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HRT children excel at Family Expo
30 June 2011
The Hermanus Rainbow Trust had a display stand at the recent Families Expo in Villiersdorp. The event was organised by the Department of Social Development, and allow for communities and organisations to get together under one roof to raise awareness of what services are available for children and families in the Overberg. In addition to having a stand, some of the children from our Children's Circle of Support performed and educational play about alcohol abuse and domestic violence. The children won second prize for their performance and we are very proud of their achievement on the day!
Fathers' Day event a huge success
30 June 2011
Our Parenting Worx programme has been going from strength to strength over the past months, but one of the biggest challenges the programme was having was getting men to participate. Until recently there were only several male participants in the programme, but this all changed on Fathers' Day weekend, when the HRT held a camp for fathers at the Overstrand Training Institute's new facilities in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The weekend used sports and activity as a way to get the message of parenting and strong families across. No fewer than 12 men attended the camp, and they were joined by their families on the final day. All the participants were positive about what they learnt and shared at the event, and we look forward to having them participate in the programme for a long time to come.
Thanks for the support of #TBD
30 June 2011
On Saturday 4 June the Hermanus Rainbow Trust benefited from the generosity shown by the Hermanus community via the local edition of the Twitter Blanket Drive. The event was organised in Hermanus by Talitha Rabie from Frostedberry Design. The event encouraged people to meet up and share a cup of coffle while bring a blanket or two to donate to the HRT. We ended up receiving over 70 blankets, and we received a lot of support for a very chilly Saturday night! Our thanks go to Talitha and Natasha for putting the event together, as well as to Overstrand Conservation Foundation, The Beanery, TukTuk Taxis and Cubana for their assistance in make the event a success. And of course to everyone who donated blankets! We look forward to next year, when the event can become bigger and more blankets can be distributed to people in need of warmth.
Help Johannes to hear music in our bus
30 June 2011
Our long-standing, dedicated driver Johannes Ntlapo drives all over the Overstrand transporting staff, patients and clients, and does a fantastic job representing the HRT in our service delivery. Unfortunately Johannes must do all this driving in silence, as our Toyota Quantum does not have a radio installed. Can anyone help Johannes to relieve the boredom that he faces when he has to wait hours for staff to be finished their training, or for patients to be ready to be taken home from the hospital? He (and everyone else who is transported in the vehicle) would be immensely grateful! Please contact Corrie (corrie@rainbowtrust.org.za or 028 316 4325) if you have a car radio to spare, or even a portable radio that can run off batteries.
Our presentations get a boost from local photographer
30 June 2011
We would like to give a big thanks to Jessica Lahoud from Jay Kathryn Photography for coming in and designing a series of information posters for us to use for presentations at events and within the community. The posters were received well at the recent Family Expo in Villiersdorp, and they enabled people to get an idea of what the HRT is about at a glance.
Discounted internet from Whalemail
30 June 2011
Since moving to our new offices we have been receiving our internet connection from Whalemail, and we've been getting great service. They even give us our service at half price because we're a nonprofit organisation, without us having to ask for it. Thanks guys, all the savings we can get count, especially when we now have a whole office of computers running!
Farewell Mzameni
6 June 2011
We are sad to be saying goodbye to our long-standing Trustee and staff member, Mzameni Mshenxiswa. Mzameni has been an integral part of the HRT since its beginnings in 1997, and he has been with the organisation as it has grown and expanded its reach over the years. Mzameni has been voted in as councilor for one of Zwelihle's wards following the recent local elections. He will be missed within the organisation, but he will remian an active member of the Zwelihle community and he will be playing an important role the upliftment and improvement of this vibrant Overstrand neighbourhood.
Donations of office equipment received from Community Chest and Legal Aid
6 June 2011
Following from our request for office furniture in our last newsletter we were approached by the Community Chest of the Western Cape with the offer of 15 office chairs. The Community chest has a thriving donations in kind programme where they channel items that have been donated to them by companies and individuals to us NPO's on the ground. With such comfortable office chairs, we should be seeing a lot more willingness to sit down and get our reports done! Our thanks go to the Community Chest and to the other individuals who have made contributions in kind over the last month.
We have also improved the office by purchasing a microwave and kitchen utensils so that our offices and meeting room can host workshops and guests. The funding for these items came from Caledon's Legal Aid South Africa office, and we are grateful for this donation. The money left over from the Legal Aid donation will be used for consumables for our Children's Circle of support programme.
Visiting Canadian soccer team rekindles the international soccer spirit in the Overstrand
6 June 2011
After almost a year since the opening of the World Cup in South Africa, the Overstrand was given another dose of international football with the arrival of the University of Calgary Dinos soccer team. The Dinos, from Canada, were in the Western Cape to play matches against local teams as well as to contribute towards the grass-roots development of football in disadvantaged communities. The team spent a few days with the HRT learning about the organisation, culminating in a coaching day in Hermanus that brought together six teams from the area, including teams made up of children from the HRT's Children's Circle of Support programme and some local primary schools. This was a great event, and it brought together children from different communities in the Hermanus area.
The team was so touched by their experience that the group gave the HRT a donation towards our programmes, and some team members also left their soccer boots behind to be given to children from our programmes who cannot afford their own. We look forward to the team returning in the near future, and we hope that more visitors find their way to the Overstrand to make a difference in our communities.
