It was a very cold start to the day last Saturday morning at Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park where pupils, teachers and parents came out to make their hand prints for the library mural. The hand prints will make mural which will run around the outside walls of the library.

The children had a choice of colours to choose from to make their hand prints on a tile, pink and blue seemed to be the most popular colours by far. Once the children and adults had made their hand prints they then wrote their names on the tiles and a long lasting memory of their contribution to the Blomvlei Library was made.

The school managed to raise R2 500.00 selling hand prints at R10.00 per child and R20.00 per adult. In addition hot dogs, cold drinks and tea and coffee were sold by the teachers. The money will be used towards equipping the library once construction is completed at the end of August 2010.

The Library is looking absolutely beautiful, especially now that brightly coloured walls and floors have been painted. The finishing touches will be done over the next couple of weeks and we have no doubt that it is one of the most beautiful school libraries in the country, something that the pupils and staff of Blomvlei Primary school are already extremely proud of.

Thank you to all our Friends of the Trust, without your continued support this would not be possible.

While the World Cup was on and the whole country was gripped by football fever building continued at a steady pace at the Blomvlei Library in Hanover Park. There are only 4 weeks now left until the completion of the library building on 31st of August.

All finishing work is well on its way and most surfaces have been painted! The Mezzanine Level and the staircase is now complete, as well as the wooden platform along the north side. The bathrooms are being fitted out, tiled and painted. From next week on the tinted screed will be laid and finally the carpet installed.

Sustainable paint products from Keim and Harlequin have been used as well as an environmental-friendly carpet from Desso.

Apart from the building work, a group of 16 Blomvlei learners and their Technology teacher Ms. Cloete enjoyed a visit to Apollo Brick Factory, that supplied bricks to the library. On this interesting journey, They learnt about the mining of the clay, its preparation, stockpiling, pressing and burning in so called “clamps”. Some of the boys took home very visible memories from the site after they got stuck in sticky clay. Everyone enjoyed a good laugh! After that the learners had the chance to lay a few bricks at the Library themselves.

Another exciting activity will take place on Saturday, the 7th August 2010 between 9am and 1pm at the library on the school ground. We are inviting everyone who has contributed towards the Library construction to come along to the school and to leave a long-term memory with their handprint on a terracotta tile which will be fitted on the outside façade of the Library. For a contribution of only R 10 per child hand print or R 20 per adult for a handprint.
For further information on the event or other contribution requirements for the library please do not hesitate to contact me on : 079 899 2294

We hope to see all our Friends on Saturday to see the progress of the Library as well as making your hand print for the mosaic.

See you there !

Bronwen

A very BIG THANK YOU to Benjamin Sinek from Toronto ~ Canada, for his donation to the Blomvlei Library in Hanover Park , Cape Town.

Benjamin recently celebrated his 12th birthday in Canada and instead of receiving gifts he asked his friends and family to make a donation to a charity in Africa. Benjamin raised $350.00 which is approximately R2 500.00. Benjamin chose to donate the funds he raised towards the Blomvlei Library which we are building in Hanover Park, Cape Town.

On behalf of the Trustees of the TCD Trust we thank you and your friends for your kind and generous donation towards our project in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Library will provide a place of safety, inspiration & learning for the children of Hanover Park .Your donation will go towards a legacy and new beginning that will change the lives of the children of this community and give them hope for a brighter future in South Africa.

Benjamin and his family will be visiting his grandfather in Cape Town in August and we look forward to taking him to visit the school and to show him the new Library that he has supported with his fund raising efforts.

Thank you so much Benjamin, we hope your honorable effort can be an inspiration to other families. All contributions towards the Blomvlei Library assist us in making the dream a reality for the this very worthwhile project and to start to make a difference to the community of Hanover Park.

Blomvlei Library construction has reached roof height and so has Blomvlei Primary’s World Cup Gees !

Construction continues at a rapid pace on the Library at Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park. Despite days of heavy rain and bad weather the construction team has managed to achieve amazing results.

