The Darling Trust

2009-11-16T15:35:00.002+02:00

Finally getting round to the blog. A lot has happened. On Friday evening we said goodbye to our wonderful friend Lara. Wishing her all of the best and once again a big thank you for the wonderful work you've done at The Darling Trust, Laratjie. We have a competition running at the moment where you can win 6 bottles of Darling's finest wine by joining our debit order club. for as litlle as R50 you can make a huge difference in someone else's life. On Thursday evening we have the Music and Art evening. Can't wait to see what the student have prepared for us. Had a sneak preview at some of the paintings and they are definitely masters in the making. Will post the photos on Friday. Till then.

A few pics of the new Centre...

2009-09-11T11:05:00.004+02:00

Hi there!

Below are a few pics of the new Centre. We're making such fantastic progress! We're still fundraising though for the final section. For more information on the Centre, please see The Darling Trust website and for info on how to donate, please click here.

Thank you!

Our Spring Newsletter

2009-08-31T15:19:00.001+02:00

Yes! Here is our Spring Newsletter.
Click above to read more about the latest developments at The Darling Trust and what's in store for Spring 2009!

Yes we can, if you do!

2009-08-27T16:46:00.000+02:00

NGOs around the world, including The Darling Trust, are being hit hard by the current economy as their sources of funding continue to dry up. As Pieter-Dirk Uys, our patron says, "A difficult economy demands a more creative approach. Instead of just giving up, we’re rising to the challenge and having fun as we go! We need to ensure that Darling and The Darling Trust are able to continue the good work.”

Part of this more diverse and creative approach to fundraising at The Darling Trust is our fundraising website launched in August 2009. The website is specifically geared towards raising funds for the Darling Health and Sport Centre. This Centre will include, a quarter-size Olympic swimming pool with necessary infrastructure including secure fencing, a multi-purpose Activities Centre and an Early Childhood Development Centre. Thus far R1,5 million has been raised, with a further R1million required.

Please consider supporting this fantastic Centre! Online donations can be made via our website www.thelittletrustthatcan.org.za

September in Darling is fantastic!

2009-08-26T14:14:00.002+02:00

Hi everyone,

Sorry things have been so quiet on the blog lately. It is high season in Darling and some VERY exciting projects are in the pipeline.

Voorkamerfest
Every year when Voorkamerfest rolls around there's a real buzz in the air and this year is no different. There are two fantastic workshops taking place at the moment in the run up to Voorkamerfest next weekend. One of the workshops is a dance workshop run by CrossTown DH. What an amazing group of people, and wow, they can dance! The other workshop being run is a film workshop. Stefan Hurter is training kids in Darling how to film a live event. The kids will then form a film crew (The No1 Film Crew) and film Voorkamerfest. We have some great plans in the pipeline for the film crew!

New Newsletter format
After careful consideration and talking to you, our supporters, we've decided to change the format of our newsletter. It will still be sent out via email and available on our website, but it will only be sent out on a quarterly basis. The newsletter will also be longer, and include more photos and video! The first of the 'new' newsletters will be launched at the start of September, so check back soon!

Darling Children's Book Fair
The Darling Children's Book Fair is just around the corner. Children can attend the festival for free, but the entry fees paid by adults will be given to The Darling Trust to put towards our education and literacy projects.

That's all the news I can give you for now. To hear more, check back soon and read our Spring Newsletter!

Our new fundraiser!

2009-08-18T15:41:00.003+02:00

We've just launched a new website to raise funds for the Darling Health and Sport Centre.
Check it out below! More info coming soon :)

Decorex 2009

2009-07-27T12:05:00.002+02:00

Above: One of our products going up to Decorex this year!

For the second year in a row, The Darling Trust will be taking part in Decorex in Johannesburg from 6-10 August. We are SO excited!

Veyonne Solomon will be going as a representative of the Darling Craft Cooperative, which is a project of The Darling Trust. The products must be delivered to Cape Town on Thursday as they will be taken up by truck in advance. Veyonne will be flying up to Johannesburg next week Wednesday and will be there for a week. It is a very big responsibility to represent the cooperative, but Veyonne is very much up for the challenge. She points out the seriousness of her role - she's representing not only the 5 other women in the cooperative, but also their families who depend on them.

We're working hard to ensure that the Darling Craft Cooperative is fully prepared for this event. And judging by the enthusiasm and hard work, we're going to do brilliantly at Decorex!

For more information on the Darling Craft Cooperative, please click here. For more details on Decorex, please see their website. We exhibit as part of the CCDI Western Province Pavilion and the South African Handmade Collection. More details here.

