Camps Bay High School’s Interact Society recently ran a Clothing Drive to benefit the Hebron Project and handed over the collected items to the Project.
Hannah Steyn from the Hebron Project NPO, said that the Hebron Project NPO started in 2016 with the aim to invest in the lives and futures of our township children. The need for food, clothing and education are all urgent needs not being met in the lives of many of our bright, young kids who are this country’s future. The plight of scores of refugee children is even more urgent and it is here that Unfold Preloved has stepped in to help us send kids to school where they get a meal, validation, education and a safe place to play.
Steyn said they do this through their EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH THRIFT project. Parents understand the need for education, but for many, there is scarce money for food, let alone school fees and school needs. Their project provides a way for the mothers to be entrepreneurs, buying and selling good-quality preloved clothing in the community to pay for school fees. Since this project started, some of our young moms have started selling clothing to send their children to school and another two moms have started their own community school for Shona speaking refugee children who do not have access to schooling. They have managed to do this through the fund-raising from the thrift we supply to them.
Kirsten Mobsby, Head of Service at Camps Bay High School, said that when they were approached to help the Hebron Project, they didn’t have to think twice about it. “We love getting involved in projects that empower people and the Hebron Project does just that. The project was initially started as a market for women and children’s clothing as these items sell fast but they also use any men’s clothing donated to them. We must thank everyone in our community who donated to this project and to members of our Interact Society who sifted through the items, sorting them into different categories.”
Concluded Steyn, “The knock-on effect of this women’s empowerment is amazing to witness! The school started in January 2021 with 8 children and has since expanded into larger premises 3 times as it has grown to 77 children! We help many moms pay for school fees through thrift. Thank you to everyone who is contributing, we are so grateful!”
Photos supplied