Lucinda Evans launches Philisa Young Minds Academy to uplift underprivileged children
The Philisa Young Minds Academy was unveiled in Lavender Hill
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
The kids could not contain their excitement
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
Community activist Lucinda Evans has realised another long-held dream with the launch of the Philisa Young Minds Academy, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre dedicated to uplifting underprivileged children in her community.
The name Philisa, means “ to bring to fruition,” reflecting the centre’s mission of nurturing young potential for a positive future reality.
The facility caters for 70 children between the ages of three and five. Each child receives early childhood education and two meals a day, ensuring both learning support and basic nutrition in a safe environment.
The centre has an estimated annual operational cost of R800,000. Families contribute R25 per month, with priority given to households earning below R350 per month, often dependent on social grants, as well as children being raised by grandparents or extended family members due to circumstances such as gender-based violence and family disruption.
Evans said the centre reflects the urgent needs faced by many families in communities affected by poverty and violence.
“GBV is a family issue. It has always been a family issue,” she said.
She also spoke about the importance of involving men in shifting the narrative and supporting children in early development.
“If I look at the investors in the centre and the drivers, it is the good men - your staff, that take our hand and say we’re going to change the narrative for those 70 children,” Evans said.
While the impact may not be immediate, she believes the long-term effects will be significant.
“You might not see it in our lifetime, but the biggest investment you could have made is not just for 70 children from the township, but for the adults they will become. People who will go on to build families and give back to their communities.”
The initiative is also supported through a R99-per-month campaign aimed at widening community involvement and sustaining the academy.
Now six years into the project, Evans said the work continues to grow. She said her next ambition is to one day open a primary school.
“We are still investing in the future,” she said, adding with a smile, “I promise this is my last dream.”
She reflected on the broader question guiding her work: “What are wer serving? What will our serving be in a world when it becomes chaotic?”
For her, the answer lies in continuing to build spaces that give children stability, care and a foundation for the future.