Sally’s Place Grows From Being a Crèche to a Community Centre

Singing, dancing and drum majorettes ushered-in Barbara and Raymond Brown - World Vision sponsors from the United Kingdom, into a newly renovated Sally’s Place.
This is a community centre the couple established in Maruleng, Limpopo – South Africa, as a living memory of their daughter, Sally – who died in 2005, after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
The warm welcome by the community of Maruleng village is a gesture to appreciate the Browns for giving children from this disadvantaged village a good start in life.
“We will forever be grateful to Papa Raymond and Mama Barbara for turning their grief to our joy. They are truly extra-ordinary people,” said Sally’s Place manager, Dina Shaayi.
The last time the Brown’s visited Sally’s Place, it was operating as a crèche and a drop in centre, catering for more than 100 orphans and vulnerable children.
“There was only one building the last time we were here, now we see two more beautiful structures,” said Barbara.
Established in 2008, Sally’s Place has become a community centre, with a fully functional computer center, which services close to thirty learners from the nearby schools daily.
“Learners take turns to attend the computer lessons since space and computers are still limited in number. We are doing our best to extend this much needed IT skill to as many learners as possible,” said Dina.
The smooth running of the computer centre is a culmination of months of work between World Vision in Kodumela, the Department of Education, Sally’s Place staff, parents and learners from this village.
Excitement is written in the faces of learners. “I used to see computers on television, and never thought I would be able to use one. It’s very exciting to use a computer,” said Shai Mathathe, a grade eight pupil from Napsadi Secondary School.
The other side of the computer building caters for adult basic education classes, whilst there is two room kitchen with two community gardens at the back. This sudden growth has stunned Sally’s parents.
“I’m touched by how this community has not just taken, but have given so much and far more and that humbles us so much,” said Barbara.
“Sally was very roubled by the injustice and very passionate about children with special needs. So we are happy to see that her death has given these little ones such a good start in life, in a country that has struggled for so long for justice and equality. There’s no better way we could have built a living memory for Sally,” added Raymond.
Both indoor and outdoor playgrounds have also been revamped with new colourful equipment.
“I see Sally’s personality coming out in this colourful centre. Sally was an artist and very good with colours, so the colourful and joyous atmosphere here speaks to us of our late daughter,” said Barbara. The couple has once again acknowledged the contribution made by the friend in the UK and pledged continuous support towards the centre.