A message from Tannie Evita for Mandela Day

2009-07-16T12:44:00.002+02:00

A message from Tannie Evita inviting local Darlingers to mark Mandela Day. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Darling darlings,

Nelson Mandela has asked everyone to spend 67 minutes doing something uplifting in their community on his birthday.

If you haven't yet committed yourself to painting the clinic, feeding babies, taking old people to the doctor, planting trees, reading the Bible to prisoners, feeding animals at the SPCA or helping the Groeneweide inmates to use the internet, why don't you meet us at the Perron on 12h00 noon sharp on Saturday 18th July.

Bring rubber gloves and some garbage bags and let's spend our 67 minutes cleaning the main road of our town.

Happy Birthday Madiba!

- Tannie Evita

For more information on Mandela Day, please see their website

Would you like a Xmas present from Tannie Evita?

2009-07-10T14:10:00.003+02:00

Every year at Evita se Perron, Evita Bezuidenhout puts on a season of Xmas in July. The event is in Evita's inimitable style and is one of the most popular shows at the Perron. In fact, many of the shows are already sold out! For more information on the shows, please see the Evita se Perron website.

This year, we are launching a fun little fundraiser to run alongside the season of Xmas in July. It's a raffle and the prize is a present from Evita Bezuidenhout herself! Tickets are being sold in our Craft Centre and are R10 each. Although the raffle is aimed at people coming to watch the show, I thought I'd let you all know about it in case you'd like to enter from afar!

You can buy as many tickets as you'd like! Just send us your name, email address and telephone number and fax it (along with proof of payment) to +27 22 492 2851 or email it to us. Our banking details are available here.

Good luck! Here's hoping that you are one of the lucky ones to receive a present from Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout!

Our July Newsletter

2009-07-06T11:25:00.001+02:00

I've just uploaded our July Newsletter up on our website. Take a look! And as always, feedback is very much appreciated.

Darling Children's Book Fair

2009-06-22T15:56:00.002+02:00

Darling is certainly a dynamic village! We will now have our own Children's Book Fair!

On 24, 25 and 26 September, the Darling Children's Book Fair will take place here in our village. The Fair will include book launches, workshops, talks and other fun events. For more information on the Fair, please see their website. The website is not yet fully up to date, but they are working on it

We are truly happy to be taking part in the Fair. It is a great way to let people know about the three educational projects that we run and how we are expanding these projects. We will also be able to share the dreams of just how fantastic these projects will become in the years to come!

We hope to see you all here in Darling then!

Dates for Darling Paediatric Clinic confirmed!

2009-06-15T15:14:00.002+02:00

The dates for the Darling Paediatric Clinic have been confirmed! From 20 - 30 October 2009, Dr Vinola Naidoo will be running a Paediatric Clinic here in Darling. We are incredibly excited about this new venture! We had the first meeting today and from here on out we'll be sorting out the logistics, etc. Just had to share this great news with you!

A few photos from our Music and Art Evening - May 2009

2009-06-10T10:19:00.004+02:00

A few photos from our Music and Art Evening held on 27 May 2009. What a great evening!

June Newsletter

2009-06-05T12:59:00.001+02:00

Our June newsletter has just been uploaded to the website! Enjoy!

And more photos!

2009-06-03T10:03:00.003+02:00

What a fantastic day!

2009-06-03T09:54:00.004+02:00

The sod-turning on Saturday was a fantastic success! I've included a few photos below. More info will be available soon.

Blogging for a cause

2009-05-25T09:49:00.002+02:00

Good morning friends!

If you have a blog of your own, please consider supporting The Darling Trust by blogging about us? All the necessary info can be found here.

Thanks and have a great week!

PS Only 5 days until the sod-turning ceremony!

A sneak peek!

2009-05-20T12:16:00.002+02:00

The first visuals of what the new Centre will look like!
For more info see this webpage

Meet the team... Ivy Johnson

2009-05-20T08:49:00.002+02:00

Ivy Johnson joined The Darling Trust in 2008 and has quickly become a leading light! Her passion and enthusiasm are contagious, and her dedication to her village is something that inspires us all.

Ivy was born in Darling and has lived here all her life. She worked for many years at the local clinic. Since retiring, she has been involved in a number of different projects. Her most recent has been as part of the iAfrica Drama Queens. This dynamic group of women write and produce their own material. They have performed at Voorkamerfest to great acclaim.

It is an honour and a privilege to work with Ivy!

an update!

2009-05-19T09:23:00.003+02:00

Just wanted to give you a brief update on our new Centre!

So far we have raised R1.5 million, that means that we only have to raise another R395,000!!

