Lighting up lives

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A Mossel Bay non-profit organisation (NPO) has supplied solar LED lights to Grade 12s at four schools in the area.

This is so load shedding will not affect the learner's studies and they will have a fair chance of passing matric.

The NPO, Heart to Heart Care Centre, handed over the lights at Hillcrest, Indwe, Sao Bras and Great Brak secondary school.

In total 726 lights were provided: To Hillcrest 214 lights, to Indwe 228, to Sao Bras 186 and Great Brak, 98.

The lights can be recharged using a cable and electricity, or they have a small solar panel at the back, which can be placed in sunlight.

The Heart to Heart Care Centre, which is also a public benefit organisation, is the social justice arm of New Life Church in Heiderand, explains Erica Caetano, the CEO of Heart to Heart.

This Indwe learner could not take her eyes off her special gift.

Hugely excited

She says the Grade 12s were hugely excited to receive the lights. "They almost shouted the roof off. They were extremely grateful."

Heart to Heart Care Centre chief operations officer Yolandi Venkile came up with the idea of the lights.

Venkile said: "Last year, we noticed the impact of load shedding on Grade 12s. Homes can burn down because candles fall over."

She knew her dream of distributing lights would not come cheaply, but in the end 800 lights were obtained. Those now remaining after the delivery of the 726 to Grade 12s, will be given to needy families.

Rock Church in California, which has been sponsoring Heart to Heart's projects for the past 10 years, provided the funds for the lights.

During a surprise visit to Heart to Heart in February, Rock Church representatives asked if there were any new initiatives Heart to Heart was working on, so Heart to Heart told them of Venkile's dream.

Heart to Heart's Roxzaan Dirk, Yolandi Venkile, Erica Caetano and Mandy James are pleased to help learners in a practical way. Absent: Nyasha Sibanda. Photo: Linda Sparg

Grateful

Heart to Heart is grateful to the local companies who managed to obtain so many lights for them and at a reasonable price. "We like to use local firms," Caetano said.

She also noted that they were good quality lights, which would last. "Heart to Heart strives for excellence."

The NPO was founded in 1998 and will have its 25th anniversary in July. "This is a good way of celebrating," Caetano said.

Venkile said: "We wish the Grade 12s all the best for this June exam and for the rest of the year. Usually you apply for tertiary education using your June exam results."

The school principals were appreciative of the lights and they emphasised the fact that matrics now have no excuses for not doing well.

Grade 12s at Sao Bras.

Empowered

Caetano enthused: "Heart to Heart has empowered 726 Grade 12s to keep on shining. We are always keen to support the community holistically. Much of what we do is private, confidential work, that we have to keep quiet about, out of respect for people, but now it is good that we can show people's smiles."

Heart to Heart took photographs and videos at the schools, showing the learners, delighted with their new lights.

See a video on Heart to Heart's Facebook page.

Call Heart to Heart (044 693 0828) if you would like to support its efforts.

Great Brak Secondary School Grade 12s, waving their lights joyfully.