Ark Academy ECD Centre

28/09/2026

🎄 Gift Drive Update 🎄

We’re making progress, but we still need your help. ❤️

So far, 39 of our 55 ECD children have been sponsored for Christmas, which means 16 little ones are still waiting for their Christmas box. 🥺

And for our 57 aftercare children, we have 13 boxes covered so far.

I know Christmas is still a little way away, but we would love to get donors for the boxes sorted in advance so that every single child at Ark Academy gets to experience that feeling of having something that is just for them. 🎁❤️

If you’d like to sponsor a child, please send a DM and we’ll send you the details.

Please help us make sure nobody gets left out this Christmas. ❤️🎄

25/09/2026

🏠 A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU ❤️

Fourways Review recently published an update article on the Ark Academy build, where Mo spoke about how close we were getting, but that we still needed the remaining roofing to get the classrooms weatherproof.

And then something wonderful happened…a donor came through and covered the remaining roofing we needed! 🥹❤️

Paula C Lamb we honestly cannot thank you enough. Your incredible generosity has taken us another huge step closer to completing these classrooms and giving the children at Ark Academy the safe, permanent school they deserve. Thank you for seeing the vision, believing in what we are building, and helping turn it into reality!

We are so, so grateful. ❤️❤️❤️

Bright futures really do begin here. 🥹

(Here is the link to the article: https://www.citizen.co.za/fourways-review/news-headlines/local-news/2026/09/23/diepsloot-school-needs-roofing-materials-to-complete-new-ecd-building/)

Ark Academy in Extension 5 reaches a major construction milestone using ecobricks, but urgently seeks help to finish its new learning space safely.

22/09/2026

🧱 BUILD UPDATE: WE’RE GETTING SO CLOSE! ❤️

There is something pretty special about seeing this building take shape.

All of the walls are now up! 🥹🧱

What started as a dream to replace the old, dilapidated shacks the children have been using is slowly becoming a real school.

We’re not quite there yet. The next big steps are:

🏠 Roofing
🧱 Floors
🔒 Fencing

The fencing became an unexpected priority after the temporary fencing around the site was stolen, so we’re currently working with some incredibly generous donors to see if we can get that sorted.

Once those pieces are done, we’ll be so much closer to getting these classrooms ready for the children. ❤️

It’s been a long road, and there is still work to do, but look at those walls! 🥹

Thank you to everyone who has donated materials, money, time, labour, shared our posts or simply cheered us on. Every bit of support has helped get us to this point.

Bright futures really do begin here ❤️

18/09/2026

🎄 Christmas is getting closer!

Our deadline for the Ark Academy Christmas Giving Drive is the end of November, and we're working ahead to make sure all 112 children receive their gifts and care packs in time.

That means we still have plenty of children waiting to be chosen. ❤️

🎁 55 ECD children need complete Christmas gift boxes.
🧴 57 aftercare children need complete essential care packs.

You can choose a specific child from our list, and we'll provide the information you need to put together their pack.

If you choose a child, please commit to providing the complete set of items listed for them. This helps us ensure that no child is left with only part of their gift while another receives everything.

If shopping isn't practical, financial contributions towards a complete pack are also welcome.

📩 Want to help make one child's Christmas special? Send us a message and we'll share the list.

🎄 112 children. 112 Christmases to make a little brighter. ❤️

12/09/2026

🎄 Christmas doesn't have to be extravagant to be special.

For the children at Ark Academy, it's about receiving something that was chosen for them - something that says, “Someone thought about me.” ❤️

Our Christmas Giving Drive allows you to choose a specific child and put together their complete gift box or aftercare pack using the items we've identified as appropriate for them.

👕 Clothing can be new or secondhand in good condition.
🎁 Gifts don't need to be expensive.
❤️ They just need to be thoughtful and complete.

When you choose a child, we ask that you provide the full list of items for their box or pack, so that every child receives a complete and equally special Christmas.

📩 Want to get involved? Send us a message and we'll help you choose a child.

09/09/2026

🧱❤️ A LITTLE ASK. A HUGE ANSWER.

Recently we shared that we needed 12 bags of cement to finish the remaining structural walls at Ark Academy.

We knew those 12 bags would get us to an important milestone, but we also knew there was still more cement needed down the line for plastering and the rest of the build.

And then UDE Power stepped in.

Instead of 12 bags…

They donated 48 bags of cement. 😭❤️

FORTY-EIGHT.

That's not just helping us finish the next stage of the build. That's helping us prepare for the work that comes after it too.

