A Calvin-Thomas Project

Mama Theo’s Safe Place’ the name of a crèche that aims to care for up to 20 children a day in the township of Imizamo Yethu (also known as Mandela Park) in Hout Bay, Cape Town. The crèche aims to provide childcare, healthy meals and a safe area for children to learn, play and interact with each other. The crèche is managed by Theo Yeki (resident of Imizamo Yethu).

THEO YEKI

History: Theo originates from Adelaide in Ciskei which is in one of the poorest and most rural regions in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Theo grew up in a large family where she was one of seven children. Theo grew up and had five children of her own and had to work full time while bringing up all five children as a single mother. When times became too tough, Theo travelled to Cape Town in the hope of finding better paid work to support her children. Over a period of thirty years, Theo would work for a total of ten families as a domestic worker. Theo finally became the proud owner of her own home, at the age of fifty one, for the first time in her life. Theo is a strong Christian woman with a fighting spirit, a huge compassion for helping others and a generous and kind heart. Theo has always helped in her community by feeding those who have nothing, by supporting the elderly and by taking in orphans and needy children.

Theo’s Vision: Theo’s vision started in 2000 when she saw a need in her community - children needed to be kept off the streets. This issue has always been close to her heart and Theo wanted to help single mothers, in particular, who worked part time, and who were unable to afford expensive crèche costs. With the help of some others, she started to take in children aged one month to four years old and she did this whilst living in a shack and working five days a week. Unfortunately, her shack burnt down and that marked the end of her little crèche. Since the tragedy however, Theo has continued to dream of starting up another crèche and continues to find children on her doorstep. These children find refuge at Theo’s house and when she finds them outside, Theo takes them in for a few days and looks after them until their mothers are ready to take them back. Theo’s dream is to provide a safe haven for twenty children, where they can be loved and can enjoy playing and learning with other children so that they can one day go to school.

Theo has opened her home and at the moment has an assistant and seven young children in her care. Theo takes in up to 20 children, aged between 1 month and 4 years old.The crèche is available to children living in Imizamo Yethu, especially focussed towards those whose parents work only part time, are currently unemployed and are unable to afford other crèches in the area. Theo will also accommodate any destitute or orphaned children who are taken in and by local churches. Parents pay a very reasonable amount for having their children at Mama Theo’s Safe Place.Knowing of Theo’s vision and knowing her well, Calvin-Thomas SA would like to support Theo in this project in any way that we can.

Above are a few photographs taken at Christmas time with children at Mama Theo’s.

Please contact us if you are able to help with any donations. Theo is always in need of nappies, toys and children's clothes. If you have any educatonal materials, or would like to help with the refurbishment of the premisis, in any way, please be in touch!