Athina May
Eyeing a table laden with shoes of all sizes, the children at Clever Kids Academy in Melkbosstrand soon realised that they were labelled with their names, and they lined up excitedly, trying to guess which pair belonged to them.
“Dankie, oom,” said the five-year-old pupils who shyly received their shoes and socks from Atlantic Beach Golf Estate CEO Harry White, and walked to their classroom to compare their new footwear with their friends.
“We managed to collect 285 pairs out of Atlantic Beach alone, and these shoes will warm lots of feet this winter,” said Afrikaanse Christelike Vrouevereniging (ACVV) Koeberg chairwoman Rina Loubser, who arranged the event.
ACVV Koeberg, along with the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, held a day without shoes event last month and collected donations of shoes from Atlantic Beach residents. These donations were handed to the children at the school on Wednesday June 1, the last day of Child Protection Week.
“This is the first time we’re doing a big project with the golf estate, and we’re happy with the outcome. On June 18, we will also have a golf day and the green fees and competition fees will all go to the school,” said Ms Loubser.
ACVV helps the crèche, which has 35 pupils from Wolwerivier and surrounding farms. The school charges R225 a child each month, but, many parents often struggle to pay this.
Teacher Faiza van der Merwe said ACVV had helped the school for many years as it had no funding other than what the Department of Social Development paid for social workers at the school.
“Some parents pay R50 a week, those who can afford, but many can’t. I have a mother who comes here to work and pay off her child’s fees,” said Ms Van der Merwe.
ACVV will host a golf day to collect funds for the school and all money collected by participants will be used for the school.
Call the ACVV at 021 553 9080 or 071 683 5810 for more information.
