ABOUT US

 HISTORY

KIDDIES HEAVEN WAS FOUNDED BY GLYNIS SWARTS IN JANUARY 1998.

SHE STARTED WITH A SMALL GROUP OF 8 CHILDREN OF WHICH MY SON WAS ONE OF THE TODDLERS. SHE ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH A CLASS IN HER DOUBLE GARAGE AT HER HOME -  NR.8 RUST-EN VREUGD, ROYLDENE, KIMBERLEY.  IT BECAME SUCH A POPULAR PLAYGROUP THAT BY THE END OF 2002 IT EXPANDED SO THAT IS WAS EVENTUALLY REZONED TO BUSINESS AND BY THEN HAD CRECHE STATUS.

SHE HAD A COOK, CLEANER, TEACHERS AND CAREGIVERS WORKING FOR HER AT THE TIME.

SHE THEN DECIDED TO LEAVE KIMBERLEY TO BE WITH HER CHILDREN AND OFFERED ME THE CRECHE…IT WAS A BIG DISCISION BEING IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION 14 YEARS AT THE TIME, BUT IT HAD ITS BENEFITS OF WHICH ONE WOULD BE, THAT I COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY OWN CHILDREN.

MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THE CRECHE  JANUARY 2003. I WAS VERY NERVOUS AT FIRST COMING OUT OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION (HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS) AND THEN  RUNNING A BUSINESS WITH 84 PRE SCHOOL CHILDREN- IT WAS A MAJOR ADAPTION AND VERY STRESSFUL.

WE HAVE 3 BABY SECTIONS (3 MONTHS-24 MONTHS), A CLASS OF 2-3’S; 3-4’S AND 4-5 YEAR OLD KIDDIES.

TODAY 2010 WE HAVE 23 PEOPLE ON OUR PAYROLL – ABSOLUTE FANTASTIC STAFF: HARDWORKING,  COMMITTED, EFFICIENT, HONEST, LOVING, CARING AND WELL GROOMED.

WITH GODS GRACE WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED AND HAVE EXPANDED OUR BUSINESS TREMENDOUSLY.

IN 2005 WE STARTED OUR FIRST AFTERCARE AT NEWTON PRIMARY SCHOOL.

IN 2006 WE STARTED OUR SECOND AFTERCARE AT EUREKA PRIMARY SCHOOL.

WE FETCH THE CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL, TAKE CARE OF THEM – LUNCH, 2 SNACKS, HOMEWORK, WALK THEM TO AND FROM SPORT – WE TRANSPORT TO EXTRA-MURIALS (ALL THE STAFF HAVE GOT PDP’S) AND THEN THEY HAVE LOTS OF PLAYGROUND SPACE.

WE THEN SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO START A BABYCARE; BUT IT CAME WITH A PRICE…  I HAD TO CONVINCE MY HUSBAND IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO LEAVE HIS JOB WHERE HE HAS WORKED FOR 22 YEARS AS THE FACTORY MANAGER. 

WE HAVE NOW JOINED FORCES AND ARE VERY EXCITED AND BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND RENDER A SERVICE WHERE WE REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE THE WONDERFUL PRIVILEDGE TO WORK WITH GOD’S MOST PRECIOUS GEMS.

WE SEE IT AS A CHALLENGE AND WE THANK OUR PARENTS, STAFF AND CHILDREN FOR GIVING US THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BE A FAMILY AT KIDDIES HEAVEN.

WITHIN ALL THE AREAS OF KIDDIES HEAVEN, -CRECHE, -NEWTON AFTERCARE, -EUREKA AFTERCARE AND OUR NEWLY FOUND BABYCARE CENTRE, THERE IS A STRONG ELEMENT OF TEAMWORK AND A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD OR ADULT WHO PASSES THROUGH THE DOORS ENCOUNTERS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. 

EACH AND EVERY CHILD IS ENCOURAGED TO REACH HIS/HER FULL POTENTIAL!

