Little Rose Centre is situated in Kliptown (also named Angola), one of the poorest communities of Soweto/Johannesburg estimated to have approximately 35 000 inhabitants. Due to poverty and often unacceptable living conditions, the community faces many challenges, among others high unemployment (estimated to be at 70%), crime and HIV/Aids. The latter has lead to the fact that many young children live either with their grandparents, other relatives or even in child-headed households.

In 1993, Mrs. Nomayeza Majola started a Play Group for about 40 young children (aged 1 to 6) in order to promote Early Childhood Development for the children of the township. Four years later, in 1997, Little Rose Centre was officially founded and became the first Crèche of Kliptown. It was registered as non-profit organisation with the Department of Social Services in the same year. First, an old double-decker bus which was provided by the City of Johannesburg, served to accommodate the children. It was replaced in 2004 when the Crèche had grown to a number of 100 children and Woolworths kindly donated three containers in order to support and help expand the project of the Centre. Soon after the organisation’s foundation, more children of different race backgrounds were attracted to the Center and further developmental programmes were started to engage the youth and also adult community members in the centre.

Today, the Centre accommodates approximately 140 children. 100 children belong to the Crèche (age 1 to 6), almost 20 have found shelter at the Centre, others come in the mornings and after school for meals, home work assistance and leisure time activities. At present, Little Rose Centre reaches out to about 150 needy adults that benefit from small job opportunities , feeding schemes and workshops.

Little Rose Centre is entirely run by committed volunteers of the Kliptown Community. Twelve volunteers execute and maintain the programmes of the Centre. All of them receive a small monthly volunteer stipend if funds allow for them.

In line with the multi-cultural diversity of Kliptown, Little Rose Centre is reaching out to beneficiaries of all races, cultures and religious beliefs.

Except for four small volunteer stipends that are presently paid by the City of Johannesburg for cleaning and gardening, Little Rose Centre depends entirely on donations of private persons or entities that feel the necessity to support the Centre’s endeavor of providing the roots from which to grow and fly!