NEWSLETTER | June 2025

Our team at the Learning Tree After-School Centre completed two Wordworks early literacy courses this month - Every Word Counts and Little Stars - and now, they are bringing the Little Stars stories to life for the children through engaging storytelling and activities which support not only literacy development but also creativity.

The children who participate in our music groups have also had a fun month.

The penny whistle and recorder-playing children were excited to have a visit from their mentor, Jack Lerole Junior from Soweto in Johannesburg, who led them in an inspiring workshop.

Under the guidance of Manuel Jardine, these children also continue to practice playing the recorder. They are busy preparing for their performance with the Winelands Philharmonic Orchestra at “Stanford in Bloom” this September.

We cannot wait for this very special experience for the children.

More about Stanford in Bloom

Our Riding High Programme, in partnership with the African Horse Company, is still going strong, bringing joy and building confidence through regular horse outings and horse interaction sessions for small groups of children from our after-school centre, The Learning Tree.

Our after-school art sessions at Masakhane Hub have been filled with colourful mandala drawings, storytelling, beading, and printing hands. These creative activities were facilitated by our own Community Art Facilitator, Nombulelo.

Thank you to the Grootbos Foundation for the use of your HUB.

We’re also proud to share that Nolundi Nonono has graduated from the Bridges for Music Academy in Langa, Cape Town.

She is returning to her home in Zwelihle in Hermanus to join a group of young artists leading a youth choir initiative we are running in partnership with WOMAD South Africa.

Watch this space as this exciting new project grows.

With much gratitude, Creative Skills Factory NPC thanks the Community Chest of the Western Cape, the Western Cape Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the Rolf-Stefan Nussbaum Foundation, Mr. Mike Gibbs and family, and WOMAD South Africa for their generous support and partnership in making our after-school programmes possible.

If you would like to support us in building skills and enhancing lives, you can make a donation via our Payfast account by clicking on the "Click Here" button below, or directly into our bank account:

Nedbank Limited
Account name: Creative Skills Factory NPC
Type: Current account
Account number: 115 897 0595
Branch code: 198765

A reminder: We are a Public Benefit Organisation and can provide our donors with Section 18A tax receipts for tax deductions.

The Learning Tree WISH LIST (second-hand or new):

• A large trolley dustbin (large dustbin with wheels)

• Pipe for the water tank - for the overflow and for the tap, so we can water our garden

• A hose pipe to help us wash our upstairs windows