Various Projects at Red Hill Creche

Redhill is just a couple of kilometres away from the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Some people would love to live in this unspoilt, stunning area, but for the inhabitants of Redhill it is a never-ending cast, which causes a tougher life. The solitude makes it hard to find work or even send the kids to school. In summer 2006, a bush fire destroyed a couple of houses and damaged some facilities.

However, the little ones are the most effected, due to a lack of well-balanced nutrition, primary health care, parental care, and education. Therefore, a charity organisation founded the Redhill Community Pre-School Project, which advocates children to have a fair chance for a better future. The Kids are prepared for school life, are taught the simplest skills of daily living and thus get to experience how beautiful a childhood can be without hunger and sorrows. At the moment the school operates from old shipping containers, where each container serves as one classroom and one container as a kitchen. Terra Nova continuously supports Red Hill Creche.  

Christmas Tree and School Bag Project

Shortly before Christmas and with the help of our clients, Terra Nova organized a Christmas function at the school. We made Christmas decorations with the children, which we used to decorate a Christmas tree for them. Many clients, friends and suppliers donated goods and gifts for this function and we were able to donate many goods to the school, like educational games, stationary, school bags for each child, lunch box containers, drink bottles and toys.

Happy Container Project

Together with 10 clients from Germany, Terra Nova spent an afternoon at the crèche. Our aim was to give the old and rusted containers a brighter look by sanding them down and painting them. Everyone worked hard and the containers were painted in sunny colours.

Volunteer Project

We pride ourselves not only in the organization of volunteer projects, but also in direct involvement by doing volunteer work. Here is the feedback from Sebastian Walk, who spent one month volunteering at Red Hill Creche:

“My main assignments were painting with the kids, supporting them in writing and calculating, helping them to brush their teeth, wash their hands, play with them, motivate them, cheer them up, dress their wounds, advocate and challenge them, but also make them happy and smile. What I really liked about my volunteering was the fact that I created the school lessons and free time with the little ones on my own with my creativity and ideas. In the afternoon all volunteers came together to discuss further development steps for the pre-school.

We have broadened the playground, built a sandpit, picked alien vegetation from the lawn, removed litter and cleaned the schoolroom. Additionally we  played with other township kids in Masipumelele, a different township in the suburbs from Cape Town, twice a week and offered an English course to the parents at the school, which has become very popular.

The time in Redhill sped by very quickly, nevertheless I have gathered many impressions as well as experiences. I have seen the awful truth, under which circumstances the majority of South Africans is living their daily lives and which sorrows, fears, desires, and dreams they have. I hope the work I have done at Redhill pre-school contributes to a better future for the kids and I am hoping that they keep optimistic and get a fair chance in life to fulfil their wishes and dreams.”