Also, there are only 11 more days to go until our launch on the 30th May! So exciting!!

For more info, see this webpage.

Darling, it's here and you are all invited

2009-05-13T10:30:00.003+02:00

For more info, please see our May Newsletter.

You're invited!

2009-05-12T14:50:00.002+02:00

It is that time of year again when we celebrate our children's talent with the Music and Art Evening. You are, of course, all invited. If you'd like to book a place, please send us an email.

May Newsletter

2009-05-05T16:14:00.002+02:00

Our May Newsletter is now available for download. And as an added feature on our blog, we have included an archive of all our previous newsletters.

Enjoy! And as always, please feel free to contact us with any suggestions or questions!

Meet the team... Pieter-Dirk Uys

2009-05-04T16:09:00.002+02:00

Pieter-Dirk Uys is the founder, former trustee and present patron of The Darling Trust. We are blessed to have such a passionate, dedicated individual supporting and fighting for The Darling Trust. For more information on Pieter-Dirk Uys, please see his website or the website for the world-famous Evita se Perron

Music and Art Evening - 27 May 2009

2009-05-04T08:22:00.003+02:00

This year, instead of holding only one Music and Art Evening (music recital and art exhibition), we have decided to hold two: one mid-year and one at the end of the year. Our first Music and Art Evening for 2009 will be held on 27 May 2009 at Evita se Perron, at 19h00. Everyone is invited! Each art and music student receives two free tickets, but extra tickets are available at a cost of R5 each.

The Music and Art Evenings are a chance for the music and art students to show their family and friends just how much they have learnt. A number of our music students are doing very well, and the art students (as usual!) continue to make the most spectacular art. I've included a few photos of the art from last year to give you an idea of what to expect at the end of this month. We're so excited!

Meet the Team.... Riaan Neethling

2009-04-28T09:18:00.003+02:00

Riaan Neethling is the chairman of our board of Trustees. Riaan spent a great deal of time in Darling as a child, but moved on to the bigger world of Johannesburg and Cape Town (and abroad) for his career. He worked for Eskom for 27 years in a number of capacities, and locations! He is semi-retired and serves as a management consultant for companies around South Africa.

Riaan is dedicated to The Darling Trust and works tirelessly to ensure the continuation and sustainability of our good work. He is very involved in the Darling Health and Sport Centre. Riaan's passion, hard work and enthusiasm make a significant contribution to the team. It is great having him on board!

Drama!

2009-04-24T08:49:00.003+02:00

As part of the holiday programme that was run in the beginning of April, we organised a highly successful theatre workshop. The children absolutely loved it! At the end of the workshop they performed the pieces that they had created, on stage at Evita se Perron. Today we will begin the planning for offering free drama lessons throughout the year. We are so excited, and we'll keep you posted of all developments! Below are a few photos from their workshop performances...

Above: the audience!

Above: Frits van Ryneveld, the workshop facilitator and soon-to-be drama teacher!

The Darling Trust is on Twitter!

2009-04-17T15:44:00.002+02:00

Yes, we are taking the next step forward in sharing with you our latest news. For daily updates, follow us on Twitter!

Remember to vote on 22 April 2009!

2009-04-17T12:59:00.003+02:00

Our democracy is precious, and your vote is crucial in nurturing our young democracy. Regardless of which political party you support, remember to vote next Wednesday!

For more information on the elections, go the Independent Electoral Commission webpage.

April Newsletter

2009-04-14T17:09:00.001+02:00

Our April newsletter has just been uploaded to our website. Take a look!

The Darling Trust is on Facebook!

2009-04-09T10:01:00.003+02:00

The Darling Trust has just landed on Facebook! We've just started a group on Facebook and everyone is welcome to join us. Take a look at The Darling Trust Facebook Group!

Goodbye Will

2009-04-08T12:00:00.002+02:00

On 31 March 2009, we bade a fond farewell to one of our most treasured staff members, our CEO Will van der Merwe. Will has been involved with The Darling Trust in various capacities since the early days when the Trust was still operated as the Perron Outreach Programme.

As of the 1 April 2009, Will will no longer serve in the position of CEO. Lara van Lelyveld, the current Operations Manager, will take over Will's responsibilities with the assistance of the Trustees. Although Will will no longer be serving as the CEO, he will continue as the Project Manager for the Darling Health and Sport Centre – a very exciting project which will be launched on 9 May 2009.

Will has certainly left very big shoes to fill and his passion, insight and endless energy will certainly be missed. We wish him all the best for the future.

April Holiday Programme - Dance Competition!

2009-04-07T09:26:00.004+02:00

Just a few photos from the dance competition yesterday!

