Cape Point recently treated 70 boys and girls from disadvantaged communities in the South Peninsula to a festive Christmas party on the beach at Bortjiesrif in Cape Point on Thursday 10 December 2015. This is what we got up to!
The children, from Homes for Kids in South Africa (HOKISA) in Masiphumelele and Children of Hope from the Redhill Creché in the Redhill informal settlement, were hosted by the Cape Point Partnership and SANParks. They got to play games, eat a delicious meal courtesy of the Two Oceans Restaurant and had a surprise visit from Santa who handed out gifts generously provided by Pick ‘n Pay staffers and the Cape Point curio stores.
“The Christmas party we arrange every year is the highlight on our social calendar and this year was no different!” said Judiet Barnes, Marketing Manager for Cape Point. “We are very honoured to have had these special kids joining us for fun, games, good food and Christmas festivities.”
Andre Nel, General Manager of Sustainability at Pick ‘n Pay said, “HOKISA offers unwavering support for children living with and affected by HIV/Aids and it is an honour for us to have been able to assist them in helping to give these children a gift this festive season.”
HOKISA was founded in 2001 as an NGO to care for children living with and affected by HIV/Aids. The home cares for up to 33 children in a family-like environment, seven days a week. Not only do they support HIV/Aids awareness and those living with the disease, but they also provide training and skills development for staff members who take on these daily responsibilities.
Red Hill Preschool, which started in 2007, caters for 37 children aged 2 to 6 who attend five days a week and are provided with two meals a day.
“Thanks must be made to our extremely generous sponsors, without whom none of this would be a success: SANParks’ Table Mountain National Park for entry for the groups and space at Bortjiesrif Beach, the Two Oceans Restaurant for the food, the Cape Point curio stores for the mementos for the kids, HGTS for the transport to and from Cape Point for ALL the kids; the Cape Point staff who offer their time and put together party packs for the kids from their own pockets, and lastly a very special word of thanks to the Pick ‘n Pay staff for putting together a gift for each and every child here today – as they have done for the last 3 years,” Barnes added.
“Mostly, we would like to thank the kids who shine their radiance and remind us that the act of giving is the most precious of all, just as the Father of our nation once said: ‘There is nothing more important than giving. Tolerance is forged when people look beyond their own desires’ – Nelson Mandela.”