Khwai Pre School
Khwai village has a population of approximately 400 BaBukakhwe (River Bushmen), the majority of which are from low-income households. The service delivery in this community is limited and faces challenges accessing education, health facilities and water and electricity connections. The community of Khwai was without a pre-school school in the area. Primary school learners would attend boarding schools out of the village in Maun and surrounding communities.
The Khwai pre-school has been a much-needed addition to the Khwai Community Area as the village did not previously have a pre-school for young children.
Through our partnership with the Khwai Private Reserve and Naletsana Foundation, we established this pre-school to provide early childhood development and education closer to home, without having to travel hours to nearby villages. The early development of these learners actively supports their growth and understanding, preparing them for the transition to primary school.
About our Project
The Khwai Preschool currently has approximately 37 learners between the ages of 1 and 5. Over the years we have made much-needed improvements to the school infrastructure to create a safe, warm, bright, and vibrant learning environment that is well-equipped and suitable for young children.
Our long-term goal for the school and the impact we want to have:
In 2022, our focus at the school was to enhance the infrastructure by building additional ablution blocks, installing a kitchen and dining area, fixing the flooring, and furnishing the school. These upgrades greatly contribute to creating a conducive learning environment. Our feeding program commenced at the school this year, providing daily meals for the learners, ensuring that they are well-fed and can stay in school for the full day. This has positively impacted their academic performance and ability to concentrate, as we have seen an increase in school attendance from 37 to 56 learners and a 90% progression rate to primary school.
Our next focus is to continue with the feeding scheme as well as infrastructure improvements at the school. The improvements will include replacing the flooring in the other classroom, repainting the walls, general maintenance, and new toys for the library. We also plan to maximize the school premises which will include extending the fence and rebuilding the jungle gym in a separate location which will create more space.
Total spending for 2022: $21,200
Total projected costs for 2023: $25,000