Our three judges: Chris, Carmelita and Julian

One of the competitors giving it his all!

Carmelita and Julian announce the winners!

A very big thank you to everyone for their hard work yesterday. It was a great morning!

Darling Tourism - a community that cares

2009-04-06T12:22:00.005+02:00

Darling Tourism have recently expanded their website to include a section on the Darling community. The aim of this section is to share information on community and development projects with people interested in finding out more about Darling. We think it is great the Darling Tourism are so supportive of the local community!

The section has only just started so there are still organisations that need to be listed, but for now, take a look at The Darling Trust's profile on the Darling Tourism website.

April Holiday Programme

2009-04-03T12:14:00.002+02:00

School holidays are here again, and it is time for another holiday programme! The Darling Trust, in collaboration with Darling Fokus, will be running a holiday programme from 6 to 9 April. This programme is a bit different to other ones we have organised in the past. The schedule is as follows...

Monday - Dance competition! Individuals and groups are invited to come show off their skills at the Darling Fokus building. The competition is open to everyone, with the winner getting a prize at the end of the day.

Tuesday - Outing to Yzerfontein. The outing to Yzerfontein will include a talk on environmental issues affecting our area and the unique fauna and flora we have. The children will also have a chance to relax and have fun on the beach!

Wednesday - Theatre workshop. A qualified volunteer will run a general theatre workshop with children, at Evita se Perron.

Thursday - Sport Day. The culmination of the week will be a Sport Day organised on our local sports field. Children will play rugby, soccer, volleyball and cricket. We'll also have a chance to play the more relaxed games, like egg-and-spoon race, and the all-time favorite, the three-legged race.

We are looking forward to a great week with the kids! Check back soon for photos!

March Events

2009-03-24T09:13:00.002+02:00

We have a few big events heading our way this week...

On Thursday 26 March at 11h00 we will be hosting farmers' wives from the Darling area for an information session on our Darling Parenting Project. This project focuses on nurturing skills that parents need to help their children grow and develop to their full potential. This project ran very successfully on Morningstar Farm last year and this year we are hoping to expand the project to other farms in the area.

This afternoon, we are hosting some of the TB patients from our local clinic, for a tea at Evita se Perron. We are all looking forward to a very special outing!

With the school holidays just around the corner, we have started planning our holiday programme, in collaboration with Darling Fokus. The programme will run from 6-9 April and will include a theatre workshop, an outing to Yzerfontein and more!

March Newsletter

2009-03-24T09:07:00.002+02:00

Good morning!

My most sincere apologies for not updating the blog sooner, but we have been experiencing a few problems with our computers. But, everything is running perfectly now.

First, I must share with you our March Newsletter ! Take a look and let me know what you think.

Fundraising!

2009-03-02T13:21:00.003+02:00

Last week Tuesday, I had the great privilege of attending a fundraising workshop run by Jill Ritchie. She has been working as a fundraiser in the NGO field for many years with great success. The fundraising workshop covered all the bases and really gave great insight into how fundraising works. The timing could not have been better, as we are currently putting together our fundraising strategy for 2009/10. In the past we have been very generously supported by individuals and organisations. If you are interested in partnering with us on a project, or event, please do not hesitate to contact us. In the coming weeks, I will be contacting existing partners to set up plans. I am very much looking forward to this exciting chapter in the life of The Darling Trust!

Meet the Darling Craft Cooperative!

2009-02-26T09:07:00.008+02:00

As a way to get to know all of us at The Darling Trust a little better, we'd like to share with you a few photos of us... This week, I have included photos of the six wonderful women who make up the Darling Craft Cooperative...

Above: Veyonne Solomon

Above: Tilla Phillips

Above: Jemaine October

Above: Desiree Adams

Above: Cathrin Loubser

Above: Sylvia Mateyise

Our reading scholars get started!

2009-02-16T09:48:00.003+02:00

On Tuesday 10 February, I attended the official launch of the Stellenbosch Scholarship offered by BlendEd, and in Darling's case, generously supported by Peter Groenen, with the facilitation of Tonja Verheul and Claudia Crijnen.

Two teachers in Darling, Abraham Lewis and Madeleine van der Westhuizen, have been identified to take part in the Stellenbosch Scholarship facilitated by BlendEd. The training lasts one year and includes both theoretical and practical components. At the conclusion of the course, the teachers will be qualified as reading specialists. The training covers all aspects of reading, and all ages, from emergent literacy through to adult education. The course is fully accredited by Stellenbosch University.

The teachers from Darling being trained will also be part of the Darling AHA-Read project and will thus allow us to reach even more children in desperate need of remedial reading.