Click here for more photos from the day
Long-time supporter Penny Pinchers raises money for HRT through company golf day
6 June 2011
Penny Pinchers in Hermanus raised money for the Hermanus Rainbow Trust through the annual Penny pinchers company golf day. Some items were auctioned off to staff and clients on their bus ride back from Cape Town, and the enthusiastic golfers rose to the challenge and contributed a tidy sum to the HRT coffers. The money will be used within the HRT's Children's Circle of Support programme. Dean white handed over a cheque to the the HRT after the event. Penny pinchers have supported the HRT consistently over the years, and we are grateful for their invaluable assistance.
Get ready for Christmas in July!
6 June 2011
We are once again getting ready to hold our annual Christmas in July event! This year will see the event hosted by Birkenhead House, Hermanus' most breathtaking boutique hotel perched on the cliffs overlooking Voelklip beach. The event will take place on Friday 29 July. We will send out more information about the event soon, so keep that date free and start looking forward to the most sumptuous event in Hermanus this winter...
Skills sharing with the Overstrand Training Institute
10 May 2011
On Friday 29 April the office staff from the HRT visited the Overstrand Training Institute for a skills-sharing workshop. Both organisations have special skills and skills gaps, and through this partnership it is hoped that we will all be able to improve our services and administration. The nonprofit sector is in much need of stronger partnerships and more collaboration, so that we can make a combined effort to improve conditions within disadvantaged communities. The past few years have seen a great increase in networking and collaboration between organisations in the Overstrand, and this trend can only benefit everyone who uses the services of local nonprofit organisations.
The Overstrand Training Institute is a local organisation that provides training and skills development services. Visit www.oti.org.za to find out more about the organisation. We would like to thank Debbie Peiser and her team for hosting us for the skills-sharing workshop.
Sasko distributes some goodies in Zwelihle
10 May 2011
On 19 April Sasko visited our Zwelihle branch of our Children's Circle of Support programme to distribute lunch boxes and water bottles to the programme's children. They were very excited get their own lunch boxes Our thanks go to Gavin Arendse from Sasko for organising the donation. Gavin is the local distributer for Sasko, and he approached the HRT asking how he and Sasko could contribute to the programme. If there are any other corporations who have promotional items to distribute that could be of use to our programmes, please let us know.
Birkenhead House becomes the Easter Bunny for some happy children
10 May 2011
Also on 19 April, Birkenhead House came to the Children's Circle of Support programme in Zwelihle to hand out Easter eggs to the children. The children's parents can't afford to buy them Easter eggs, so staff from Birkenhead House decided to become Easter Bunnies for the day. Our thanks go once again to Birkenhead House for their continued support of the programme. Find out more about their accommodation at www.birkenheadhouse.com.
Parenting Worx programme participants get crafty
10 May 2011
Participants in our Parenting Worx programme have been busy making aprons as part of the skills-development component of the programme. While the programme's primary focus is on the sharing and development of parenting skills and the promotion of the family, the skill-development component gives the participants a chance to share and learn practical skills. These sessions have the benefit of allowing the participants to interact in a more informal manner without them thinking that they are participating in a workshop, which helps the participants to strengthen the bonds and connections between them.
Take a video tour of our new offices
10 May 2011
We've been in our new offices for a month now, and we're starting to settle in. Our new computers arrived last week and the final tweaks to the network are being done. Finally, the staff in the office have their own systems on which they can do their work without having to worry about others needing to use the PCs at the same time. And now it only takes a millisecond to open a file, rather than 10 minutes!
Come and take a virtual tour of the new office on YouTube by clicking here. While you're at it you can subscribe to the HRT's YouTube channel so that you will receive notifications of all the new video clips we upload.
HRT participates in the CANSA Relay for Life
4 April 2011
Once again, the Hermanus Rainbow Trust fielded a team in the annual CANSA Relay for Life, held over Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March. The team was led by our ECD Health Coordinator, Pretty Dube, and we took turns walking around the Hermanus High School field throughout the night. The exercise was a great test of the team's camping and survival skills more than a test of endurance! We look forward to representing the organisation at next year's event, and we are glad that the event turned out to be such a great success again this year.
Click here for more photos from the event
Donors from Rotary clubs in Traverse City visit our programmes
4 April 2011
Two members of Rotary clubs in Traverse City, USA, visited the organisation recently to see how their clubs' donations had been spent and to get a better understanding of what happens within the HRT and its programmes. Sharron Zimmerman-Rowe and Marcia Billings - of Rotary Traverse City and Twilight Rotary respectively - spend a day at a Parenting Worx workshop where they were able to meet some of the Stellenbosch University medical students who do their community training with the HRT, and they had the pleasure of witnessing the programme's first male participant (pictured). Thank you to everyone involved in the partnership between the Hermanus Rainbow Trust and Traverse City's Rotary Clubs - we hope that this partnership can grow and that more Rotarians will make the trip to come and visit us in Hermanus.
Click here for a video interview with Sharron and Marcia about their visit to the programme.
Corrie Howard represents the HRT in the Lighthouse-2-Lighthouse walk
4 April 2011
In what turned out to be a busy month for walking events, our Administrator, Corrie Howard, participated in the 84km Lighthouse-2-Lighthouse fundraising walk between Cape Agulhas and Danger Point. She finished the walk with the other participating women in four days, with stopovers at camping areas and farms along the way.
