Imagination, creativity and learning are grounded at Lynedoch in early childhood development
The Lynedoch Children’s House was established in 2000 as a dedicated preschool for children from our village and valley. Here, we follow a Montessori approach to learning, cherishing each child’s innate love for learning in the Infant Community (0 – 3 years) and Children’s House (3 – 6 years).
A child’s foundational years are formative for a life-time of learning and development. We provide integrated and ecologically focused learning and nature-based play. The children also participate in growing and harvesting of organic vegetables. Safe and welcoming, we aim to nurture every facet of the extraordinary potential in the lives of these tiny humans.
The Team
Julia Jansen
Christelle Jansen
Mandisa Sakawali
Shannen Jassen
Jessica Eley
Shannon Daniels
Caro Theron
Rosaline Van Niekerk
FACILITATOR - EARLY LEARNING
Julia Jansen
Julia Jansen is a Facilitator in Lynedoch Early Learning (3-6 years).
She holds a NQF level 4 and 5 Diploma in Early Childhood Development. Her previous work with street children, was the beginning of her interest in a career working with youth. Her gave her first observation that children can work hard and show independence and spirit, not just play as is commonly thought. Julia finds that she continues to learn more about herself in this process, every day.
FACILITATOR - EARLY LEARNING
Christelle Jansen
Christelle Jansen is a Facilitator in the baby center (0 – 3 years).
She holds an NQF level 4 certificate in Early Childhood Development as well as Birth to Three Assistants to Infancy course accredited by Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). She is the happiest when she is with children, and sees her work as an opportunity to improve herself daily by obtaining skills to continue the special work that is being done here.
FACILITATOR - EARLY LEARNING
Mandisa Sakawali
Mandisa is a guide in the 3-6 year environment at the Lynedoch Children’s House. She has worked as an assistant at Kids.com and has experience as an Au pair. Mandisa also completed a 0-3 Assistants to Infancy AMI accredited Diploma. With God as her inspiration, she wants to see these children grow up in a healthy and safe environment.
Facilitator - Early Learning
Shannen Jassen
Shannen Jassen started at the Lynedoch Children’s House in 2018 as a cleaner and quickly became interested in the way we guide children and the Montessori method just by daily observation and working in the space. She has completed her AMI 3-6 teacher training diploma and is now a Guide in this environment.
Lynedoch Schools Coordinator
Jessica Eley
Jessica Eley is a qualified teacher, specialising in learner support and special educational needs.
She has worked in this field since 2013, working in the private school sector, abroad in France and Vietnam, and locally as well. She holds two diplomas from UNISA in Tourism and Event Management and a Post Graduate in Education. Her passion is working with children and providing them with individualised support catering to their specific needs. Originally from and living in the area, Jessica is driven and motivated to provide the children in the Lynedoch Valley and surrounds, with the support, guidance and love to the best of her ability to create a better future for them.
Creative Arts Assistant and Movement Coach
Shannon Daniels
Shannon Daniels, a Youth Programme graduate, started as an intern at the SI in May 2020. He works at the Lynedoch Community School, and is a very valuable asset to the organisation and has gained a great amount of experience. He has learned that he has a connection with the children and also what significant role the SI plays in the lives of the children and youth from this community. “My time at the SI has helped me to become more ambitious and I identified a lot of opportunities. I also developed a big love working with children.”
CREATIVE ARTS FACILITATOR
Caro Theron
With a love for all things creative and as a strong advocate for creative expression, Caro studied Fashion Design and Photography. She went on to teach English in China as a Kindergarten English Homeroom Teacher to experience a different culture, but ultimately decided that South Africa is her home. This led her to the Sustainability Institute in 2023, where she facilitates weekly classes for the children and youth programmes.
COMMUNITY COORDINATOR
Rosaline Van Niekerk
Ross is a registered Assessor and Facilitator in Lynedoch Early Learning. She holds a NQF level 4 and NQF level 5 Diploma in Early Childhood Development.
She is the epitome of someone who practices what she believes within the classroom, due to her practical experience of working with children. Her vision is that every person working with children must have an accredited qualification, because we those are the people who help build a holistic development of the child. Directors and assistants must be proud of the role they play in children’s lives and also have the confidence that they are the best.
The following principles are core to the Lynedoch Children’s House:
- Place-based and applicable to the local context and simple daily living
- Focused on educating for human development in formal and informal ways, and celebrating multiple intelligences – visual-spatial, musical, bodily-kinaesthetic, interpersonal, verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, naturalistic and intrapersonal
- Taught in relational and transdisciplinary ways that incorporate literature, art, drama, numeracy and immersion in nature, including for example the children participating in the growing and harvesting of organic vegetables
- Aimed at promoting problem-solving abilities, critical thinking and active decision-making
- Eco-centric in approach encouraging understanding of human-nature reliance and connection with all life, and the ecosystems in which we are embedded
- Core values that infuse respect, responsibility, independence, quality and community
Meaningful transformation and positive development can be achieved through healing, empowering and inspiring the children and youth in our communities. Our approach is holistic in nature, working not only with the children themselves but also their families and wider community.