We look forward to a very productive and exciting year ahead for our Darling AHA-Read project and the scholars themselves!

Above, from left: Lara van Lelyveld, Madeleine van der Westhuizen, Rita Uys, Abraham Lewis

The Community Garden

2009-02-13T14:57:00.001+02:00

For those interested in finding out a bit more about the Community Garden take a look at the info sheet which we've just posted on our website.

Have a great weekend!

Valentine's Day with the Darling Craft Cooperative

2009-02-09T10:00:00.005+02:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Why not treat the special people in your life with a gift from the Darling Craft Cooperative? We have designed and made a range of small gifts specially for the occasion. Below, are photos of a few of the items available.

For more information on the Darling Craft Cooperative, please have a look at their webpage

Our latest newsletter!

2009-02-04T14:17:00.002+02:00

I am very pleased to share with you our latest newsletter !

We are currently looking at new ways of communicating with you and this newsletter is our first trial. If you have a moment, please drop us an email and let us know what you think of the new format?

Thank you!

Our new jungle gym!

2009-02-02T16:10:00.003+02:00

Over the Christmas holidays there was a very exciting addition to our Community Garden - a jungle gym! The jungle gym has been very popular with the children and has added an extra special something to the garden!

Some of our partners...

2009-02-02T11:15:00.005+02:00

In December 2008, we had a chance to sit down with two of our partners (BlendEd and Claudia Crijnen) and discuss our plans for 2009. It was wonderful sitting around the table with these great women!
From left: Levenia Pretorius, Annatjie Hanekom, Rita Uys, Lara van Lelyveld, Claudia Crijnen

Darling Music Experience

2009-02-02T09:15:00.002+02:00

Darling is a unique place, and one of the reasons that we are so unique is because depite our small size, there is always something happening! This coming weekend, is no exception. Our annual music festival, the Darling Music Experience, will be held this weekend. For more information, have a look at their website Darling Music Experience

The reason, for bringing it up on our blog is to share with you one of the ways that Darling works together as a community. Perhaps the best example of this is the Voorkamerfest which takes place each September in Darling. The Voorkamerfest is a very special occassion and is a highlight for all of us in Darling.

An example of how Darling is working together at the Darling Music Experience is the Festival Choir. The Festival Choir is made up solely of Darling residents. Members of the choir have been drawn from churches around the village and have been practicing for months, getting ready for their big day this Friday! The Festival Choir will be performing on Friday at Ormonde Wine Estate at 17:00. The concert is free and everyone is welcome! There are a number of other free concerts as well. The Chamber Orchestra is also predominantly local as is the West Coast Jazz Co., both of whom will be performing this weekend.

If you are in the area, and would like to see a different side of Darling, come and join us this weekend!

A hearty welcome to our new trustees!

2009-01-19T10:54:00.003+02:00

It is my great pleasure to welcome three new trustees to The Darling Trust!

- Riaan Neethling is a semi-retired corporate executive with years of experience in the fields of HR, management, NGO management and more. He has recently moved to Darling with his wife Hannalie and they have very quickly become an essential part of the Darling landscape.

- Valdon Langenhoven has lived in Darling for over 12 years and has become a pillar of the community. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Darling Fokus and we look forward to working closely with Valdon towards a better Darling.

- Ivy Johnson is a born and bred Darlinger and has seen this small village grow and change endlessly in her time here. Ivy is a pillar of the community and is passionate about the well-being of our village. Ivy is one of the key people behind the Darling iAfrika Queens - Darling's very own theatrical group.

We so look forward to 2009 and working with our new (and existing!) trustees!

Judo Exhibition - Photos

2009-01-13T09:06:00.004+02:00

A few photos from the Judo Exhibition held at the end of the Judo classes that ran from 5 January to 9 January this year.

Some of the moms getting ready to watch their children in the exhibition.

Volke greeting the group before the exhibition starts.

Two of the students demonstrating one of the throws that they learnt in the week.

Darling's Decisions - Photos

2009-01-13T08:56:00.003+02:00

Photos of the rehearsal and performance of 'Darling's Decisions'. What a special evening!

The curtain call at the performance!

Steffi Plattner and the group rehearsing.

Getting the stage ready...

A final group talk before the dress rehearsal begins.

The Music and Art Evening 2008 - Photos!

2009-01-13T08:35:00.004+02:00

Below, please see a few photos of the Music and Art Evening held in late 2008. What a memorable night!

The percussion band getting ready to perform!

Judy Weatherly-Wood, the tireless music teacher, introducing the music recital.