Click here for more photos of the walk
HPCA comes to perform an interim assessment for 2∗ membership
4 April 2011
On 7 March staff from the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (Western Cape region)came to our offices to perform an interim assessment to become a 2-star member organisation. There is still some work to be done, but we are well on our way to achieving 2∗ membership status when they return for the final assessment in September.
Volunteers teach English to HRT children
2 March 2011
This month we have benefited from the services of two volunteers, Sally and Simon, who have been teaching English to the children from our Children's Circle of Support programme. They are qualified CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) practitioners with experience in teaching English to children in other parts of the world, and the children have been enjoying the extra help and stimulation that the volunteers have been bringing. Initially the children seemed to be a bit bored by the lessons, and our volunteers decided to up the level of difficulty and really challenge the children in their grasp of English. The children responded enthusiastically, and rose to the challenge very quickly.
While it is part of our Constitution that everyone has the right to receive education in their own language, realistically all children in this country need to learn English if they are to obtain a decent job or create their own successful business. We will be evaluating the outcomes of this brief teaching project, and hopefully we can turn this into an ongoing project with more volunteers and a teaching schedule. Please let us know if you have formal training in teaching English, and whether you would be interested in helping to build on the work that has already gone into this project.
Click here to view a video of the volunteers performing a lesson
New key staff at the HRT
2 March 2011
We would like to welcome Bathandile Siwendele and Jos Simson to our team at the Hermanus Rainbow Trust. Bathandile is our new Social Worker and Jos is our new Counselor (en route to becoming a Psychologist). We have been waiting a long time to fund and fill these positions, and our service delivery is already improving because of these two skilled individuals.
Stellenbosch medical students get involved in Parenting Worx
2 March 2011
This year we have been fortunate to have Stellenbosch University get very involved in our community projects while their medical students are doing their community practicals in the area. The students are based at Hermanus provincial hospital, but a large chunk of their time is spent learning about the services that the HRT provides to local communities, in particular the Parenting Worx programme. The students give us reports after they have finished their 2-week modules, and each successive group of students follows on from where the previous group left off. They are helping to identify some of the programme's problem areas and finding creative ways to solve them. We have already received invaluable feedback from the first three groups of 2011, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership in the months and years to come.
Volunteer recruitment for fundraising and marketing
2 March 2011
We have done a lot of planning and plotting around our fundraising events or 2011, and we have realised that without a small crew of volunteers we just won't have the ability to put on any fundraising events that will bring in any decent money. Our staff struggle to get to events organising with all their more pressing duties, and we are looking for some volunteers to fill in some of these areas where we are are not managing. If anyone is interested in helping out with fundraising and marketing please contact Brian on 028 316 4325 or brian@rainbowtrust.org.za
New IT system at the HRT
2 March 2011
We were granted some money by the Lotto last year to be used to upgrade our IT system. We currently have staff sharing computers slow and stubborn computers that have screens that flicker more than strobe lights. Everyone will now be able to do their work without having to jostle and hassle for PC time! All of our hardware has now arrived and we will be setting it up when we move into our new offices in April. More on the move in the next edition of Rainbow News...
Join the Hermanus Rainbow Trust in our social media network
2 March 2011
Thanks to some friendly advice and help from someone within the online community, the HRT has upped the frequency and relevance of our social media posts. Watch out for our posts on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and now YouTube
It's a convenient way to make sure you know what's happening at the Hermanus Rainbow Trust when it's happening!
HRT staff to participate in upcoming community events
2 March 2011
Many of the Hermanus Rainbow Trust's staff will be participating in other organistions' fundraising and awareness events over the next few weeks. The purpose of our participation will be to maintain a public profile of te organisation and to network with other key people and organisations who will also be participating.
Our Administrator, Corrie Howard, will be participating in the Lighthouse-2-Lighthouse walk from 10 to 13 March, in aid of SOFCA. A large staff contingent will then be participating in the annual CANSA Relay for Life on 26/27 March. We hope to see some of you there, and please come and say hello to the team of Rainbow Trust Hurricanes who will be walking laps in their white shirts and navy shorts.
Father Christmas visits some very happy children
6 January 2011
Between 1 and 8 December last year we held our annual children's Christmas parties for some of the disadvantaged children in the Overstrand. All the children who attended the parties are part of our programmes, and we made certain that all children received presents and that no one left the parties disappointed. Father Christmas even included these parties in his hectic Christmas schedule!
We would like to thank everyone who so generously donated gifts for these children so that they could all experience an extra special Christmas in 2010. We will be having these parties again next year, and we will again be looking for donations of gifts closer to the time.
Click here for more pictures from the event
Christmas tree sales went well
6 January 2011
The Hermanus Rainbow Trust sold Christmas trees as a fundraising initiative during the recent festive season for the first time, and it was a great success. There were a few logistical details that needed to be iron out, but overall the public was very happy to have somewhere convenient and easy from where they could buy their trees, especially because the proceeds all go towards helping the HRT to achieve its objectives and provide its services. We will be back in December this year to sell trees again, and we hope to make the service bigger and better next time round. Many thanks to Hermanus Trailer Hire, Newton-Johnson Wines, Builder's Trade Depot, Birkenhead House Hotel and WhaleCoast 96.0 FM for assisting us with the logistics and marketing of the trees.
