Simcelisile Educare Centre (The Sihlelile Trust)

Simcelisile Educare Centre is a registered non-profit organisation that strives for excellence in the provision of Early Childhood Education for under-privileged children living in Lidgetton Village, KZN. The centre was founded in January 2009 by Esther Zuma, out of her love for children and the desperate need for pre-school education facilities in the area. 

The Sihlelile Trust was set up in 2011, to raise funds to build a new school for Simcelisile Educare Centre. Thanks to enormous support from several donors, in particular the Ken Collins Charity Trust and the Brown Family Trust, a new school was built and opened on the 4 November 2014. It consists of three spacious classrooms, an office, staffroom, kitchen, sickbay, hygienic ablutions and veranda. It has a wonderful playground with two jungle gyms and a grass playing field. 

Over 90 children, between the ages of 2 and 6 years attend the school, which is still run by Esther Zuma, the headmistress and her three very dedicated and capable teachers. 

Simcelisile Educare Centre received a Provincial Award in November 2018, for being the best Health Promoting Early Childhood Development Centre in KZN, for constantly improving the quality of health and strengthening its capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working. 

The Sihlelile Trust is responsible for the maintenance of the school buildings and for supporting Esther in running the school. We, the trustee members, are delighted that you are considering making a donation to The Sihlelile Trust. We rely entirely on charitable donations like yours to fund our work to transform the lives of children living in Lidgetton Village. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

Grace Ntombela, Bonginkosi Ndlovu and Sarah Jonsson