Yours truly welcoming the audience and thanking the parents, teachers and students for their hard work throughout the year.

Some of the proud moms, dads and friends in the audience.

The kids getting ready to get on stage and show us what they can do!

Some of the artworks created by the art students.

More artworks!

Parents and children walking around the art exhibition.

And more artworks!

Adri van Aswegen - Janse van Vuuren sharing with the parents the progress the art students have made throughout the year.

What a great night!

2009-01-12T16:25:00.004+02:00

"Darling's Decisions" was a great success! Parents, friends and the general public all turned up to support our budding actors on Friday night.

The play centred around a group of school children travelling to school on the bus. As they get on, they share their story with the others and the audience. At times touching and at times funny, the play provided a great opportunity for the kids to express themselves.

A very big thank you to Steffi Plattner for her hard work and dedication. A big thank you also to the children involved and their parents. What a memorable event!

The judo classes that ran last week ended with a small exhibition for the parents last Friday afternoon. It was great to see how far the children had progressed. I had no idea that one could learn so much judo in just 5 days! A very big thank you to Volke for volunteering his time so generously!

This Friday - "Darling's Decisions"

2009-01-07T09:45:00.001+02:00

You are cordially invited to a performance of "Darling's Decisions" this Friday 9 January at 19h00 in the VGK Church Hall.

Over the school holidays, Steffi Plattner (an actress from Germany) has been running a theatre workshop with a group of children here at The Darling Trust. The workshop is coming to an end and the group is now ready to perform the piece that they co-wrote with Steffi. The play focuses on the different situations that the youth of Darling are faced with; allowing them to share with you their concerns, ideas, hopes and fears.

Come and join us for an evening filled with laughter, tears and hope!

Entry is free. All welcome!

And we're back!

2009-01-05T08:53:00.003+02:00

The Darling Trust is officially open! Wow, it's great to be back in the office. I've just arrived and the first thing that I am doing is writing to you!

We are all so excited about what 2009 holds for The Darling Trust. Our main focus for 2009 will be education - something which we are extremely passionate about. We are currently in the planning phase of a number of education projects and in the coming weeks I will be able to share with you how these plans are developing.

I hope that you have all had a restful festive season and we wish you all the best for the year ahead!

****

Our condolences to the family and friends of Helen Suzman. She was a remarkable woman and will be sorely missed.

The Darling Trust - holidays

2008-12-19T09:29:00.002+02:00

Just a small note to let you know that we will close for the holidays on 19 December and will reopen again on 5 January.

Wishing you all the best for the season and the year ahead! See you in 2009!

All the best from all of us here at The Darling Trust.

DARLING t-shirts!

2008-12-10T08:38:00.004+02:00

In Bussum, at the Gooisch Lyceum, a group of students, parents and teachers have gotten together to raise funds for The Darling Trust, and they have found a really great way to do it - DARLING t-shirts!

They have set up a website and will be selling their t-shirts at the Christmas Market in Bussum on 16 December. So, if you are in the Netherlands, please support this dynamic group of stundents, parents and teachers!

A brief glance back at the year

2008-12-02T08:56:00.004+02:00

Looking back can be a very enriching exercise, which results in seeing how far we have come and the lessons that we have learnt along the way. As 2008 slowly starts to draw to a close, we look back on the year that has been and study our progress.

A few projects stand out in my mind as giant leaps forward for The Darling Trust as an organisation.

The first one is the HIV/AIDS campaign that we ran on farms around Darling in August. The Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management put together a play called 'Lucky the Hero'. The play focused on the importance of knowing your HIV status. We travelled to farms around Darling with the play. After the play, the TB Care Association provided free testing for those who wanted to be tested. During the month, we reached approximately 700 people, of which 245 people were tested.
A number of crucial lessons were learnt during this exercise, not least of which is that there is still a desperate need for HIV/AIDS awareness, education and testing in our area. We look forward to finding new ways to reach those people in our area who are not exposed to the usual sources of information on HIV/AIDS.

A second project that was a major step forward for us was the evolution of the crafting group into an independent cooperative. Of all our achievements in 2008, this is definitely one of the most special ones. In 2006, The Darling Trust set up a crafting group, mainly as a training organisation - the initial idea being that people would be trained and then move on to other organisations. At the end of October this year, the crafters' group officially became an independent cooperative. They make their own decisions, design and develop their own products and ensure that their admin and financial records are kept up-to-date. The Darling Trust provides their workspace free of charge and acts as a mentor for the Cooperative. The crafters have taken genuine ownership of the cooperative and their work is of the highest quality. If you are ever in Darling, be sure to come and visit the Darling Craft Cooperative at Evita se Perron and you will be able to see for yourself the creative and exciting atmosphere that abounds!

