Mrs. Juliana Le Roux recognised the pressing need for early childhood education in Saamstaan and devoted her heart and teaching skills to address it. She founded Carneys Daycare with 40 toddlers, and its popularity quickly grew, accommodating 60 children in her modest facility. Her dedication won the hearts of both the toddlers and their parents in the community.
In 2005, Maretha Stodard stepped in with her own open heart, persuading the local Malmesbury Rotary Club to support the construction of a new building. Funding was secured from an international Rotary Club, and the new facility was completed in 2007/2008.
Carneys became part of Badisa in 2009 when the new centre opened its doors. Today, it serves 99 children between the ages of 18 months and five years. The centre is committed to inclusiveness, issuing newsletters in both Afrikaans and Xhosa to ensure effective communication with parents.
A key aspect of Carneys Daycare is its comprehensive health and wellbeing support for young children. The centre collaborates with health professionals, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and a clinic sister who regularly visits to monitor the children’s health and development. This proactive approach ensures the children receive the best care, reducing the need for parents to visit external clinics. This service is especially vital as 95% of the parents/guardians are either unemployed or dependent on SASSA assistance, leaving them with limited capacity.
Given these challenges, the staff at Carneys Daycare ensure that no child leaves the facility hungry, providing two nutritious meals a day.
