Kudu 02

We take hands ... Content

Foreword 1

Elisabeth - 90 1

Ons bou voort 2-3

Bursary student SImoney 4

Crocodile - Ruhan’s picture 4

They who serve 5

Thank you - Food for life! 6

Crocodile - Carmen’s text 6

Rainbow country 7

Yvonne Keuls 7

Drums of the Kingdom 8

Kudu contacts 8

I was invited by Ms Bonnie

Sesenyamotse, Director, Education

Management Development Centre

Southern Cape & Karoo, to discuss

our school's projects and achieve-

ments on May 11th in George at a

gathering of senior educationalists;

civic, religious, and private enthusi-

asts involved in laudable initiatives to

better the lives of our rural peoples.

Diana, our principal, and colleague

Sannie, who for thirty years dreamt of

one day having "real" classrooms,

that night shared the applause as

Bonnie took our hands in praise and

support of Vlakteplaas School's excit-

ing journey into the future.

Jans Rautenbach, OULAP

Ons salueer Elisabeth!

Op 10 Junie kom Elisabeth van Nood sefamilie van oor gans die Nederlandebyeen om haar 90ste Verjaardag te vier.Ons, die kinders, personeel en vriendevan Vlakteplaas Skool, bring graagopregte hulde aan hierdie besonderevolksmoeder en wens haar veelvreugde en goeie gesondheid toe. Onsis bevoorreg dat haar naam op onsskoolgebou pryk as simbool van dieoop harte van Theo en Josefien, haarseun en skoondogter wat vir ons ’nnuwe toekoms bou.

We salute Elisabeth!

On June 10th the family of Elisabeth van Nood will gather from all over theNetherlands to celebrate her 90th Birthday. We, the children, staff, and friends ofVlakteplaas School, pay grateful homage to this venerable mother of a greatcountry, and we wish her much joy and good health to come. We are proud thather name graces our school building as symbol of the generosity of Theo andJosefien, her son and daughter-in-law who are building us a new future.

90

Jans & Bonnie

Ons eer…

Almal van ons op Vlakteplaas, en al onsmedewerkers en donateurs in Europa,Britanje en die Skandinawiese lande, bringgraag opregte hulde aan hierdie wonderlikeegpaar wat met soveel liefde woord by daadplaas om ‘n nuwe toekoms vir ons kinders enons gemeenskap in hierdie “vergete” Karoovallei te skep. Lank mag hulle leef!

Three years ago Elton apprenticed with Norman Tomé who trained himas a professional builder. “That is why I am so enthusiastic about thisproject because I myself am the result of decent training and I wishall our children to have the same chance in life. There are neverenough schools.”

As a father of three kids, Melvin again, is concerned about theirfuture. He understands the need for schools to not only give the chil-dren an education but to provide them with qualifications to face thefuture. “The rural people must have more choices than just to labouron farms. And literacy will help eliminate criminality.”

Both men consider it a privilege to be part of this project and know-ing they are a small page in a new history being written. “It is a joy towork together in our team and to receive the fatherly love of oomJans who visits the building site daily, praising and encouraging us!”

A new beginning…

Early March, Theo & Josefien gave “thumbs-up” to Norman Tomé, ourMaster Builder who erected the first school wing, to begin the secondbuilding phase. And Norman began with a bang.

Tens of skilled bricklayers, carpenters, and plasterers as well as locallabourers arrive daily to work with vigour and joy under a blazingKaroo sun. Huge trucks with massive loads of brick, sand, stone,cement, roof beams, ceilings, and evermore sand and cement arrive onthe hour.

Second wing

They who are building

Ons bou voort!

Melvin & Elton

2

Melvin Bezuidenhout andElton Sederstroom, two of the bricklayers building the new school wing.

Theo & Josefien

Turning the first sod!

he new wing will house a modernKhanya computer centre for bothschool and adult education; showerand toilet facilities for scholars andsport participants; locker cubicles;multi functional school/community halland library with classroom facilities,music room, dressing room, clotheswashroom, shaded open-air discussionarea, and visitors’ toilets. It is intended to benefit the entire com-munity.

Please remember that Theo &Josefien finance the building itself,but that we ourselves, like with thefirst wing, have to equip and furnishthis new structure throughout - elec-tronic & TV equipment; 150 lockersfor kids; cupboards; library shelvesfor 25 000 books; musical instru-ments; stage lighting, sound, cur-tains and controls; dressing roomtables & mirrors; hall chairs, trestles,etc.Now, more than ever, we need thesupport of our friends out there! A proud master builder, Norman Tomé, in the future

school/community hall.