These are only two of the bighlights in a year that has seen major changes and developments for our organisation. As we look back, we also start to plan our way forward. 2009 is looking bright!

World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T08:18:00.003+02:00

Today is a special day - a chance for all of us to stand together against the epidemic which is ravaging both our country and world.

If you are in South Africa, please consider joining the minute of silence at midday today.

For more information on events around South Africa, please have a look at www.46664.org.za and www.sanac.org.za

For information on events in other parts of the world, take a look at www.worldaidsday.org and www.worldaidscampaign.org

Together, we can make a difference.

Volunteers!

2008-11-24T08:15:00.002+02:00

At The Darling Trust, we have a great number of things that we are very thankful for, one of which is our volunteers! During the year, a number of volunteers help out in the office and with our projects. Their help is invaluable and always appreciated! At the moment, we have two volunteers helping us out in the office.

Arks Smith is a very talented woman from Cambridge in the United States. She arrived at the beginning of November and has been a huge help since her arrival! Arks has created a brilliant filing system for the office as well as helping Pieter-Dirk and Kotie with some of their projects. Arks has proved to be a real asset and has become part of the family here. What an amazing woman!

A recent arrival at The Darling Trust is Catherine Powell. She has recently graduated from Harvard University in the United States and is spending some of her gap year in South Africa. Although she is based in Cape Town, she will be volunteering for 2 two days each week here in Darling. So far, she has started to work on our newsletter and is currently redesigning it. She will also be involved in arranging and running theatre workshops during her time here.

We are very grateful for those people who give so generously of their time. Thank you!

If you are interested in volunteering at The Darling Trust, please let us know. There are always possibilities for people wanting to lend a hand!

The Talent Show - Success!

2008-11-18T10:03:00.002+02:00

The Talent Show on Friday night was an outstanding success! Wow! What a great night!
The atmosphere was electric - people were full of energy, enthusiasm and most of all - TALENT!

Omnia was a brilliant MC and kept the show going smoothly. The Perron staff were a great help and a big thank you must go to them and the Trust staff for all their hard work.

There were so many people taking part! A father and son duo played the piano and saxophone. A group of children did an amazing hip hop dance routine. Sol from Steve's Electrical told a story like only he can. He had everyone laughing! Another star from Steve's Electrical - Joanne - wowed us with her jazzy rendition of the classic, "Summertime". Such a beautiful voice!
I even took part! Wilferd and I performed Abba's "Waterloo". What fun!

The Talent Show was filmed and hopefully we will soon compile a DVD that will be available for those interested in remembering the very special night, or for those who want to see what they missed out on!

The Darling Trust's 9th Annual Talent Show!

2008-11-10T08:58:00.003+02:00

This Friday evening sees the 9th Annual Talent Show organised by The Darling Trust! We are so excited about this special event!

As a teaser, allow me to share with you some of the people who will be performing...

First, we have Gloria. She is a weaver at the local basket factory and sings like an angel. She will be joined on stage by her very musical family! Brothers and cousins from as far afield as Tulbagh will be joining us on Friday night.

Then we have Joanne, the receptionist at our local electricians' shop. Her jazzy voice is pure velvet! She will be accompanied on piano by Owen, our resident quilt expert. Owen will also be playing the flute for us on Friday.

Guswill, a 16 year old boy from Darling, has a voice of gold. He is a classically trained opera singer and will be wowing us on Friday with an extract from one of his favourite operas.

Also, a very talented group of teenagers, calling themselves the Krump Masters, will be blowing us away with their rhythm and style.

These are only a few of the talented people who will be on stage on Friday. Hope to see you there!

Tickets cost R10 and are available from Evita se Perron (022) 492 2851

The Groot Wit Olifant Sale

2008-11-03T09:34:00.004+02:00

What can I say! What a great weekend!

The Kitchen Kabinet (the fundraising arm of The Darling Trust) held their first Groot Wit Olifant Sale this past Saturday at the Rondebosch Craft Fair. It was a great success, and such fun!

Books, handbags and costume jewellery were very generously donated and all of these items were then put on sale on Saturday. The 6 best handbags (3 Louis Vuittons (one of which was donated by Judy Sexwale), a Gucci, a Bally and a Tod) were raffled off.
The stall caused quite a stir at the Fair! Although we still need to finalise the figures, provisionally we raised just over R14,000 at the sale! All of the proceeds will go towards the transportation of disabled children from Darling to Wilge Day Care Centre in Atlantis.

