About us

Brak en Jan is a non-profit organisation in Raithby, Stellenbosch near Cape Town, that provides pre-school education and care to underprivileged children aged between two and six years. As a result, they are well prepared for primary school. By providing the children with valuable skills and by boosting their self-esteem and self-confidence, they are well-equipped to face the future.

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In a little town called Raithby, in Cape Town, South Africa I had the lucky opportunity to meet a very special group of people with the biggest heart i’ve ever seen. I arrived thinking it was a creche for little children.. And I left knowing it was much more: IT WAS A FAMILY. 
You are the kids, teachers, friends, doctors, second mothers. Nourishing the children even though some times is hard, you know its worth it! 

This creche has been possible thanks to the vision, energy and commitment from Mearle Hendricks and her team, and the empowerment and generous support from our sponsors. 

-Helena Gimeno Personal Reflections

Helena was a Rotary Exchange Student and worked at Brak en Jan July 2016.

BENEFITS OF PRESCHOOLS

  1. Preschool is an opportunity for growth.
  2. Preschool prepares children for school.
  3. Preschool promotes social and emotional development.
  4. The preschool environment is structured.
  5. Children get to make choices.
  6. Children learn to take care of themselves and others.
  7. Preschool promotes language and cognitive skills.
  8. Preschool teachers nurture a child’s curiosity.
  9. Preschool activities boost pre-math and literacy skills.
  10. Preschool helps develop motor skills. 

Our Core Values

At Brak en Jan, we believe that children are the future. They are our hope for a better world, and it is our duty to give them the best possible start in life. That’s why we strive to make sure every child feels safe and loved at Brak en Jan. 

Nutrition

At Brak en Jan our children are fed 2 meals per day including ePap.

Safe, caring, loving environment

Caring for children as if they are our own. 

Helping through Fun & Creativity .

Helping children through fun and creativity.

Physical Exercise

Providing trampolines, a treehouse, Jungle Gyms and working with the Forward Foundation twice a week.

Early Childhood Development.

Early development is fundamental to the future of children.

brighter future

Brak en Jan is a school in Raithby Nr Stellenbosch that focuses on Early Childhood Development and gives vital education to children between the ages of 2 and 6. As a result, they are better prepared for primary school than their peers who did not attend Brak en Jan. The goal of the program is simple: reduce poverty by equipping underprivileged children with valuable skills.

We started the year with 106 Children and have a waiting list for all our classes. We have had a very busy start to the year and this newsletter reflects this. As they say a photo tells a story and we have lots of photos to go with the stories.
Welcome to the final newsletter for 2023. It has been a great year. We want to thank all our Sponsors and Partners. Brak en Jan is so blessed to have some wonderful partners who make such a difference…

Welcome to our latest newsletter. This winter has been one of the coldest and wettest winters for a vey long time. We were very fortunate to have our Solar powered underfloor heating…