Volunteers from Habonim help with holiday art workshops
6 January 2011
During the December school holidays some children from Habonim Camp in Onrus came to assist with art workshops for some of the Children's Circle of Support programme. About 1000 children spend some of their school holidays at Habonim, and this year a few of these children decided to give back to the local community. The Circle of Support children always enjoy and benefit from the engagement with volunteers, and the event was a great success. Many of the volunteers experienced something new, and we look forward to having some more volunteers from Habonim during the next school holidays.
Click here for more pictures from the event
Circle of Support children visit the children's ward of the Hermanus Hospital
6 January 2011
Some children from the HRT's Children's Circle of Support programme were taken for a visit to the children's ward of the Hermanus Provincial by Winnie Nywebeni, the HRT's Social Auxiliary Worker, on 2 December. The aim of the visit to the hospital wards, and to Sofca, was to teach children about loving and caring. "Children need to learn support and care for those in need and, possibly, those who are being rejected by their family and friends," said Nywebeni. The nursing staff of the children's ward joined the children in singing carols.
HRT hosts a World AIDS Day awareness event
5 January 2011
1 December 2010 was World AIDS Day, and the Hermanus Rainbow Trust hosted a soccer tournament in Gansbaai to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. The event was run with the assistance of the Football Foundation of South Africa. As well as having fun playing and watching soccer, all those in attendance were educated about the realities of HIV/AIDS, and information was given that would help to curb the spread of the disease and reduce the stigma associated with the illness.
A moment's silence was help for all those who have died from AIDS before the final soccer match of the event, in which the Gansbaai girls team narrowly beat the Kleinmond girls team to take home the specially made trophies. All the children in attendance received hotdogs after the game. The message of the event was loud and clear: We can beat HIV/AIDS if we are responsible and don't pretend that it doesn't exist.
Click here for more pictures from the event
The HRT forms a new partnership with Rotary Clubs in USA
5 January 2011
The Rotary Club of Hermanus partnered with two other Rotary Clubs from Traverse City, Michigan, USA to award a grant to support the Parenting Worx and Children Circle of Support programs of the Hermanus Rainbow Trust. Sharron Zimmerman-Rowe, representing the two U.S. Rotary clubs, presented the check to Mzameni Mshenxiswa (Social Programmes Manager) of the Hermanus Rainbow Trust.
"The grant will go towards much needed medical supplies, food supplement, and educational toys," commented Corrie. Sharron Zimmerman-Rowe is a part time resident of Fisherhaven and participates in the Hermanus Rotary when in the area. It has been a dream of hers for a number of years to create a link between Hermanus Rotary and the Rotary clubs from Traverse City.
For more information about Hermanus Rotary visit www.rotaryhermanus.co.za or call them on 082-567-9288.
Our auction date has been set for Friday 4 March
5 January 2011
Our postponed fundraising auction will now be held on Friday 4 March at 18:30. The event will take place at Creation Wines, about 20km from Hermanus. There will be great lucky draw prizes, including a meal voucher and a weekend away in Montegu, and a variety of art from local artists will be on auction. Tickets cost R150 and will be available in February from the Hermanus Rainbow Trust, Savannah Cafe, Wine Village and The Daily Bread. Your ticket buys you a light meal, a welcome glass of wine and an entry into the lucky draw. We hope to see you there!
Click here for more information about the event and to see the items that will be on auction
Investec cycle for the good of others
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Some staff from investec recently cycled from Port Elizabeth to Hermanus as part of their "The Cradle Project", an initiative that forms part of Investec's corporate social investment campaign. They were welcomed in Hermanus on Saturday 9 October by 30 children from the HRT's Children's Circle of Support programme, who were then treated to a tasty meal at the local Spur. The team of cyclists gathered sponsorship for their ride to help to fund their initiative, and some of the money raised from the ride will go towards the Hermanus Rainbow Trust.
Click here for more pictures from the event
The Cook Club in Hermanus joins us with cupcakes!
Tuesday 19 October 2010
The Cook Club in Hermanus has launched a new initiative of donating cupcakes to our Children's Circle of Support programme for the children to decorate with icing and other goodies. They will be doing this every month, so if you would like to get involved in baking and donating some cupcakes to this great cause, please contact Emilia on 076 837 4231. You can also join the Cook Club on Facebook.
Hermanus Rainbow Trust was represented at the Whale Festival
Tuesday 19 October 2010
The Hermanus Rainbow Trust had a table at the recent Whale Festival between the 24th and 28th of September, to raise awareness about the organisation and its work within the Overstrand's communities. Our nurses and carers were on hand to test people's blood pressure and blood-sugar levels (to detect diabetes risk), and we had bead work for sale maed by Andrew Juta, the HRT's art facilitator. The table was a great success and people were very positive about the HRT's presence at the festival. We made many new friends, and the long hours put in by our staff were greatly appreciated.
We would like to give a big thanks to Birkenhead House hotel in Voelklip, who very generously provided the staff manning the table with food to eat during their shifts. Birkenhead House are also in the process of bringing some of the HRT's Children's Circle of Support children into a long-term mentorship programme that will result in these children learning valuable skills and getting experience within the hospitality industry. We look forward to this partnership, and we will keep you posted with updates of how this project develops.
Congratulations to our Overstrand Dream Competition winners!
