Thursday, 26 February 2009

Meet the Darling Craft Cooperative!

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

Monday, 16 February 2009

Our reading scholars get started!

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

Friday, 13 February 2009

The Community Garden

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!

Monday, 9 February 2009

Valentine's Day with the Darling Craft Cooperative

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

Wednesday, 4 February 2009

Our latest newsletter!

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!

Monday, 2 February 2009

Our new jungle gym!


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...


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

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!