Seasons change and time passes, and for each of us there comes a time to reminisce, look back on happy memories, ‘pass on the baton’ and take on new challenges – whilst still keeping ‘a finger in the pie’ where possible!  And with that in mind we would like to share the following changes in  our volunteer team.   In this newsflash we thank Rose and Marlise for their splendid contribution to our project over many years. And we welcome Barbara de Jager and Beth Wilkinson who take up their batons.

Firstly to Rose Alcock - we thank her for being such a faithful and caring volunteer and Area Rep in Sedgefield for 14 years!  Straight from the horse’s mouth, Rose shared the following “Over all the many years, I have found that involvement with the schools gave me 2 amazing experiences rolled into one - firstly the children would greet me with a chant of "ePap, ePap" and along with that the raised arms showing how strong they were because of their ePap meal and then would come the group hug and being almost swept off my feet - their joy was palpable and heart rending and showed me without doubt how much they enjoyed and appreciated it - I could ask for no more enthusiasm and pure love.  

And then the principals and teachers - we could chat about their lives as teachers and mothers and the children presently in their care. We could talk about township life and the hardships thereof, but also they told me how grateful they were for being able to run the schools, teach at the schools and bring joy and learning to the children.   One principal said to me ‘When a child walks through my door for the very first time, their life will not be the same again, I will make sure I make a difference to that child’.  

All of this interaction with these precious adults and children will remain forever etched in my mind.  Each time I took ePap to a school, there was always time for conversation and a catch-up and a jolly good hug (sometimes with tears) but always friendship and love.   I give thanks for 14 years of being part of being part of the e’Pap family”.

The second Area Rep to pass on the baton is Marlise Basson who has filled this role for many years. Her pioneering work at the Knysna Sekondere Skool in Hornlee stands out; this was a difficult undertaking and one that she rates as one of her biggest challenges: persuading teenagers at High School to eat e-Pap! She overcame the reluctance in accepting a plate of e-Pap by various means: quoting achievements by known sportsmen who set store by good nutrition, by making e-Pap into a delicious dessert offered on Fridays to those who came to eat every day. The boys also were informed of increased mental output if your body was well nourished, and this was a winner, they disregarded peer pressure, overcame the stigma of being fed at school and at exam time there was a marked increase in numbers who came to eat e-Pap!

For Marlise this was a highlight, as was the enthusiastic feedback from the Pre-School Skills Courses which she facilitated. These courses were attended by both trained and untrained staff of pre-schools and the grassroots manner in which they were presented hugely appealed and were very popular.  She also enjoyed and found fulfilling her involvement with the School for the Deaf, run by Andile and Colina, and valued the closeness of the community in Hornlee which has been close to her heart since teaching Ballet at Fraaisig Primary School in the past.

While Marlise has stepped down as Area Rep she will still be very much involved in Hornlee as a volunteer – interacting with Knysna Sekondere Skool and Little Hearts Pre-School.  We are so grateful that she is not leaving our e’Pap family, but only passing on the Area Rep role to Beth Wilkinson.