Electricians and plumbers cut into brick and concrete, layingpipes, tubes and fittings everywhere. Norman and Jans meet,monitor, praise, consult, change a window here or add adoor there.

Yes, a Phoenix rises in the landscape, but more important, anew vision for all community aspirations in rural SouthAfrica is coming about. We, all of us, are changing the fadeddreams of yesterdays into electrifying tomorrows.

3

T

Simoney Arends, ex-Vlakteplaasscholar, studies at the HighSchool in de Rust. The famousSwedish TV entrepreneur, AnnaBråkenhielm, who providesSimoney’s bursary, can indeedbe proud of her.

Fist reports show Simoney excelling intechnology, sciences and English. Herproud mama promises her a track suitfor her birthday. She dreams of becom-ing a teacher.

After our visit she still had to preparefor an English test, and then watch TVwhich operates on batteries since theirhome has no electricity. She also lovesto dance and play netball at school.

Simoney lives with her three sisters, mother and stepfather. Her eldestsister was not home during our photo session. Amorey was adopted byher mother, and so also baby Justin in Ellie’s arms was found ailing andabandoned in a street, and left for dead. Due to the care and love ofher “new” family she is now a healthy, happy baby.

Truly a remarkable dedication by a great couple who shares even thelittle they have to give a destitute soul a future.

Simoney Arends

4

ello, I’m Ruhan Pikaan, but everyone calls me Boetie. I am 8 yearsold and with Miss Thelma in grade 3. I’ve drawn a picture of our housefor the KUDU, but in school I like sums and especially football. Even athome us three brothers play football. I am happy that we get hot foodat school. I like potatoes or pasta and today’s macaroni was super.

H

Crocodile !

Bursary Student

Amoray, Simoney, Justin, Ellie & Johnny

Mother Leen & Ruhan

“I was born in Vlakteplaas and

have beautiful memories of this

picturesque valley at the foot of

the Swartberg mountain in the

heart of the Klein Karoo.”

“After my primary school years inVlakteplaas where my father was ateacher, I went to Môrester High Schoolin Oudtshoorn, and then to AthloneTraining College in Paarl where I ob-tained my teachers certificate. I started at Ladismith, and later Dys-selsdorp, but soon returned to Vlakte-plaas to the same old church buildingwhich served as a school for the past105 years.

It was divided into classrooms withfolding wood partitions, but not sound-proofed. We had no electricity, obso-lete sanitation and dilapidated toiletfacilities. Drinking water came from arain storage tank. During dry summermonths pupils fetched water in bucketsfrom a nearby furrow. It is a miraclenobody contracted cholera.

Some three years ago I approachedoom Jans for help. He and his wifeAlmeri then started the Oulap School

projects and with the support of friendsand overseas tourists the wheels beganmoving at high speed. Nowadays weboast the most modern farm school inthe Western Cape; three spacious class-rooms, each equipped with satellite TV& overhead projectors; a receptionroom; computer room; a large fullyequipped kitchen providing hot mealsdaily for the children. These facilitiesmake teaching a joy. Even the schooluniforms are sponsored that the pupilswear with pride, thus encouraging bet-ter behaviour, and conscientious, ambi-tious learners.

A dream has come to us! It is unbeliev-able to experience so much unselfishlove. With a jubilant heart, tears in myeyes and incredible praise on my lips, Ihumbly thank God for all the showersof blessings on our school and thecommunity of Vlakteplaas. “Thank YouGod! Thank you Jans, Almeri, Theo,Josefien, and all our wonderful donors.”

Beloved Oom AmpieWicomb, Diana’s fatherand a previous headmas-ter of Vlakteplaas

We praise Rev. Garth Sweetland ofthe United Congregational Church forhis unstinting support in the yearspast; and his loyalty and devotionto our aspirations today.He is truly a man of God!

They who serve

5

We are proud of our colleagues!Thelma Agulhas (teacher), Sannie Britz (teacher), Alida Kammies (cook),Diana Wicomb (principal), Susan Wiid (caterer), Berenice Philander (secretary), Andries Snel (factotum)

Diana Wicomb

n 2005 the Dutch school Zeister Schoolvereeniging celebrat-ed its 75th anniversary. They undertook many special activities for the benefit of ourschool. The pupils participated eagerly in charity walks, pro-grammes on South Africa and on Vlakteplaas, and other fund

raising actions. They harvested a magnificent amount of€ 10 000.- for Vlakteplaas UCC Primêr.A large part of this amount will be used to provide hot mealsfor our needy children, and the rest to acquire musical instru-ments for the school hall now being built.