Special thanks to Jane Raphaely, Pieter-Dirk Uys, Paula Harker, Jenny le Roux, Omnia Grobler, Cheryl Holmes, Jean Raubenheimer, the Rondebosch Craft Fair and all those who donated items. Thanks also to Sandra, Lizette, Trevor and Ann for helping on the day. Also, a very big thank you to all those who donated items!

The few items not sold during the sale will be put on sale on 6 December at the Christmas Fair in Darling. The Christmas Fair is an annual event in Darling and a great opportunity to enjoy the Christmas spirit in a small village. Hope to see you there!

Special Events at The Darling Trust in November

2008-10-28T14:46:00.003+02:00

Good afternoon!

November is just around the corner and it is filled to the brim with exciting events! Below please find a list of upcoming events...

On 1 November, the Kitchen Kabinet (the fundraising arm of The Darling Trust) will be holding "The Groot Wit Olifant Sale" at the Rondebosch Craft Fair. We are going to be selling secondhand designer handbags, costume jewellery and great books! Come and join us on Saturday morning (9am - 12pm) for a great bit of shopping.

On 14 November, we will be holding our 9th annual Talent Show. We can't wait! Omnia has been working hard lining up Darling's talent getting them ready for the big show in November. There are going to be pieces from all genres - dance, music, drama, everything! Tickets are available from our offices and cost R10.

On 26 November, we will be holding our first Music and Art Evening. Basically, we are giving the children who receive art and music lessons at The Darling Trust, a chance to show off what they have learnt throughout the year. Both the music recital and art exhibition promise to be a very special evening. The children are excited about sharing their talent with their parents and friends! For those who would like to watch the show and are not involved with the music and art lessons or have children in those classes tickets are available from our office and cost R10 each.

We look forward to seeing you in November!

What a week! Studying, playing music and making art!

2008-10-20T12:21:00.003+02:00

It is from an overcast Darling, that I write this Monday morning. It has been such an incredibly busy (and sunny!)week with a number of exciting events.

Last week, we ran our first Study Week, in partnership with Darling Fokus. Volunteers gave their time to sit with children and help them with any scholastic problems that we might have. As with anything that runs for the first time, there were a great deal of surprises in store for us. First, we had anticipated that the study week would be more popular with high school learners. This was not the case, however, as it was the primary school learners that attended in numbers. Overall, it was an excellent exercise, both because children were helped and because of the lessons we learnt in running a study week.

Something that was very clear throughout the week was the need for extra input into the education of Darling's children. We are currently looking at ways to expand our educational projects. We already run a number of literacy-based projects, but there is such a great need in Darling for this kind of support, that we are looking at other possible projects and programmes that can be run. Keep an eye out in future for new developments!

I attended the West Coast Community Foundation (WCCF) Indaba for 2008. The WCCF have generously put money towards our percussion band. The percussion band has only been running for a few months, but they are growing in leaps and bounds. The classes are run by Judy Woods (a very experienced music teacher with endless patience!) and are enjoyed immensely by the children. We will be holding a Music and Art Evening on 26 November to celebrate the progress made by the music and art students. It promises to be a very special evening.

Speaking of special evenings, our much-anticipated annual talent show will take place on 14 November. We are currently in the planning phase and auditions will take place soon. Although it is still early in the process, this year's talent show promises to be an extra special one!

That is all for now from us at The Darling Trust. Take care and enjoy summer!

Welcome to The Darling Trust Blog!

2008-10-09T08:42:00.000+02:00

The purpose of this weekly blog is to keep you up-to-date on the various happenings, events and developments at The Darling Trust. The Darling Trust is a relatively small NGO situated in the town of Darling in South Africa, but do not let our size fool you. We are pas-sionate about our work and play an active role in our community.

This week we have been busy preparing for the Study Week to take place next week. Be-tween 13 and 17 October, every afternoon from 14h00 to 18h00, at Darling Fokus, volun-teers will help any learners in need of extra assistance before exams start. It is the first time that we have coordinated such a programme and as such along the way we are learning a number of valuable lessons. Our future plans for The Darling Trust include ex-panding our educational projects - something that all of us at The Darling Trust are very passionate about. I will report back on the Study Week next week and fill you all in on the details!

Last week, the newly formed Rotary Club of Darling held a fundraiser in Cape Town. We were celebrating a truly magnificent occassion - Evita Bezuidenhout’s birthday! What a great event! Fun was had by all and we are very appreciative of the Darling Rotary Club’s hard work in putting the event together. A big thank you must also go to Pieter-Dirk Uys for so generously giving of his time.

Well, that is all for this week. Take care and remember to check back here next week for more news!