MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Bubbly Hartenbos resident Yolandé Kotzé goes to preschools in the Mossel Bay area, doing a song and dance programme, with music.
"The stories I tell are based on the Bible, but there is an educational lesson attached.
"Before and after the presentation, I ask the children questions and I also ask if they have questions for me.
Assist
"Sometimes I get involved with the preschools and assist them with documentation, sponsor letters and arrange an outing for the children to the Hartenbos swimming pool.
"Some of them have never seen a pool or the sea. I go out with them for the day and look after the children."
Yolandé started this ministry in 2018. When Covid-19 struck, she went back to work, but in 2022 she started her ministry again.
She arrived in Mossel Bay in 2003.
Telling stories
Yolandé says: "When I was small I would love making up and telling stories and my sister would hang on my every word."
Yolandé does not have a background in preschool teaching. "I was a manager of a depot for an orthopaedic company for 12 years in Mossel Bay. I wanted to do something for the Lord and sow into children's lives.
"I was given a hand puppet called Daisy.
"I put Daisy on my hand and said: 'Lord, I am going to start with one school and see how it goes."'
Despite having no experience working with children and having never been married or having had her own children, Yolandé started living out her dream.
Yolandé's project is called Bloom a Child. Her aim is to form an NPO.
Vision
"My vision is to go into Africa. I will train someone or help them if they have a passion to read to children. They don't have to do what I do."
In Mossel Bay she visits Sevende Laan creche, U-turn preschool, Civic Park creche, Juweeltjies and the St Blaize Primary School Grade RRs and Rs.
Altogether she reaches about 750 children in town, the rural areas, townships, on farms and the small towns near Mossel Bay.
To put together her show, Yolandé's gets ideas from the internet. "I am not a professional at all. I am doing what comes from my heart."
Partnering
She asks if people would consider partnering with her and investing in the future of 10 or more children at R20 per child, per month, on an ongoing basis.
"Due to the growth of the ministry I am no longer in a position to fund it on my own."
She would like to expand, first regionally, then nationally and then into Africa, with a structured organisation that can harness other like-minded people to get involved.
"I’m an accredited field worker for the Industrial Ministry of South Africa and a member of the Full Gospel Church in Hartenbos," Yolandé says.
Call her on 079 957 5226 if you can assist.
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