WHO IS PETE-  AND AMANDA VAN ZYL?

I, AMANDA,  WAS BORN IN CAPE TOWN- JANUARY 1967, MATRICULATED AT DURBANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1984 AND COMPLETED MY HIGHER EDUCATION DIPLOMA (4 YEAR COURSE) AT WELLINGTON TEACHER’S COLLEGE SPECIALISING IN PHYSICAL TRAINING 1985-1988. 

IN 1989 I STARTED TEACHING AT NJ HEYNS SCHOOL - A SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITY IN KIMBERLEY. 

I LEFT THE PROFESSION TO RUN MY OWN BUSINESS IN DECEMBER 2002.  I ALSO HAVE SIX YEARS EXPERIENCE IN REAL ESTATE-WHICH I DID IN MY SPARE TIME WHILE I WAS TEACHING.

I LOVE SPORT – COACHED AND PLAYED PROVINCIAL HOCKEY AND COACHED PROVINCIAL NETBALL. I SERVED ON THE SA SPECIAL SCHOOLS NETBALL COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZED THE 2002 TOURNAMENT IN KIMBERLEY. I TEACH ENGLISH FIRST LANGUAGE AT NORTHERN CAPE HIGH SCHOOL AS A TEMPORARY TEACHER ON A CONTRACT BASE. AND HELP OUT WHEN NEEDED AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.

I ENJOY SWIMMING, CYCLING, WALKING, READING AND BIRD-WATCHING.

I SERVE MY COMMUNITY WITH PASSION AND DO A LOT OF CHARITY.

 I TIED THE KNOT TO  PETE VAN ZYL IN 1994 AFTER I SPEND 5 MONTHS TOURING EUROPE IN 1993. WE HAVE 2 CHILDREN – OUR FIRSTBORN (A SON) BORN  ON NEW YEARS DAY IN 1996 AND OUR DAUGHTER BORN IN  SEPTEMBER 1997. BOTH ATTENDING KIDDIES HEAVEN FROM THE AGE OF 2. WE ARE A CLOSE KNIT CHRISTIAN FAMILY WITH HIGH MORALS. WE LIKE SPENDING TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AND ENJOY SEA- AND NATURE HOLIDAYS. I’M A BUSY BEE AND LOVE A CHALLENGE-PEOPLE IS MY PASSION AND CHILDREN ARE CLOSE TO MY HEART.

 PETE WAS BORN IN SINOIA, (RHODESIA) ZIMBABWE. HIS FATHER WAS A TOBACCO AND CATTLE FARMER IN THE NORTH AND IN 1980 THEY CAME TO SOUTH AFRICA AND SETTLED IN KIMBERLEY.  HE MATRICULATED AT KIMBERLEY BOYS HIGH IN 1984.  HE THEN DID HIS ARMY TRAINING IN BLOEMFONTEIN AND THEN DID SERVICE ON THE NAMIBIAN BORDER. HE STARTED WORKING AT JAFF AND COMPANY IN 1987 AND LEFT THE COMPANY AS FACTORY MANAGER 22 YEARS LATER-MAY 2009.

 HE IS VERY SPORTY…PLAYED PROVINCIAL RUGBY AND SOCCER. STILL PLAYS CRICKET, SQUASH AND HOCKEY AT MASTERS LEVEL. HE IS A UNIQUE PERSON – HE IS KIND, PATIENT, NEVER BOASTFUL, PROUD OR RUDE…SUPPORTIVE, LOYAL TRUSTING AND A FRIEND FOR LIFE. I COULDN’T ASK FOR A BETTER PARTNER AND FATHER FOR MY CHILDREN AND WHAT A BENEFIT FOR OUR BUSINESS…WE WELCOME HIM KNOWING HE WILL BE THE PERSON TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF ANYTHING THAT COMES HIS WAY. KIDDIES HEAVEN WILL DEFINITELY BENEFIT HAVING HIM AS THE DRIVING FORCE.