Monday 11 October 2010
Congratulations Wandile Grifhs, Mzoxolo Ntyatho and Thembela Ntyatho! These children, all part of the HRT's Children's Circle of Support programme, were announced as winners in their respective categories in the Overstrand Dream Competition.
The Overstrand Teenage Pregnancy Forum in co-operation with the Moral Standards Initiative, the Department of Education, Whale Coast FM 96 and other community organisations, ran a project in September that aimed to address various social problems in the community.
Learners were encouraged to express their dreams for the future through a wide choice of creative media. Schools were requested to select finalists in the categories for which they entered, and external judges chose overall winners from these finalists. Prizes were linked to the category in which the learners participated (for example free art lessons, a course in creative writing, public exposure or the opportunity to shadow the career of his/her dream).
Click here for more information about the competition
Come and have an entertaining evening at our upcoming auction at Creation Wines!
Monday 11 October 2010
The Hermanus Rainbow Trust will be holding a fundraising auction on Sunday 5 December 2010. The event will be held at Creation Wines, one of the premier wine estates in the Overstrand. The event will begin at 17:00, and drinks and light meal will be provided, which will be accompanied by live piano and a beautiful sunset over the mountains!
Items on auction will include works by local artists including Blue de Gersigny, Leon Muller, Marusa Mason and Lisa Botha, pottery by Anna Young, art done by a talented child from our Children's Circle of Support programme, bead and wire work by Andrew Juta, and limited-edition wines from Creation Wines. There will also be lucky draw prizes, including a meal for two at a local restaurant and a weekend away for two.
Creation will be generously providing the drinks and location, and catering will be done by Season Resturant. Tickets to the event will cost R150, and are available from Creation Wines. Please contact Salome on 028 212 1107 or e-mail her on salome@creationwines.com to organise the payment and collection of tickets, or contact Brian at the Hermanus Rainbow Trust for more information. EFT and credit card payments can also be made, and tickets can be collected at the door on the day.
Click here for more information about event and the auction items
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Join the auction event page on Facebook! |
Some of the HRT Children's Circle of Support children participate in local soccer training during holidays
Monday 11 October 2010
Some of the HRT's children who are part of the Children's Circle of Support programme participated in the recent September Soccer Camp run by the newly-established Overstrand Soccer Academy. The academy, an initiative recently set up by Overstrand resident Michael Rubesch, invited children from the area to be taught the techniques of the game, tactics, and the physical and psychological benefits of playing soccer. The demand for improved soccer training and development facilities has increased following the recent world cup, and the academy hopes to meet these demands in the Hermanus area and to assist disadvantaged youth and children in developing their soccer talent.
Thank you to friends and family of the late Mr Desmond Dall
Monday 11 October 2010
The Hermanus Rainbow Trust would like to thank Mrs Kinki Dall, who upon the death of her husband requested that friends and family who wished to buy her flowers instead made a donation to the HRT. We would also like to thank those who contributed to the HRT in lieu of flowers to the Dalls. This was a generous gesture at Mrs Dall's time of loss, and the Trust is grateful for the additional income that was received as a result. Our condolences go out to everyone who knew Mr Dall.
Anyone who would like to consider leaving a legacy to the HRT are welcome to contact us, and we will assist in drafting the legal papers involved in this process.
Overstrand Dream Project launched for local school children
Tuesday 31 August 2010
The Hermanus Rainbow Trust is one of the partner organisations rolling out the Overstrand Dream Project. The initiative is being run by the The Overstrand Teenage Pregnancy Forum in co-operation with the Moral Standards Initiative, the Department of Education, Whale Coast FM 96 and other community organisations. It comprises of a competition for school children from Grades 7 to 11, in which they must express their wishes for their futures that are positive and realistic, and shows an understanding of the challenges involved and the commitment required in reaching one's dreams.
Research indicates that children who are assisted to strive for something positive in the future, are less inclined to become involved with alcohol and drugs, early sexual activity and various forms of violence and crime. We therefore hope that all the schools in the Overstrand will become involved in the project. Children can express their dreams for the future in the form of prose, poetry, visual art, individual singing, choral singing, drama or dance.
Click here for more information and to download criteria in English and Afrikaans
Devastating fire breaks out in Overhills
Monday 30 August 2010
On the night of Sunday 22 August 2010, a large part of the Overhills informal settlement in Kleinmond was razed to the ground in a devastating fire that tore through shacks, leaving hundreds homeless and without any possessions. The Hermanus Rainbow Trust operates four programmes in the area: Home-based Care, Identification and Management of Childhood Illnesses (ECD Health), HCT/Lay Counseling and Children's Circle of Support. Many of the HRT's programme beneficiaries were directly or indirectly affected by the fire, and some of our staff also lost their homes and possessions.
Shack fires are commonplace in informal settlements all over South Africa, and a large factor that assists the spread of these fires is the close proximity of shacks. Often several shacks will share the same walls so that they can get more space out of their small areas. A strong wind on the night of the 22nd also played a big part in the fast spread of the blaze.
The most common causes of shack fires are when open flames (candles and paraffin lamps/stoves) are knocked over, setting nearby flammable objects alight. Often the abuse of drugs and alcohol, and domestic violence, can be responsible for the flames being knocked over. These issues highlight the need for access to formal housing and electricity (or other safer forms of energy) for lower-income communities. For more information on this topic visit http://historymatters.co.za/a-big-devil-in-the-shacks-the-politics-of-fire/.
