|
"Many little people, doing many little deeds in many little places, can change the face of the world." Saying of the Xhosa People
On November 3rd, 2011, on our second to last day of an unforgettable holiday in South Africa, we visited Dorise Hettlich in her home away from home near Cape Town. When we visited the Kindergarten "Frank's Heaven", we could see with our own eyes, what positive impact many little deeds were having on the quality of life for the underprivileged children in the Kylemore community. Among others, HIV-orphans, undernourished and abused kids are finding a safe haven at "Frank's Heaven".
With her typical enthusiasm and boundless energy and with the help from her family and friends, Dorise Hettlich created a place in Kylemore for about 125 children - ranging from infants to pre-schoolers - who are now receiving a hot meal every day and plenty of care, support and creative stimulation.
With her typical enthusiasm and boundless energy and with the help from her family and friends, Dorise Hettlich created a place in Kylemore for about 125 children - ranging from infants to pre-schoolers - who are now receiving a hot meal every day and plenty of care, support and creative stimulation.
To build a house for a Kindergarten is one thing; the other - which cannot be given enough credit - is the challenging task to maintain it in the future. Only with longterm support can the quality of life of these poor little ones be improved, with the great hope that maybe the vicious cycle of poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, and AIDS that their parents are suffering from, can be overcome in their future.
It is incredible with how much commitment and energy so many people together with Dorise Hettlich continue to commit to this project. They assure that enough food for 125 mouths is provided every day to cook at least one proper meal - the only one for many of the children. And providing food is only a small part of what is needed to continue providing a better future for the kids.
During our visit, we witnessed the unbelievable joy of the older children who were soon going to start school, when they were given a small backpack to be used as a school bag. They could only dream of these seemingly basic items if "Frank's Heaven" and the Hettlich Family were not in their lives. We also realized how many children desperately need a place like "Frank's Heaven" but will likely never get one.
This sober reality makes "Frank's Heaven" all the more special - true to the above proverb: the sad face of the earth was transformed to one of hope for at least these 125 children!
We are so impressed and will continue to support this wonderful project. We encourage readers to join the cause - what people are achieving in Kylemore can be supported from anywhere in the world.
Then the saying by the Xhosa will also be true for little people in Kleve, Germany, doing little deeds in Kylemore, South Africa - changing the face of the world for so many children.
Brunhild Einig-Arntz and Gregor Arntz, Kleve
|
