18m² biomass classroom, 1 concretex (biomass) toilet
Date Launched
16 November 2022
Location
Mfuleni,
Western Cape
No of children
40 children
Year started
2008
Impact achieved
• This project will improve the learning facilities for the 40 children enrolled at Bavumeleni Educare Centre Mfuleni, Cape Town, Western Cape.
• Prior to the placement of the new infrastructure Principal Sizeka didn’t have enough space to accommodate her Grade R class. The launch of the new classroom will enable the centre to accommodate more children, with space for age-appropriate learning in a secure and safe learning environment. To the children’s delight, they all received party packets.
• Principal Sizeka was overcome with emotion and thanked The MacFarlane Family Foundation for their new facilities, stating that the centre has struggled with insufficient and unsafe classrooms for a long time. These will certainly help ease the burden.
• Breadline Africa board member Sir Robert Dunbar and The MacFarlane Family Foundation representative Lynne Jooste, both congratulated the school, its principal and teachers for the amazing work they are doing in the community of Mfuleni. Sir Robert also thanked Lynne and The MacFarlane Family Foundation for enabling and funding this project.
• Breadline Africa provided an alternative building material for this pre-school. Biomass, Recycled Insulated Concrete Structures (BRIC): Biomass (woody material) from alien and fungal-infected vegetation is chipped, treated, and used as the main raw material in these units.
• In the long term, the impact of this infrastructure is hugely significant. To qualify for registration as a pre-school facility and to receive government funding, the centre is required to comply with infrastructure safety standards and regulatory norms set down by government agencies. Infrastructure is always the largest stumbling block, due to costs. The classroom and toilet funded by The MacFarlane Family Foundation will help them on the road to registration and long-term sustainability.