Ons sê “BAIE DANKIE liewe kinders van Zeist!”

Thank you

Food for Life!

Crocodile !

John Willemse ofKarooCare presents theZeister Schoolvereenigingcheque of € 10 000 toSannie Britz

6

I

Yvonne Keuls

vonne Keuls is a famous, acclaimed and much hon-oured Dutch author whose books are translated intomany languages. Her 75th birthday in December is to bespectacularly celebrated in The Hague with a Gala per-formance of one of her milestone plays.

Both she and her husband Robbert work tirelessly forour school. They co-sponsor one of our students to highschool; organise special concerts with the proceeds des-tined for our children’s well-being; generate funds forparticular Oulap projects; and attend functions as ourAmbassadors Extraordinaire to the world!

Robbert and Yvonne recently joined in the Van DommelinCompany’s celebrations when a large donation by theguests was presented to Yvonne. Jan and Ria arebeloved frequent guests at Oulap and dedicated to helpwhenever possible.

For a hundred years there were only distant dreams scatteredamong weather-beaten stones on barren Karoo earth; now theSouth African and Dutch flags herald the birth of a new future.

ne of South Africa’s largest retail supermarket chains,SHOPRITE CHECKERS, has become a friend and generoussupporter of our school. In the months past they havehelped us where, and whenever possible - from shoesfor every child; a first fully equipped computer room; theVlakteplaas UCC Primêr signboard; a full complement ofcatering plates, mugs and cutlery; and a special EduCardallowing us a considerable discount on all grocery pur-chases.Our sincere thanks to the Board of Directors and theirManagement Team! You are truly “Big Business with a Heart of Gold”.

We are honoured to have the support of so many

donors in Europe, Britain and the Scandinavian

countries. And we so wish to acknowledge each and

everyone in the Kudu. However, be assured that we

will document our supporters’ activities whenever

possible, and we kindly request news and photo-

graphs of you.

This great Rainbow country…

7

Van Dommelin Celebrations: Jan, Arianne, Yvonne & Ria

Y

O

South-Africa

Roger & Greta Vande Wiele

[email protected]

The Netherlands

Angelita Nienhuis

[email protected]

The KUDU newsletter is a 2-monthly publication

Design & photography: Roger & Greta Vande Wiele

Editors: Angelita Nienhuis, Roger & Greta Vande Wiele

nbr. 2 • May 20068

This is me....

Never a more greatercynic you would meetthan me, I see theworld as full of "if's"and “but's" and "whynot's" and "whys". Charity is a waste of time,money drifts and disappears. The masters do nothave the strength to say no and executives fly onprivate jets. Jans’ and his ego are different. He isindeed a dictator, but one with a empty wallet and Isuspect that is why we all bind together. Neverwould I contribute to a project in deepest corruptAfrica but I do now. Furthermore I am proud to doso and be associated with Jans. You all know what Ispeak of. I saw his school and wanted him to knowI was proud of him. That he had done right. Maybeit means nothing to him but it means a lot to us,we the benefactors, although we have never met.Jans, we, we strangers to each other, Salute You.I do not do polite, as much the wife curse me.Regards, Graeme

Friends began the process to register a KarooSchoolTrust in London, eligible for a 25% quid pro quo UKGovernment contribution.

We are heartened by growing support in the UnitedKingdom. We receive regular donations from individ-uals and couples; from investors and professionals;from academics, church congregations, bridge clubs,companies, sport associations, and the like.

Above all, sometimes the singular enthusiasm ofone person is so inspiring that we are humbledthereby. Graeme is an established chemist and alarge donor.

Advocates Yves Montangie & Karen Moser are estab-lishing a similar foundation in Antwerpen to channelBelgium donations to our school projects. This proj-ect will benefit from government tax concessions.

Hear the drums of the kingdom...

Caroline Pearson and Graeme Hill

As from April Graeme converted his display windows into a Vlakteplaas School “information centre” generating great interest at Boydell & Keating87-89 Liverpool Road South Maghull - Cheshire

Germany

Horst & Uta Puetz

[email protected]

Britain

Graeme & Joanna Hill

[email protected]

Belgium

Yves Montangie & Karen Moser

[email protected]

tact

s