GEORGE NEWS - Angels4Angels Foundation founder and director Marieke Bunnik's dream of establishing an educational afterschool centre for children in Thembalethu has come to fruition several years after starting with outreach efforts in the community.
These days, children's excited voices and laughter fill the air in the neighbourhood in Qhawa Street where the centre is located. Attention to detail in the brightly colourful interior has created an inviting, playful environment where they feel welcome and can play to their heart's content.
The centre opened in February. "The children spend their afternoons here and we do creative activities with them," says Bunnik.
"They dance, play games, paint, make cards and have made bracelets from beads for themselves and family members. They love all the activity and attention. They are especially keen on making things like the bracelets. They've made me cards to say thank you and tell me how they enjoy it here. It really warms my heart."
Bunnik, from the Netherlands, spends several months each year in South Africa. She returned to her home country recently for renewed fundraising efforts for the Angels4Angels Foundation.
"To date we have been limited in the projects at the centre, but with more funding I hope to later be able to add more educational toys, games and materials."
She still wants to make the garden more suitable for playing by adding a jungle gym and mini rugby field with artificial grass. Her vision is to also expand the offering at the centre to provide skills training and workshops for adults.
The centre is part of a bigger project that includes the construction of a martial art studio and new gym for Daniel Sithole, a security guard at Ballot's Bay, who teaches children martial arts in his free time to keep them active and out of trouble on the streets. The centre is located next to Sithole's gym.
Bunnik has been a familiar face in Thembalethu for many years because of her community work through the Angels4Angels Foundation.
The centre is the culmination of several years of facing some challenging hurdles. She nearly gave up on the educational centre last year after a builder that was paid for construction work, disappeared with the money without finishing the job. But donors such as her compatriots Stefan Ebben and Annemieke Heinst have made it possible to make this dream come true.
The children are keen to take part in the various creative activities.
The children love wearing the ballerina tutus, Hawaiian paper flowers and fun head dresses. Activities include dancing.
Children are kept busy with various games and educational play activities.
Happy kids proud of their artwork.
