future generations, Corobrik is also providing sets of its mini bricks for all the children.
“We trust that our donation will certainly enhance the Mama Rose Nursery School for ECD in Hebron. Corobrik is proud to be associated with Hebron Mall in working towards uplifting disadvantaged communities and being an active roleplayer in building a better future for South Africans,” says Marketing Support Manager Thilo Sidambaram.
Pull quote: “We are actually building an entirely new nursery school, as previously it was housed in informal settlements, with no electricity or plumbing.” – Dr. Eunice van Wyk, Head, Twin City Foundation
Leading clay brick and paving manufacturer Corobrik has donated 36 000 Country Classic Travertine clay face bricks worth R160 000 to the R2.1 million Mama Rose Nursery School upgrade project driven by Hebron Mall and its partners.
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