- Foreword
- Chapter 1 – Jill Sachs Smith
- Chapter 2 – Khwezi Mkhathini
- Chapter 3 – Kumarie Mohan
- Chapter 5 – Jabu Mtheku
- Chapter 6 – Sue Bonney
- Chapter 7 – Phindile Khumalo
- Chapter 8 – Grace Khanyile
Carry Paterson’s life is underpinned by the belief that no one person is better than another: that we all have a role and a place in life that is equally important although everyone is different.
Carry believes all things are possible, but nothing is achieved without putting in the effort. Proof of this is the way she took up marathon running, an activity that lasted for twenty years despite nay-sayers telling her she would never succeed. How wrong she proved them! This demonstrating the same dedication, determination, and whole-hearted effort she has put into Early Childhood Education and the Caversham Education Institute over the years.
At one point, Carry was training one of the five groups who were all housed under one roof at Nkulisa, and although having 100 students in one place was wonderful for interaction between all concerned, the noisy venue was not ideal.
In March 2020, the COVID lockdown brought to an end all physical meetings, and WhatsApp messages, calls, and meetings became the lifeline for continued studies. Jill held weekly Zoom meetings for the lecturers to keep everyone motivated, although some students dropped out for various reasons. Once the lockdown ended, Nkulisa was no longer available to Caversham Educational Institute, and Carry’s group moved to the Cancer Association head office in Durban and subsequently to Caversham’s beautiful new training venue in The Manna House, Musgrave Durban.
As with most Caversham lecturers, Carry is dedicated to ensuring Pre School Teachers themselves have the tools to guide children through their early educational experiences. Carry’s passion for Early Childhood Education has spanned more than 50 years, starting with her first job, at age 17, as an assistant at Three Oaks Nursery School, where she did everything from mixing paints to cleaning bathrooms, being paid a mere R10 a month.
Her experience at Three Oaks convinced Carry to enrol in the 3-year course at the Training College for Nursery School Teachers, Johannesburg. After graduating, she held posts at various schools, including Woodlands Pre Primary in Durban where she first met Cecily White in 1976. It was in March 2010 when Cecily encouraged Carry to come and observe at Caversham Educational Institute. After that Carry joined Jill in Pietermaritzburg. Meeting Jill and the long journey to Pietermaritzburg was all the inspiration that Carry needed. Jill had started this group in 2007, with Jill doing the lectures for 8 students on Wednesday afternoons, using New England Pre-Primary School premises.
At the time, Carry felt utterly lacking in confidence, but Jill’s belief in her and her words encouraged her. “You’ll be surprised at how good a lecturer you will be.” In no time, Carry, herself, began running the Saturday morning workshops, further fulfilling her purpose to be involved in the Early Childhood Education.
Carry views Caversham as a ‘big supporting machine’, driven by “Jill, the Champion Visionary”. The students and their needs are considered on an individual basis as well as an overall group. Carry sees firsthand the effect the support and encouragement have on the students, who then pass along the same support to others in their own families and communities. Many students have started their own businesses, becoming Principals and Teachers with their Caversham NFQ5 Qualification. This, in itself, is a powerful achievement, but, additionally, the students all attest to the profound personal growth they all experience as they move through their studies at the Institute.
It is the journaling component that fills Carry’s “Hourglass”. Fifty years of Calligraphy, writing and encouraging adds to the ripples of Caversham Educational Institute.
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart” William Wordsworth