Masks

Nieu Bethesda has a reputation as an idyllic Karoo town where artists go for inspiration and where more than a few have decided to stay to enjoy the quality of life, the light, the wide open spaces and the endless starry skies. But just down the road, in the adjoining township the children are destined to a life of hardship and squalor with many having alcoholic or unemployed parents. They attend a little school where everything is in short supply. I have started an arts project with 30 kids at the school and have appealed to businesses and individuals for resource support. I am volunteering my time while I am in Nieu Bethesda working on a novel and even though I would ideally love to identify a young person whom I can mentor to take over the project once I depart at the end of September, the call for support is not about money or cash donations. This is about resources and the lack thereof! Yet people seem not too concerned with what is happening to our children and make no mistake, these are own children! What are their prospevts? There is already no high school in the area and theose whose parents can afford to send them to Graaff Reinet to live with family or to boarding school will need the social and life skills to be able to adjust and achieve their dreams in an environment where they will have to be able to work independently. Now is the time to impact in these kids lives. There are many homes with boxes of old stationary, art supplies, and bits and pieces that will one day be discarded without a second thought. Or you could make a difference and post these to the Lettie de Klerk Primary School Arts Project, C/O The Principal, Barbara Vaaltyn. PO BOX 2 Nieu Bethesda 6286. These children need your support!