As tourists visited the informal settlement known as Ramaphosa, it was felt that the community should benefit in some way from this tourism. The community approached Calabash Trust and after many meetings the main need identified by the community was for a nutrition scheme and early childhood development. 
Thanks to the generosity of a UK school and a British tourist, Calabash Trust was able to purchase three containers which were quickly renovated to become two class rooms and a kitchen. Another Dutch Tourist committed to sending regular monthly donations to help feed the children in this very poor area. 100 Children per day was fed (including children who come for feeding after school) with healthy nutritious food.
Through a small education fund we helped fund two ladies who volunteer in this project to attend Early Learning training and graduate as Early Childhood Development teachers.
They named the project “ Lavela,” which means “the sun is rising.”
Once a year the teachers at Lavela celebrate all the children's birthdays. In 2010 they were lucky to receive gifts from individual donors and Isilumko Media seen below.
The end of 2010 was marked by a Christmas Party where gifts and snacks were provided by the local Govan Mbeki ABSA branch in Port Elizabeth, whose staff also contribute monthly towards the feeding scheme. Business Link contributed educational materials, and Food Bank contributed food and drinks at the end of 2010. Thank you to everybody who made the end of 2010 very special for these children.
Due the the relocation of the Ramaphosa community to Joe Slovo and Motherwell, it was decided to move the ECDC onto the grounds of Joe Slovo Primary School at the end of 2011. It is hoped that Lavela will form a Pre-Grade R class for Joe Slovo School. Feeding and teaching will resume as usual in 2012, with nutritional and educational support very welcome from supporters.