View more pictures of the effects of the fire
ABSA Foundation hands over cheque to HRT
Monday 30 August 2010
On Thursday 12 August the Hermanus Rainbow Trust received a cheque of R20,000 from the ABSA Foundation. The event created an opportunity for the HRT's Social Carers and Cooks to be recognised for their tireless and dedicated work within the Children's Circle of Support programme. The majority of the funding has been earmarked for these staff members to attend further training so that their service delivery and skills within the programme can improve. They were given certificates in lieu of the certificates they are about receive from the recent training that they have been on.
Overstrand Mayor Theo Byleveld and his wife Mariaan attended the event, and the mayor said a few words about the importance of training and continued education for economic growth in the Overstrand. Paul Golding from ABSA echoed these sentiments, adding that training and skills development is essential as it leads to meaningful employment. He challenged the private sector to also make a contribution in this respect. Everyone in attendance was treated to singing by some of the Zwelihle Pre-Primary School children.
HRT celebrates Women's Day
Tuesday 24 August 2010
The HRT hosted a Women's Day lunch on Monday 9 August which was given and dedicated to the mothers of the Parenting Worx program, our carers working in the community and senior members of the community recognised for their leadership. All these women were recognised for their contribution in the community, and the Parenting Worx participants for their dedication to improving the lives of their families for generations to come. There were competitions held with wonderful prizes donated by Bosch, Ahlesa, Pick n' Pay, Clicks, Gateway Spar, Milady's, Kentucky, and Debonaire Pizzas. The afternoon was a session open to all the women of the community and was attended by 350 women. They each received a goodie bag, and guest speakers from the Dept. of Justice, Dept. of Health and Zwelihle Police station shared their wisdom. A play on domestic violence was given by children from Lukhanyo school. Throughout the afternoon there was HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing and refreshments were served. In the afternoon there was a lucky draw, with the winner winning a potjie pot and the runner up a large cooking pot.
View more pictures of the event
Earlier in the day some staff trustees and friends of the HRT attended a Women's Day breakfast hosted by Mev Mariaan Byleveld in aid of her charity work within the Overstrand. Everyone put on a great display with their table decorations, and the HRT was represented successfully by those in attendance.
Staff from Sterling Auto assist with installation of eco-toilet
Tuesday 24 August 2010
The General Motors Childlife Foundation donated funds towards the installation of an eco-toilet for the Children's Circle of Support centre in Gansbaai. On Saturday 7 August the staff from GM's local dealership, Sterling Auto, got their hands dirty and organised a fun day of building, braaing and enjoying doing something for the benefit of the poorer Gansbaai community.
The staff arrived with trees and paint, and while the bricklayer got on with the job of constructing the tank structure for the toilet, they planted indigenous water-wise trees so that the children's play area could be more beautiful and more pleasant with the new shade that the trees will provide. The children had a blast, and they were treated to a braai at lunchtime after all their hard work (although it was more like play...) painting and digging. The children have now been given the responsibility of watering the trees until they are mature enough to grow without additional water. Staff from Sterling Auto had a very fulfilling day assisting their community, and all who were present agreed that the event had been a great success.
View more pictures of the event
HRT Home-based Care staff receive new uniforms
Friday 30 July 2010
Health carers and nurses who work within the HRT's Home-based Care programme received new uniforms, which were funded by the Western Cape Department of Health. Our carers play an important role in all lower-income communities within the Overstrand, and these smart new uniforms will improve their visibility and appearance within the communities they serve.
Our Home-based Care programme attends to the palliative and health care needs of individuals who have been discharged from local clinics but still require ongoing care within their homes. These individuals’ families in most cases lack the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to provide them with the care that they desperately need in order to manage and treat their illnesses and injuries. Clients who are discharged from clinics are immediately assessed by the Hermanus Rainbow Trust’s dedicated nursing coordinators, who then draw up individual care plans to suit the clients’ specific needs. Clients are then each assigned a care worker who will follow-up on and administer their care plans.
Overberg Nissan donates an oil change to the HRT for Mandela Day
Thursday 22 July 2010
South Africa recently celebrated Madiba's 92nd birthday on 18 July, and Overberg Nissan came to the party by donating an oil change and full valet to one of the HRT's vehicles. The car came back spotlessly clean and in great working condition. We would like to thank the staff at Overberg Nissan for their time and energy. They have extended the donation to include a monthly wash, which will be a great help with all the driving that the vehicle does, often on dirt roads.
Holiday art workshops in Zwelihle
Monday 19 July 2010
On the 7th and 8th of July the Hermanus Rainbow Trust held art workshops for some of the children who are part of our Children's Circle of Support programme. The workshop was facilitated by Marley Ketteringham, a learner at Rustenburg Girls High. Marley volunteered to do some community work during her school holidays.
The children where asked to draw things from the world around them - what they saw in the streets and in their day to day lives. They interpreted the theme in many different ways, and some creative talent emerged from the children. Some children that showed particular potential will be carrying on with their art through the Hermanus Rainbow Trust's after-school activities programme so that they can develop their talents and put their skills to good use in later life. We would like to thank Marley for her involvement. Anyone wishing to volunteer in a similar capacity should please contact us to find out how to get involved.