This is what community looks like. Someone sees a need, understands that the need is bigger than the immediate ask, and says, “We've got you.”

UDE Power and Andrew Mark Loots once again, we honestly don't have enough words.

You have supported Ark Academy in so many ways already, and this latest donation is another incredible step towards getting these children into their new classrooms.

From 12 bags needed to 48 bags donated we are feeling incredibly grateful today. ❤️

Thank you, UDE Power, for continuing to believe in Ark Academy and in the future we are building for these children.

🧱 48 bags. One MASSIVE step forward.

07/09/2026

🧱 BUILD UPDATE: WE'RE SO CLOSE! ❤️

Our classroom build at Ark Academy is continuing to take shape - and we're excited to share a little progress update!

The back section of the building is now complete, which is a huge step forward!!

What started as a vision is slowly becoming real classrooms that will give our children a safe, permanent space to learn, play and grow. 🏫❤️

But we're at another important stage…

🧱 WE NEED 12 BAGS OF CEMENT TO FINISH THE STRUCTURE!

We need just 12 more bags of cement to complete the remaining structural walls. Once that's done, we'll be able to move on to the next stages of the build.

And just to be transparent, we will need more cement later for the internal plastering, but right now, these 12 bags will get us to a really important milestone: finishing the structure.
If you can help with one bag, a few bags, or all 12, we'd be incredibly grateful. Every bag gets us closer to having these classrooms completed. 🙏

💙 12 bags of cement. One big step closer.

If you'd like to contribute, please send us a message or get in touch with Ark Academy:
📧 [email protected]
📞 083 686 3757 | 072 488 2042

05/09/2026

🎄❤️ This Christmas, you can make it personal.

Rather than simply collecting a pile of general donations, we're inviting our supporters to choose a specific child at Ark Academy and put together a Christmas gift box or aftercare pack especially for them.

You'll receive the child's name, age, gender, shoe size and any relevant requirements, so you know exactly who you're shopping for.

And there's something rather lovely about knowing exactly whose Christmas you're helping to make special. ❤️

📩 Message us if you'd like to choose a child and we'll share the list.

29/08/2026

🎄 Every Child Deserves a Christmas ❤️

At Ark Academy, we're preparing Christmas gifts for 55 ECD children and 57 aftercare children - and we're hoping to make sure every single child receives something special.

This year, we're giving donors the opportunity to choose a specific child to support. We'll provide their age, gender, shoe size and other relevant information so that you can put together a gift or care pack specifically for them.

🎁 If you choose a child, we ask that you provide the complete set of items listed for that child. This means every child receives a full, thoughtful gift or care pack rather than some children receiving only a few items.

If you'd prefer not to shop yourself, you can also contribute towards the cost of putting together a complete pack for a child.

📩 Want to choose a child? Send us a message and we'll share the list with you.

22/08/2026

🎄 A little Christmas reminder from us! ❤️

Our Christmas Giving Drive is officially underway, and we're hoping to make Christmas extra special for all 112 children at Ark Academy this year.

🎁 55 ECD children → Christmas gift boxes
🧴 57 aftercare children → Essential care packs

Donors have the opportunity to choose a specific child (or children) to support using a list with each child's name, age, gender, shoe size and, where applicable, sanitary product requirements, so you can put together something that's personal and appropriate for them.

🎁 ECD gift boxes could include:
🧸 A toy
🍬 Sweets (please avoid nuts)
✏️ Educational supplies
🧼 Soap & face cloth
🪥 Toothbrush & toothpaste
👕 Clothing & shoes - new or secondhand in good condition

🧴 Aftercare packs could include:
🧴 Shampoo, soap & body wash
🪥 Toothbrush & toothpaste
🧻 Wet wipes
💗 Sanitary products for the girls
🧴 Roll-on/deodorant
👕 Clothing & shoes - new or secondhand in good condition
🧴 Comb/brush, moisturiser and other essentials

Once you've chosen a child, we'll make sure you have the information you need to put together something just for them.

Please label your box or pack clearly with the child's name, age, gender and whether they are ECD or Aftercare, so we can make sure it reaches the right child.

📅 Our deadline is the end of November, giving us time to get everything organised and delivered before Christmas.

📩 Want to choose a child? Send us a message and we'll share the list with you.

🎄 112 children. 112 Christmases to make a little brighter. ❤️

📧 [email protected]
📞 083 686 3757 | 072 488 2042

Together, we can create bright futures - one gift at a time. ✨