Northwood School has generously donated a pile of cosy mattresses to support the naptime of many little ones in local ECD centres.
Durban, South Africa (23 March 2026) – “The Princess and the Pea” is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, telling the story of a princess so sensitive she could feel the discomfort of a single uncooked pea hidden beneath twenty mattresses.
In a delightful parallel to this tale, the garage at the Domino Foundation’s offices was recently filled with twenty mattresses (yes, twenty!) ready to be delivered to very small princesses (and princes) at Early Childhood Development centres. Thanks to the community-minded generosity of Northwood School, these mattresses will support children partnering with the NPO.
Estate manager, Sheldon Stevenson, explained that the Northwood’s boarding establishment is currently undergoing a makeover, and with Domino being so close to the school, it made perfect sense to donate them to a trusted organisation that would find them a deserving home.
“These mattresses will be recovered by ladies in the community and then given to some of the centres we work with and naptime will become so much more restful for all concerned,” shared Domino’s ECD liaison manager, Zanele Nzimakwe.
Zanele added that most toddlers need a midday nap until they are between 3 and 4 to help soothe and alleviate many behavioural challenges like meltdowns, clumsiness, whining and difficulty with focus.
Domino’s ECD programme works with 36 ECD centres in and around Durban – most of which still need comfortable mattresses to make little people’s 12 o’clock snooze break part of their routine, which really makes a difference.
Through this thoughtful donation, Northwood School has ensured that more children in the Domino Foundation’s care have a soft place to dream and the restful sleep they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
Anyone with a mattress in a reasonable state of repair which needs a new home can contact Zanele at ecdlink@domino.org.za or on 031 110 0730.
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