It was in 1998 when Ms. Norah Mareku Moriri identified four children aged between three and four years sitting next to a tap in one of Barcelona`s informal settlements in Etwatwa. She was concerned and spoke to them. She discovered that they were staying with their grandmother who had gone to look for work.  Indeed they were vulnerable. Norah took the kids to her house which was within close proximity and informed the children’s neighbours to tell the grandmother when she returns to pass by Norah’s place to take the children. When she did she spoke to Norah said that she would not be able to pay her. This did not deter Norah to look after her grandchildren. News of Norah’s kindness spread rapidly within the community and within 3 weeks she was looking after 15 children for parents who needed a child minder whilst at work.

 

Mama Norah learnt from Mr. Mhlanga that there were farmers at Putfontein, Mr. And Mrs Potgieter who needed a tenant to rent their house on a farm. When she told them that she was engaged in community work – taking care of vulnerable children. They offered her a three roomed building to use as a Day care centre.  Norah has continued to care for children and now there are two ECDs that were established with the help of Norah’s Educare centre: Sithembele Kubaba Day Care and Norah’s Drop in Centre at Barcelona. There are over ± 900 children attending these centres from 3 months old to 18 years. 

 

Norah’s Educare Centre is a registered NGO currently located in Putfontein, on the property of Mr and Mrs. Potgierter, a  family who offered a piece of land where the centre was constructed. And they have continued to support the centre in various ways.

 

When Norah was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS virus in 2009, she organized volunteers to visit homes to identify the social needs of the children and also sensitize the community. The Social development Department has given hand in this noble cause. Now there are Social Workers, Care givers and volunteers that serve the community.