Many children in the Vrygrond community are confronted with the desperation and misery of street life. The Generation for Change program offers these children several activities during their holidays in which they can participate and was created as a way to keep the children away from the influences of the streets. Thanks to this initiative, they can enjoy their holidays. Starting as a volunteer at the age of thirteen as a youth developer, our staff member Samantha is now the leader of the Generation for Change program. With the help of fifteen volunteers, for one week Samantha and her team organize a multitude of activities for the participating children. These activities take place in groups, with the main goal being to entertain and educate. The children are led in activities such as singing, team games and also take part in motivational talks as well as learn lessons about hygiene and how to be safe in the township. These days are finally embellished by a nice shared lunch between volunteers and children.
Interview with Chelsea Wilson, a fashion design student from Cape Town who makes her products in collaboration with our sewing center. "A year and a half ago I started a business that manufactures and sells socks. Recently I decided to also make functional bags, for laptops, gardening tools etc. My products are made from 100% organic fabrics and manufactured in a sustainable way. I chose to work with the ladies in the sewing center of Where Rainbows Meet because I have always been concerned with uplifting the community. The ladies here have the skills, but might not have the means to turn their creations into something that can actually provide them with an income. I first heard about Where Rainbows Meet a year ago from a friend who works as a social worker. Since then, I developed a relationship with the women at the center seeing as it is important to have a connection with the people you work with. This collaboration is mutually beneficial in which we help each other. They are very willing, eager and enthusiastic about working with me. I hope to sell these bags at a few retailers around Cape Town. My products are already sold at a few of these retailers, like SAM in Breestreet and Cloth and Steel in Kloff Street. I am also building an online store to sell these products to customers anywhere around the world."
This afternoon, women from all over the Capricorn area gathered at Where Rainbows Meet to travel together to Steenberg to the Full Gospel Church to take part in the Networking Divas Conference. The conference, which was being streamed online all over the world, was hosted by Ms. Monica Sparks in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Ms. Sparks is an entrepreneur who among other ventures, hosts a talk radio show on weekday mornings in the United States. At Rainbows, over 125 women registered with the staff and volunteers with many more joining once the group had arrived at the church. After a brief introduction from the Rainbows director, the live-stream began as the women joined the conference as spectators even from 13,567 kilometers away.