View more of the childrens' pictures
Parenting Worx goes from strength to strength
Tuesday 13 July 2010
Our Parenting Worx programme is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. The committed groups of pregnant women and mothers are receiving valuable child-care lessons from a variety of health and parenting experts. On Wednesday 7 July they were paid a visit by an occupational therapist who taught them the techniques involved in baby massage. This important bonding excercise, which can greatly benefit both mother and child, was unfamiliar to our programme participants prior to the workshop. The Parenting Worx programme aims to re-establish the culture of parenting and families within our communities. Parenting skills have disappeared as the family structure has disintegrated, and parents ofetn do not have any appropriate role models from whom they can receive guidance and assistance for their parenting.
View more pictures from the Parenting Worx workshops
HRT's Children's Circle of Support Children go to watch the World Cup!
Monday 28th June 2010
Three lucky children who are part of the HRT's Children's Circle of Support programme received the once in a lifetime opportunity to watch the Netherlands play Cameroon at Cape Town Stadium on Thursday 24 June. The tickets were donated by the Starfish Foundation, one of the Children's Circle of Support programme's main donors. The Starfish Foundation randomly selected the three children, who were taken by one of the HRT's Social Carers. They only managed to get out of the soccer traffic and back to Hermanus in the early hours of the morning, but they had an amazing night that they will never forget. We would like to give a huge thank you to the Starfish Foundation for making these children's dreams come true!
Awesome Rainbow Day!
Monday 14th June 2010
Our Awesome Rainbow Day fundraising event on 11 June 2010 was a great success. Sunny skies and a festive spirit helped the HRT to get itself known throughout the Overstrand. Although the event did not succeed in reaching its funding target, it was still invaluable in creating awareness and a strong presence in the region for the Hermanus Rainbow Trust. Hundreds of people's faces were painted, and corporate teams battled it out for top honours at the Soccer Kick-Off Extravaganza in Stanford. The event was enjoyed by all, and we would like to extend a huge thanks to all those who helped to make it happen.
Find out more about what happened at the event, and to see who supported us on the day
Graduation ceremony held for participants in Governance & Leadership Training Course
Monday 31th May 2010
On Wednesday 26 May, members of the governing bodies of Khanya and Masizakhe educare centres received their certificates for having completed their training courses in Governance & Leadership. The emphasis of the course lay in providing educare governing bodies with the skills and tools necessary for ensuring that Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities are well-run, sustainable, and provide quality care and stimulation for the children who attend these centres. The course was developed and facilitated by Mzameni Mshenxiswa, the Education Manager for the Hermanus Rainbow Trust. Topics that were covered in the course included:
- Governance & management
- Child legislation
- Leadership
- Financial management
- Importance of ECD
The HRT's ECD Assistance programme works with govenrning boards and staff from ECD centres to work towards improving facilties, quality of care and professionalisation of management. This course made a great contribution towards these two ECD centres becoming more self-reliant and sustainable.
One of the course participants, Mncedisi Rasonti, conveyed what he has learnt from the course in a testemonial letter to the Hermanus Rainbow Trust. View this testemonial.
Eastcliff Spar prepares for Awesome Rainbow Day
Friday 28th May 2010
Preparations for Awesome Rainbow Day & Soccer Extravaganza are well underway, and Eastcliff Spar decided to get into the spirit early! HRT face-painters went to Spar on Wednesday to brighten up staff faces with flags, colours and patterns. HRT face painters will be stationed outside Eastcliff Spar on the morning of Friday 11 June, and everyone is invoted to to come and get their faces painted and to enjoy the other soccer festivities that will be happening in Eastcliff Village shopping centre. Awesome Rainbow Day is going to be a huge event, so get ready and get excited!
Find out more about Awesome Rainbow Day & Soccer Extravaganza!
HRT has Environmental Health Exhibition at Zwelihle Community Hall
Monday 17th May 2010
On 12 May 2010 the HRT set up a table at the Zwelihle Community Hall as a part of a municipal event that provided exhibition space for local NPOs to showcase their environmental health-related services and to create awareness. The HRT decided to focus on environmental health, as this is a massive factor in the prevention and treatment of illnesses. Our Identifiaction and Management of Childhood Illnesses coordinator, Pretty Dube, and our counsellor, Winnie Nywebeni, spoke to community members who attended the event about how they could minimise their risks of contracting and spreading illnesses by paying attention to their immediate environments and personal hygiene. The table was a great success, and it gave community members a chance to engage with the HRT's services in an informative and stimulating atmosphere.
View more pictures from the Environmental Health Exhibition
Community Meetings Held Throughout the Overstrand
Thursday 29 April 2010
Between the 13th to the 28th of April, the Hermanus Rainbow Trust held community meetings at four of its major areas of service within the Overstrand. The purpose of these meetings were to inform our beneficiary communities about what services we provide in their areas, and how they can access these services if they need to. We also encouraged those who attended to ask any questions about the HRT and its services, to voice any complaints that they may have with our services, and to suggest any ways that we could improve our services. The events were well attended, and everyone enjoyed wholesome food prepared by our carers after the meetings were finished.
The Zwelihle meeting had the largest attendance, and the HRT staff were thanked for their contributions to the community. Mayor Theo Beyleveld addressed the audience, and the new trustees were introduced. The highlight of the evening was when Ivan Vokwana was awarded with the Volunteer of the Year Award for his tireless work making the streets of Zwelihle beautiful, green and tidy.
