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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Ten years ago KwaNonqaba resident Paulina Tshazibana came into contact with a schoolgirl in her community who was pregnant.
Urging the girl not to have an abortion, Paulina said to her: "I will look after the baby during the day while you attend school."
Others came to know about Paulina's kindness and brought their children to her to care for and soon Paulina found herself running a crèche from home.
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Now she looks after 20 to 30 children each day and the crèche is called Bathandeni ("love them") Baby Centre.
With donations and assistance Paulina had a small daycare room - which is a Wendy house - and a brick structure erected in her backyard and building has started on another room, but she requires donations and assistance again for the project to be completed.
Paulina's clients can scarcely afford to pay her for her service.
Some of them pay her as little as R100 a month for her to look after their child, so essentially her crèche is a charity, with her providing for the children's needs.
Life Bayview Private Hospital has assisted Paulina with donations and she is helped by Hartenbos Heuwels resident Stephanie Nothnagel.
There are also other private individuals who have helped.
Stephanie explains: "My daughter was in a book club and she and the club members donated items for the creche.
"Then my daughter moved away and I took over. Often I collect second-hand clothes for Paulina to sell to help fund the crèche."
One of the small children being fed.
Paulina says: "When I do house visits, I see what a tough time people are having. They don't have money. I really want to continue with the crèche but without help I might have to close down.
"At least these children are safe with me during the day. I am expecting a new baby here, only a month old. The mother is in Grade 11.
"I don't want money," she says. "I would prefer donations or assistance."
A water cooler was kindly donated to Paulina, but unfortunately she cannot afford to buy plastic water bottles for it.
In order to register officially as a crèche, the terrain of her plot needs to be levelled and Paulina needs proper fencing and gates.
She would also be grateful for baby milk formula, instant mielie meal porridge and ingredients to make soup for the children.
"I don't know what I would have done without Stephanie's help," Paulina says.
"She has bought me electricity vouchers when I have run out." Stephanie points out:
"Paulina also requires cellphone vouchers because she needs to communicate with the babies' moms."
If you are able to help, call Stephanie (073 020 0302) or Paulina (071 108 1126).
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