Matjana Community Preschool

Kaphunga Swaziland


Matjana is a not-for-profit, community preschool in rural Swaziland


Graduation day 2007

Written by Michelle Brear

EVENT: Inaugural Matjana Preschool Graduation Day

DATE: 30 Nov 2008

VENUE: Matjana Preschool

LOCATION: Ndabeni, Kaphunga, Rural Swaziland

Welcome to Graduation 2007 at MPS Certificate
Graduation is a big Deal The Alphabet

Preschool Graduation is a big deal in Swaziland, a country where many children never get the opportunity to graduate from high school or university.

Matjana Preschool’s first graduation ceremony was no exception to this fine tradition! There was lots of singing, dancing, performing, eating and, it wouldn’t be a graduation ceremony without…miniature graduation gowns.

Teachers and children spent weeks preparing plays and practicing dances to perform for parents on the day. The kids did a great job learning their lines and dance moves, but despite a whole year of preschool, they couldn’t quite get their heads around the concept of sitting still and shutting up when they weren’t performing!

Everyone looking SmartThe proud parentsParents and children arrived early on the day to prepare a feast- by 6am the fire was raging, rice was boiling and chicken feathers flying.


By noon a feast fit for a king had been prepared.

Graduation Swazi StyleThe kids made there grand entrance at ten and spent two and a half hours singing, performing short plays and dancing traditional Swazi style, before donning the gowns and collecting their graduation certificates.

Dressed in Graduation Gowns




It was a great day for everyone involved. Sixteen children graduated and three will return next year. We look forward to seeing many more classes graduate from Matjana Preschool in the future!

A Picture of the Swaziland Flag

Navigation

Matjana 2009

New Swings for Matjana

2009 Begins

2009 School Committee

Matjana 2008

Improving MPS in 2008

Parents get involved in MPS Committee

Comparing 2007 and 2008

Dancing at MPS

Training Swaziland Teachers

Ministry of Education Inspection

Matjana Excursion 2008

Graduation Party 2008

Matjana 2007


The First Month

Why Kaphunga needs a preschool

Inaugural Fundraising Day

Matjana becomes Registered

Michelle gets Siswati lessons

Enrolment for 2008

Plans for A new Classroom

Chris and Corina visit Matjana

Fun Filled End to first Year

The Graduation