December News

Finishing strong 

One of the most exciting events happened on the 12^th of November 2014. It was the opening of the new library at Graceland. The first idea of a library at Graceland started with Zoë Lee, however, due to the need of another classroom, we decided to move the library to the loft where our storage was. Thanks to Imperial Managed Logistics this dream was turned into a reality. Imperial Managed Logistics funded the staircase and the renovations to make it safe and beautiful.

Right now the Graceland library is only available for the children who attend Graceland Pre-school but in future we would like to make it available to the Devonvallei Primary School as well.  For now we are working on a system that will allow children to be able take books home and return them after a certain period. However, we will only be able to extend the availability of the library once a proper system is in place to ensure the success of what we are trying to achieve.

We were very honoured to have the Mayor of Stellenbosch, Conrad Sedigo, the Graceland Library opening. He was very touched and honoured to be part of such a great occasion. During the mayor’s speech he became very emotional and recalled the first time he got to experience a library at the age of 14 years old, due to Apartheid in South Africa and libraries only being available to white people. He reminded each one of us of the significance such a library and the value it will add to the community.

As we say goodbye to what seems to be another fruitful year at Graceland, we stand amazed at generous hearts we have encountered this year and we say thank you to every person who have given of their time, in kind, in words and in funds. We are truly grateful and we recognise that without your partnership the great work we do would not be possible. 

The Gracelanders wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Goodbye 2014... And helllo 2015! We are ready for the new adventures, challenges and opportunities 2015 has in store, hope you are ready too;)                                                                                                   

August News

Mandela Day celebration!

On the 18^th of July, Graceland Pre-school had three different sets of visitors, with the same goal in-mind. The goal was to make sure that all the little Gracelanders were spoilt in honour of Grandpa Nelson Mandela’s birthday. 

Diane, Isabel, Grant with Gracelanders.

Our first group of visitors, were 3 colleagues from Nedbank who have committed to giving milk and oats to Graceland monthly. They came with 60 cupcakes for the children and staff to decorate. The children loved it! Once each one of us had decorated our cupcakes with different coloured icing and toppings, we sang happy birthday to Madiba and gobbled up every last drop.



Local Stellenboschers with Gracelanders.

Our second group of visitors, were Rayner Van Wyk (from Stellenbosch360), Abigail (from Abuzz Marketing), Tiaan Langenegger (a local celebrity chef), Hilmari (Tiaan’s friend), Mathilda Venter (from Chef & Broomstix), Janine (from ColdGold Ice Cream) and Lea, Justine and Tobie (from Brenaissance). These are all local Stellenboschers wanting to up-lift the community. They treated our children and staff with hotdogs, juice, sweets, chips and most importantly, they spent some time with us. 

Our third and final group of visitors, were from IMPERIAL Managed Logistics. They donate second-hand clothes, toys, none-perishable food products, sweets for the children (that were kept for the next dayJ) and they also spend some time with our little Gracelanders. We were able to send every child home that day with a none-perishable food item of their choice.

It was a day filled with fun and indulgence. Our little ones probably wish it is Grandpa Madiba’s birthday EVERY DAY, after the day we had at Graceland.

We are so privileged to have the support and adoration of the local Stellenbosch community. Thank you to each person who gave in kind and took the time to come to Graceland and spend the day with us. Our hope is that one day our children would be the ones coming back to Graceland to do what you have done, to give and spend time with the most vulnerable human beings of all, our little Gracelanders.