THE Caritas School Project, organised by the Anns of the Rotary Club of Uitenhage South, has been awarded the Toni Stevens Award, as the best community project in the entire district.
This annual award towards a valuable contribution to the community, gives recognition to a Rotary Anns project, from all the Rotary Ann Clubs.
“We initiated this because we wanted to do something in education. We basically took two school classrooms and totally revamped them. Former Anns president Roshni Karsan started off in 2016/2017 and my year as president was 2017/2017,” said Anita Naidoo, Anns President of the Rotary Club of Uitenhage South.
The classrooms were in a terrible state with holes in the floors, broken ceilings, poor ventilation and in dire need of a coat of paint.
The Anns raised funds through their steak braais and undertook to make the classrooms more colourful and vibrant.
They refurbished and fully decorated the rooms and with the assistance of Nikita Karsan, the walls were painted beautifully with fun artwork.
According to Anita the costs involved are approximately R20 000.
“Thank you to the public for their support, especially of the steak evenings which were the main fundraisers.
“Thank you also to every Ann for her efforts in making a success of our projects,” said Anita.
Beanies to Caritas
In addition the Anns also had a Winter Project which entails the knitting of beanies, jerseys and blankets. They donated 142 beanies to Caritas learners.
“We had ladies from the community, old age homes as well as Anns who knitted. Apart from the beanies we also gave out 74 jerseys to Winterberg Primary School and knitted winter blankets to Brian O’Reilly from the Catholic Church,” said Anita.
For the winter season of 2019 the Anns start knitting from now on until then and as the first cold hits the country they will hand out beanies, jerseys and blankets to the most deserving.
“We try to reach out as much as we can, and I think we have done a good job! It has been a very humbling experience,” said Anita.
- Ladies wishing to assist the Rotary Anns with their Winter Project through knitting beanies, jerseys or blankets; or anyone who has wool to donate towards the project is most welcome to contact Anita Naidoo at 083 678 7859.
