By Bridget Johnsen | Project Leader
Thanks to the faithful few that continue to support us in a tough global economy!! With close to 30% unemployment and many struggling to make ends meet in South Africa, we have fallen behind on our 2019 fundraising targets. We have just managed to keep paying teachers to date, but have had to create 3 fundraising events to see us out to the end of the year. We appeal especially to UK and USA residents who resonate with this project's mission to PLEASE contemplate a recurring donation, no matter how small. With our weakend Rand, the fabulous exchange rate of these contributions helps us meet monthly operational needs. This allows those in leadership to spend valuable time on analysis, thought leadership, strategic approach, funding proposals and active project engagement rather than organising piecemeal events to fill the "gaps".
The Trust Deed of the Champagne Valley Education Trust has now been officially updated and certified, and the allocation of its property assets finally correctly aligned with the Trust, as per the attached documents. A HUGE thank-you to conveyancing attorney Godfrey Norman for all his pro-bono work (on top of his busy legal practice and Rotarian activities). Completing this thankless task took all of three years.
On June 26th, we held our first supporting fundraising event. South Africa's Vondeling Wines generously sponsored the drinks at a stunning London Golf Club. Matthew Willman, official photograher to the Nelson Mandela Foundation for 10 years, reminded us with outstanding reason to push on with our cause in his inspiring address "The Mandela I Knew" . We raised R6000 after expenses were covered. Thank you so very much to Debbie Cunningham and Dave Jones for a fabulous venue at rock-bottom price! I have nominated them for SA Hero of the Month to Cape Talk Radio!!
Project leader Judith Hawthorne continues her sterling work in field, busily preparing the Celimfundo Choir for their ABRSM exam and the Inkosi Mjwayeli Choir for their perfomance at Festival in the Hills. She is visiting the schools every fortnight, slowly handing over the choirs in each school to their own teachers to conduct. This has been more difficult than planned. Charlotte Bower helps enormously by running the Grade 3 choirs. We are so excited that all schools have committed to performing on October the 24th in the annual, uplifting Siyacula Concert at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. This year we are charging R60 per ticket as a fundraiser and will be inviting the broader DBCS community to attend.
The DBCS has been invited at short notice by Disney to perform in London (all costs covered), and the Isiphethu Sothukela Legacy Project has secured a fundraising concert in SA House, Trafalgar Square on October 16th for this project. With Michaelmas holidays brough forward to accommodate this tour, the DBCS conductor Bernard Kruger had to cancel the Music Teacher workshop this quarter. Project Leader Bill Carter has nobly recovered from knee surgery (and many other setbacks), to engage again with the Departmental Authorities and to remind school staff re responsibilities and tasks with timelines. This is to ensure that the project goals are achieved. The next Headmaster Leadership date has been set as 9 October 2018.
Two other events have been planned in the Champagne Valley, to assist with funding shortfalls. Please participate or pass on the invitation .....
1. A Community Fundraising Dinner with Matthew Willman repeating his London address "The Mandela I Knew" on Fri, Oct 25th and
2. A Collaborative Golf Day/Dinner fundraiser with Kwethu Children's Village at Goodersons Monks Cowl Resort on Sat Oct 26th.
The DBCS Board is also currently updating the school's 5-year strategic pillars, in the face of decreased chorister enrollment with economic challenges facing many middle-class homes. We have been advised that the future of the "Isphethu Sothukela" Legacy Project is also being contemplated!! I am therefore delighted we can report on the many strengths of this project, and the positive approach adopted to its challenges. Thank you one and all again for your deeply appreciated support.
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