• PK OUr 2023 Graduates

After the concert Zaan took centre stage to express her grateful thanks to everyone who hadhelped with the concert before and during the performance. Then she called three names andthree teenagers appeared on stage. She introduced them to us and told us one was going intostandard 9 next year and two into their matric year and that they had all started their educationat Pikkewyntjies when they were 3 years old. They had volunteered their help, she said,because they want to give back to the school. It was a story we all liked hearing.

Then came the graduation as it does every year when the concert is over. There is a little ceremony to say farewell to our graduates who leave us to go to one or other of the two primary schools in Kleinmond, our nearest town. Only three Grade Rs graduated this year.

Theresa Els, the Democratic Alliance Councillor for this ward stepped on stage to announce thatour graduates will go to school with new uniforms and sports gear and a backpack with all thestationery they require. The municipality supplies her with an amount of money to spend ondeserving NPOs and she told the audience she thinks the Pikkewyntjies children richly deserveto be equipped with everything they need when they start school. Thunderous applausegreeted this statement from appreciative family members and friends of the school.

Zaan thanked her for her wonderful generosity to our children and moved on to thank thestalwart team which runs The Second Hand Shop in the village earning enough money toprovide for the salaries of two of the teachers. They are the managers, Gloria and Sandra andthe team of ladies who serve the customers. Zaan also warmly thanked our Chairman of theBoard, Richard, who has also along the way become the janitor now that his ability to fix andbuild pretty much anything - and his willingness to be asked - has been discovered.

Refreshments had been prepared by Jamie, the school’s cook and her team of helpers and the audience, having bought their tickets beforehand, was in high spirits on leaving the hall, looking forward to their curry and rice, boerewors rolls or hamburgers and their cooldrinks or tea and coffee

It was a perfect summer’s evening in Betty’s Bay and it was very pleasant sitting on the lawn enjoying Jamie’s food and the company. Eventually though the sea breeze reminded everyone that jerseys would be a good idea and the gathering dispersed - till next year.