Last year, the Balfour Mall in Johannesburg made some of its retail space available and funded the development of a Scatterlings early childhood development centre.

Catering for the needs of pre-primary school children in the community, the centre opened with 44 little learners who started the year on a good night.  The centre has flourished and now has 110 learners attending daily, with plans currently being discussed for expansion.

Run by a non-profit organisation, the almost 450 metre-squared Scatterlings creche at Balfour Mall was thoughtfully designed to include naturally-lit play areas, rest spaces, learning facilities, educational toys, and dedicated bathrooms, all serviced by a team of dedicated teachers and caregivers. Children are provided with a healthy lunch and refreshments on a daily basis. The centre has also been equipped with internet connectivity, thanks to Open Fibre.

But, that is not the only wonderful thing happening at this mall. Due to an innovative mindset and creative thinking, several other non-profit organisations and startup businesses are benefiting from the centre’s willingness to collaborate, and to take hands with organisations that are working to change lives for good.

Phenduka Maths and Literacy Centre

The Balfour Mall recently collaborated with another non-profit organization called Phenduka who run a maths and literacy centre for unprivileged learners. Providing  support to schools in the Alexander township, for over 20 years, their program is targeted at primary schools where some learners are unable to read and write properly by grade 7. The centre has provide Phenduka with an empty store  to run assessments and programmes for the rest of the year, in order to help learners in the area achieve their educational goals. 

Dream Cycle

Addressing the need of the many South Africans who can’t ride bicycles, due to financial hardships when growing up, one entrepreneur has started an ingenious new venture. Zibusiso Mboyisa is a professional cyclist and is lending his talents to teach children and adults alike to ride bikes. In the designated space that has been provided to him in the Balfour rooftop parking, his new venture Dream Cycle has trained over 100 people and currently runs over 30 classes per week. 

Flourish Antenatal classes 

Becoming a mom can be overwhelming and Balfour realized that a little preparation goes a long way. Partnering with FlourishNGO, Balfour has made space available for antenatal classes to be provided for soon-to-be moms for the past year and a half. The program is a learning experience that teaches new moms how to take care of their babies, with classes that cover what to expect during pregnancy, feeding, new-born care and parenting in general. After the 5 week program, a “Baby Shower” is hosted as an acknowledgement of their participation with a care hamper provided.

For further information about Balfour Mall, its trading hours and tenants, please visit https://balfourmall.co.za/