Annaline’s Story

Annaline’s Story

When we first met Annaline, she was working in the vineyards at Villiera Wines in Stellenbosch. However, she had always dreamed of working with children. “I didn’t know anything about being a teacher. All I knew was that it was my dream to work with children,” says Annaline.

Annaline was later employed as an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Practitioner at the Villiera ECD Centre, a daycare centre for children aged 0–5 years on the farm.

The Pebbles Project Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP) provides quality care and education to children aged 0–5 years living on farms at ECD centres on Pebbles’ partner farms across the Western Cape. The ECEP also upskills women from these communities to become qualified ECD Practitioners working within these centres. In addition, the programme provides bi-monthly training and ongoing support to practitioners.

Annaline began attending monthly training sessions covering the lessons and educational activities included in the Pebbles Project ECD Programme, and received on-site support from the Pebbles Project ECEP Manager.

All three of her daughters attended the Pebbles Project ECD centre: her youngest is currently enrolled, while her two older daughters also attended the Pebbles After-School Club centres. Her eldest also participated in the Pebbles Project Youth Development Programme (YDP), where she received barista training and was subsequently employed as a barista at Bootlegger Stellenbosch. Her middle daughter is also currently enrolled in the YDP.

The Pebbles Project team is extremely proud of Annaline, who is currently completing her ECD diploma through Pebbles in partnership with the Caversham Institute. She looks forward to becoming a fully qualified ECD Practitioner soon.

Annaline says: “I will always be grateful to Pebbles. Pebbles has supported and encouraged me, given me a career, and created a safe space for my children to grow. I will never forget that.”

From vineyard worker to teacher, mentor, and proud mother, Annaline’s journey is one of resilience and hope. The Pebbles Project team is honoured to be part of her story and looks forward to walking alongside her as she continues to grow in her career and deepen her impact in her community.

*This story captures a period in the beneficiary’s journey during their involvement with Pebbles Project and reflects their circumstances at the time it was written.