Paarl Rotary sees care centre completed
2006-07-06
WHILE songwriter Phil Collins may have sung about a young girl with blisters on the souls of her feet begging, the Paarl Rotary Club, in conjunction with the Salvation Army, is doing something about helping people like her.
The two organisations have joined forces to build the Island of Hope Care Centre in the business district of the town at a cost of almost R3 million.
It will be able to assist up to 40 pre-teenage children with HIV/Aids, or those who have been abused or raped.
They will be able to stay there either as overnight guests or for up to 90 days in special circumstances where permanent accommodation or guardianship can be organised.
There are also two en-suite rooms that can accommodate a total of four women and their babies or toddlers if the need arises.
An apartment for the Salvation Army overseer and his family has also been included, while another small flat is available for house parents who will care for the children and women.
The project forms part of the Paarl Rotary Club’s Centennial Project to celebrate Rotary International’s 100th anniversary last year.
The project suffered a setback in December when the original house in which the Salvation Army overseer lived, burnt down due to an electrical fault in the ceiling.
Final work on restoring the house and incorporating it into the rest of the project is being done.
The Salvation Army will be tasked with running the centre and besides the accommodation facilities, there will also be a “daily drop-in centre” for the counselling of abused women and children.
A second-hand clothes shop has been set up to help raise funds to keep the centre operational.
Paarl Rotary past president Chubby Howell said the amount of goodwill generated by the project since it was conceptualised in November 2003 was unbelievable.
“We have been able to draw on the goodwill of so many builders and companies in the town to get this project to the stage it is at present. Other funds have been raised through wine auctions, the raffle of a motorcar and a cycle race.
“Guys like Charles Back from Fairview Wine Estate, who won the R200 000 Audi A4 we raffled, promptly gave the car back to us and we were able to sell it and raise even more funds.
“We have raised R2,7 million of the money up to now and have taken out an overdraft for the remaining R300 000 so that we can furnish the facilities.
“We hope to add a few extras so that it feels more like home rather than an institution,” said Howell.
The buildings were handed over to the Salvation Army’s Territorial Commander, Commander Trevor Tuck, this week by Rotary District Governor, Johann Gerber. It is expected to open shortly.
People that are interested in making a donation may contact Chubby Howell on 869-8066 or e-mail chubby@donkerhoek.co.za.
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