We will still be having a community meeting in Mount Pleasant, to which we will be inviting the general public to attend and to get a feel of the HRT's involvement in our communities.
View more pictures from the Zwelihle meeting
Measles and Polio Vaccination Drive
Monday 26 April 2010
In the two weeks between the 4th and 23rd of April, the Hermanus Rainbow Trust partnered with the Department of Health to roll out the national measles and polio vaccination campaign in the Overstrand region. It was sometimes difficult to render these services to Overstrand children in the middle of a municipal workers' strike (at times having to set up tables on the pavement because libraries and other facilties were closed), but the drive was a great success. A staggering 95% of all children in the Overstrand were vaccinated, eliminating the risk that these children might contract these illnesses. This is a truly remarkable feat! Thanks to the staff at the Department of Health for another successful partnership.
Hermanus Rainbow Trust Goes On Air
Thursday 14 April 2010
Corrie Howard (HRT Administrator) and Brian Kilbey (HRT Funding Manager) were interviewed on Whale Coast FM as part of the radio station's new initiative of giving local NPOs a chance to inform the community about who they are and what they do. Half and hour went by very quickly, and Corrie and Brian only managed to speak about one or two of the HRT's programmes, so it was decided that we would be given a monthly slot on air.
The next time you can catch the HRT on Whale Coast FM will be on the 26th of May. For those of you in the Overstrand, tune into 96.00 FM at 11:30 to hear more about us and what we're up to in our communities.
Zwelihle Children's Sports Day a great success
Monday 28 March 2010
The inaugural Zwelihle Children's Sports Day was held at the Zwelihle sports grounds on Friday 26 March 2010. The event was organised by the Overstrand Municipality and partnered by the Hermanus Rainbow Trust. Children from creches and primary schools were invited to attend on the morning and afternoon of their school break-up day. They were placed in teams, with each team being given the name of a country participating in the soccer world cup. The smaller children ran in sack races and egg & spoon races, while the older children played soccer and netball. The children had plenty of fun, and snacks were provided.
Overstrand Mayor Theo Beyleveldt visited the event to see what was happening, and was pleased to see the event running so smoothly and the children having fun.
Thanks must also go to members of the Ovestrand Junior Council, who supervised the participating groups of children. Staff from the Overstrand Trianing Institute painted children's faces with the flags of their teams' countries.
After the event, staff teams from the municipality and the Hermanus Rainbow Trust played soccer against each other. The score was 1-1 after full time, and the Overstrand municipal team sneaked ahead and took the match on penalties.
View more pictures from the event
Our Administrator participates in Lighthouse to Lighthouse Walk
Tuesday 23 March 2010
The Hermanus Rainbow Trust's Administrator, Corrie Howard, participated in the 2010 Lighthouse to Lighthouse Walk in aid of Overstrand Hospice. The event, beginning on Thursday 18 March held over five days, took participants along the coast from the lighthouse at Cape Agulhas to the lighthouse at Danger Poit, Gansbaai. Many social development practitioners took part, and the time spent together allowed for much discussion and networking around development within the Overstrand. Corrie survived the trek with a few blisters and stiff limbs, and said that the experience was incredible.
Social development is a coordinated effort that requires everyone's cooperation and effort, and was heartening to see such a strong commitment from practitioners within the Overstrand to supporting the work of the Overstrand Hospice. The Hermanus Rainbow Trust is proud to have supported this initiative.
View more pictures from the event
Hermanus Rainbow Trust launches a blog
Tuesday 16 March 2010
Coinciding with the launch of our new website, we have created Rainbow Ramblings, our new blog. We want you to know what's happing in world of the Hermanus Rainbow Trust, and we want to know what's happening in your world as well. While our website will remain the best source of information on our projects and organisational activities, Rainbow Ramblings will allow you to interact with us on a more informal level. Our resident bloggers will be posting blog entries regularly, and we invite you to post comments, give us feedback and just say hello! Every month we will be running a poll on the blog so we can find out what makes you tick and how you feel about some important issues that we face as a society and as communities
In addition to our blog, we are now also increasing our profiles and activity on twitter and facebook. For online donations and more in-depth programme evaluations and statistics, visit our Greater Good SA page. We will also be sending out monthly newsletters containing stories, successes, news and interesting happenings at the Trust. Sign up to receive our newsletter and stay informed!
We've fully arrived online, and we hope that through interacting with our social media you can feel and become part of our team as we strive to paint a rainbow of hope and opportunity! We'll hear from you soon.
Hermanus Rainbow Trust team participates in CANSA Relay for Life
Monday 1 March 2010
A dedicated and exhausted team from the Hermanus Rainbow Trust took part in the 2010 CANSA Relay for Life on Saturday 27 / Sunday 28 February. The event required teams to keep walking around the Hermanus Primary School's sports field from 4pm on Saturday until 9am on Sunday.
The event was a great team-building exercise, and the Rrainbow Trust participants were able to get to know each other better in a less formal setting. This is an essential process in developing a staff component that is able to work well together and to understand each other better. Many other organisations and businesses also participated in the event, which allowed the Ranbow Trust team to network and get to know other development practitioners and donors from Hermanus. All who participated felt that it was rewarding experience.
