Gummy Bears
Smutsville, Sedgefield
Meet Mercia van Rooyen
Principal, Gummy Bears
“My dream is to give children the care and early support that I never had.”
When I was younger, I didn't have access to an ECD centre, and my dream is to give children the care and early support that I never had.
I'm not just the principal in title — I'm present in the classrooms, I know each child by name, I check in with parents, and I support my teachers. For many families, I try to be a trusted guide and a steady source of encouragement.
I've built Gummy Bears step by step, often making difficult decisions to keep our doors open. The challenges are real — rising costs, infrastructure needs, inconsistent fee payments — but my commitment to giving children a strong foundation for school has never changed.
Progress updates
Gummy Bears Progress Report Term 2
Joined the Adopt a Centre for Excellence (ACE) programme.
Adoption Status
Support Gummy Bears
Every rand supports the ACE centres. You'll receive termly updates on Gummy Bears's progress.
How ACE funds will help
- Financial stability and staff salaries
- Additional learning materials
- Expanding and improving classroom space
- Further staff training
- Administration and budgeting support