Hi All,
Daphne and I were at the Cavern from early in September for about 7 weeks. While there we were kept busy delivering of porridge, holding jumble sales, painting schools and liaising with the building contractor.
Read on to see what has been happening!!
Baby Boost
Cynthia and Fikile held 3 more workshops and then undertook individual home visits. All the visits were received positively. As this pilot project was so well received we plan to continue with another session in the new year when Daphne returns.
Marysia, who pioneered “Baby Boost”, visits us again for a couple of weeks next March, to advise and work with us to take the Baby Boost project forward. She, of course, will once again be heavily involved in assisting all 14 of our pre-schools
Zamokuhle School
As I write the Zamokuhle new classroom, after many delays, nears completion. Dumisile and all the teachers are very excited to have a second classroom as, at present, they have over 70 learners in the one room, which is far from ideal.
We are sure that in the New Year both classrooms will be hives of activity where the teachers will be able to split age groups.
Sbusisiwe School
Sbusisiwe school also nears completion and will be ready for the educators and learners to move in at the beginning of the new school term in January.
Daphne and I will be there to deliver toys, stationery, carpets and to help complete the furnishings before the term begins.
This school, which at present has 20 learners, will hopefully now attract more children. This has been our experience at other schools we have built and resourced
Hopefully Gertrud and Georg Rotter, who have generously paid for this building, will be able to visit us in January to see “their” school finally completed and operational.
Georg And Gertrud Rotter
In mid-September Georg and Gertrud arrived from-Austria, once again heavily laden with gifts, stationery, jumble, reading glasses, children’s sun glasses and make-up. After visiting the schools and giving out the various gifts, Gertrud and George helped Daphne, Liesje and I paint Hlelokuhle pre-school. We are very grateful to the Royal Natal National Park firefighters for painting the white undercoat and leaving the bright colours for us.
Our new Khanyisela signs have been erected at all the schools we assist and Georg helped Dave put them up at all the schools.-Quite a job as there is no electricity and the hammer drill takes lots of power.-
We are very grateful to Gertrud and Georg for all their help during the two weeks they were with us.
Jumble Sales
Daphne was once again overwhelmed by the amount of jumble ready for us to prepare and sell when we arrived back at The Cavern. Much time was spent watching (I’m sure mostly listening) to the TV whilst Daphne sorted and priced the clothing. We held a very successful sale at the Cavern which raised over R8000.00. There is jumble left over and this along with future donations will be sold in the New Year at the Cavern and also in the Amazizi area.
So if you are visiting The Cavern, don’t forget to bring some jumble.
Grade R Course
Four of our teachers have completed their Grade R correspondence course through UNISA. We and Liesje Carter, who came and assisted the teachers with their studies, anxiously await their results
Knitwear/Cushions
Thanks again to the ladies for knitting more clothes, beanies and making more cushions. We gave out the cushions, but we are keeping the winter attire until next winter approaches.
The jerseys, hats, toys, cushions and blankets are always well received.
Rotary Club Of Retford, England
The Rotary Club of Retford continues to support us in many ways. Each year they send money to pay for the year’s supply of fortified porridge which is fed to all the school children each school day.
They raised money and paid for our very successful mentor programme which has just entered the second year. Recently they also sponsored 8 teachers to do the Early Childhood Development Level 4 course and we are happy to tell you that the ladies are attending their graduation later this month.
These are but a few of the many ways the Club has supported us over many years and we wish to say a very big “THANK YOU” to all the members and a special THANK YOU to Terry Dunmore for all his hard work. It is very much appreciated.
Project Funding And Donations
As we approach the festive season we would like to thank everyone who has assisted us over the past years. Without all your donations the ongoing assistance of the 14 pre-schools and 500 plus children we now help in the Amazizi area of Northern KwaZulu Natal would not be possible.
All donations, be it time or money, is appreciated no matter how big or small. It all goes towards what we think is a worthy cause in the hope that in a small way we are contributing to the improvement of education, which is so desperately needed in our beautiful country.
If you, or if you know anyone who wishes to make a donation to the Khanyisela Project, please
contact Dave or Daphne – projects@royal-drakensberg.org.za – for details on how to donate.
Don’t forget that The Cavern, in an effort to get more donations for the Khanyisela Project, is now linked to “Pack for a Purpose”.
So if you are visiting from overseas or have family or friends visiting from overseas look at-the website to see how you/they can help. We have listed our needs on the Pack for a Purpose website.
Don’t forget to
Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful holiday season.
Dave & Daphne Thurlwell, Megan Bedingham, Jean Carte, Georg Rotter and Liesje Carter
The Northern Drakensberg Khanyisela Project-Tel : 083 512 0146
Email: projects@royal-drakensberg.org.za– Website:-www.khanyiselaprojects.co.za