About Us
How We Got Started
Given the historical background,it was inevitable that the scores of children not of school going age would have nothing to do and nowhere to go, with all the attendant social problems. Some concerned ladies then built mud huts on their premises to accommodate these youngsters, charging them a minimal fee. But when heavy rains came this caused some of the structures to collapse, it was clear that there were obvious dangers, that health conditions were unsatisfactory, and children were not benefitting much.
Thus it came about that GEMS-the Greater Edendale Muslim Society – was established, in response to the urgent motivation. Dr Ghamiet Aysen, a director of a company called Cato Ridge Electrical, set about formalising the context of the initiative. As a former senior manager of the Dept of Health, he
has extensive knowledge of the Midlands and the problems faced by children. Besides raising funds locally and in Australia, he secured a major sponsor from Malaysia, whose generosity has been paramount, and through his company Cato Ridge Electrical gives generously every month.
Gems set out to:
“Support the total development of communities by engaging in sustainable planning in order to improve the quality of life by introducing and maintaining a culture of basic learning and education to meet the development
challenges of a new South Africa”.
Our Achievements
We have established 6 Pre-Schools, 5 Crèches and 3 Madressahs
which comprises of 442 children in total.
We teach basic Islam and Circular Education. Thus, our time
table and syllabus is a combination of the I.E.O.S.A.(Islamic Educational Organisation of Southern Africa) and the
Montessori concepts.
We feed all children a balanced nutritional breakfast and lunch daily.
Our Educate our Teachers and Helpers so that they qualify to
teach the children. Hence, our staff are I.E.O.S.A. classes
every Saturday at the Soofie Mosque and Montessori
classes at the Montessori Training Centre on Tuesdays
in Mountain Rise.
We pay minimum wages to 14 Teachers, 15 Helpers, 2 Co-ordinators – who monitor
the schools daily to ensure that the syllabus and time table are
being followed correctly, 1 Driver and an Administrator who oversees
all the organisations activities from our office. Thus, we have a
total staff of 33.
We pay for travelling expenses for staff to attend the above classes weekly.
Ramadaan Hampers/Vouchers are distributed to every child within our
Pre-Schools, Crèches and Madressahs.
In 2009 we partnered with iifri where we had a conversion
programme and some parents of our children became Muslims
Alhumdulillah.
Brother Raffiq Hassan from iifri is responsible for conducting follow-up classes
from this conversion with continuous Da’wah so that these Brothers and Sisters
are not isolated.
G.E.M.S assist with clothing and feeding Orphans/Abandoned children, our
staff and their families.
Empowerment workshops are held to create a bond of unity within
the organisation.
Monthly committee and staff meetings are held to track progress of
staff performance, matters concerning the children and other activities of
the organisation to ensure that all work in unison with relevant stakeholders
and other organisations/key personnel in the area.
Had a few Nikkahs in the Township so others can follow
the example of living Islam.
We assist our staff and other Muslims in the Township with
funeral arrangements to ensure that burial of Muslims in
Edendale are done in the correct way as ordained by Islam.
Staff are sent to conferences locally, in Durban,Johannesburg etc…
Schools have been equipped with basic furniture such as desks, chairs etc….
and we have equipped some schools with the most updated Montessori equipment
which enables our Teachers to impart their knowledge to our little gems.
Trustees and staff have regular meetings with all stakeholders in the area so that
there is co-operation.
We are registered with the MCF – Muslim Charitable Foundation.
G.E.M.S is a transparent organisation and all our financials and activities
are visible. Hence, we are annually Audited.
Through the generosity of our main Sponsor, we have to date managed
to build 8 new schools, made of brick and mortar with a flushing toilet system.
These schools are of First World stature and are Centres of Excellence which is
used for other empowerment classes for the community like afternoon ABET classes
where some students are 60+ years of age Alhumdulillah !!
Pre-Schools
Creches
Madressahs
Children
Our Programs
The ladies who originally initiated the project were basically untrained. It has been a feature of the programme that they have been given the necessary training in the Montessori methods by attending regular scheduled classes, by professional staff. They
thus obtain appropriate qualifications. The cost of transport and attending such classes are borne by GEMS.
As indicated, proper building structures have replaced the insecure mud structures. Costs have been high due to the terrain, and lack of facilities. Nevertheless, proper toilets are included in the structures, as well as a kitchen, in a spacious and well
ventilated classroom. Approximately R80,000 is spent on each building, and this comes, by and large, from the mainoverseas sponsor and Cato Ridge Electrical. In addition, each unit is supplied with tables, chairs and basic Montessori equipment.
Infrastructure Costs
Registration
Trustees & Structure
