Supporter Spotlight -The Rotary Club of Gately

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Rotary Club of Gately has been a major supporter of African Angels Independent School since 2016 – donating effort and time as well as finances to ensure that we are able to offer the very best education to our children.

Each year, African Angels applies to be one of the 18 charities which the Club’s Trust supports. This rigorous process involves providing proof of regulatory compliance and confirmation that any previous donations have been utilised for their purpose. African Angels has been successful in its applications since 2019

“Rotary International has seven focus areas, one of which is Basic Education and Literacy. The impact, sustainability and governance of African Angels Independent School make it a perfect fit with our goals.”

Rick Tudhope, Club Treasurer

Girls’ Hostel Support

The Rotary Club of Gately’s biggest and most long-term commitment has been the support of our girls’ hostel. In 2016, Sharon recognised the pressures of home living and their impact on the grade 5,6 and 7 girls’ ability to study at home and asked to start a girls’ hostel.

After talking to the parents, the decision was made to bring the girls into hostel as weekly boarders thus providing peace, routine, hygiene, good meals, and a practical space to concentrate on their studies, and fun activities like movie nights. True to her character, “Aunty” Sharon also moved in with the girls, and continued to live in, away from her family, Monday to Fridays, until the end of 2019, when a dedicated Hostel mother was appointed, with the support of funding from the Carmel Curlewis Trust.

After talking to the parents, the decision was made to bring the girls into hostel as weekly boarders thus providing peace, routine, hygiene, good meals, and a practical space to concentrate on their studies, and fun activities like movie nights. True to her character, “Aunty” Sharon also moved in with the girls, and continued to live in, away from her family, Monday to Fridays, until the end of 2019, when a dedicated Hostel mother was appointed, with the support of funding from the Carmel Curlewis Trust.

This trial was a huge success and we now board all of the grade 5,6 and 7 girls in the hostel – 36 girls in total for 2022.

Rotary Club of Gately, through the Carmel Curlewis Trust, has supported the operation costs of the hostel for the past three years. We purchase nutritious food and have employed a cook to prepare healthy meals for the girls. A portion of the budget inevitably is allocated to utility costs and costs of maintenance – plumbing jobs never seem to be complete!

With Rotary Club of Gately’s help we are providing our girls with a safe and conducive environment for learning to give them every opportunity to succeed and become the best South African citizens they can be.

“The best thing about hostel is I’m not at home when the bad things happen.”

Grade 5 hostel girl

We thank The Rotary Club of Gately for their continued belief in, and support of our school, our staff and our community. Without such dedicated partners, we would not be able to have the impact that we do on the lives of the Chintsa East children and their families.