These photo’s taken yesterday, luckily during a good weather day, show that the construction is now ready for the roofing sheets which should be in place by Friday. It is expected that the construction should be completed by mid August 2010.

A library committee has been formed consisting of teachers, parents and children from the school to establish the set up and operational side of the Library once it is completed. We will be working closely with other successful community libraries and NGO’s to implement programs into the library for literacy development, social development, business and life skills.

The excitement for the World Cup is very evident at the school with the children decorating their classrooms with different country flags and projects on the World Cup. The learners also had their own count down to the World Cup and formed a human chain to spell out “10 Days to Go” in the school courtyard. The excitement and noise echoed through the school as the children waved flags and sang (shouted) Nkosi Sikelel’i Afrika !

One sad situation is the violence which has once again raised its ugly head in Hanover Park last Saturday with gangsters having a shoot out during a children’s soccer game which left two people dead, traumatized children and prompted police to step up patrols in this tense suburb. Just another reminded how desperately needed the Blomvlei Multipurpose center is for this community, to create a place where children can play safely, be inspired and learn.

Construction of the Blomvlei community library and educational garden will continue during the World Cup and updates sent to you. We are still short on our building costs and appeal to everyone to PLEASE HELP us and put the word out to anyone who you know who could possibly assist us with any further funding in order to complete the Library for the community of Hanover Park.

Enjoy the World Cup and remember to fly the South African flag high !

The construction of the Library at Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park is progressing at a rapid pace with the walls already reaching roof height ! It is very exciting to see the library taking shape and becoming a reality for the school and the community of Hanover Park.

The community seem to have already taken the protection of the library site under their control and if anything suspicious has been seen around the building site there are immediate phone calls from the surrounding community to alert the school, builder and the local police station. It is wonderful to see the community already taking ownership and pride in the library.

There are twelve laborers on site at present of which 50% come from the local community. Dawn Petersen, headmistress of Blomvlei Primary School, advertised in their school newsletter for parents with building skills to put their names down on a list for contract workers which would be required during the construction of the library. This has been very successful and provided income and employment within the community. Dawn Petersen insisted that preference must be given, in terms of local laborers, to unemployed parents of children at Blomvlei primary school.

In the site meeting last week Ivonn Kramm, Architect from arG, discussed with the project team her research into using as many environmentally friendly products within the construction of the Library. Non-toxic paint will be used and a non-toxic carpet was chosen for the floor coverings.

When on site there is enormous excitement amongst the children regarding the construction and a number of school outings are being planned for the learners such as a visit to the architects and engineers offices, possibly visiting the BMW Pavillion or Cooling Towers to watch, from a safe distance, when they are demolished. Other outings include a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, transport kindly sponsored by our Trustee, Di Thomas, of Day Trippers. The children will be introduced to the types of indigenous plants which we will be planting in the Educational Garden around the Library.

The Trust is still looking for funding in order to complete the Library and we once again appeal to everyone in the industry to support us by encouraging other members of the tourism industry to become a Friend of the Trust.

Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to join us on Monday at Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park for our ground breaking celebration.

The school is the door to the future of this community and the Blomvlei Library and Educational Garden will be a place of inspiration, safety and learning for the community of Hanover Park.

Programs which we will work with NGO’s to implement at the Library will include:
• Literacy development
• Thinking skills
• Business Life Skills
• Career Guidance and exposure to career opportunities.

We have also incorporated into the project :
• Employment of local community with building skills during the building.
• Recycling depot on the school premises
• Food Tents – vegetable tents for growing produce to use and sell.

We would like to thank all our sponsors and the support from our Friends of the Trust,

WHAT IS OUR CALL TO ACTION
1.SECURE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MAKE THE DREAM COME TRUE.
2. ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY TO JOIN AS FRIENDS OF THE
TRUST AND SUPPORT THE GOOD WORK WE DO.
3. GET THE COMMUNITY, PARENTS AND CHILDREN INVOLVED.
4. FINDING PARTNERS AND RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH AN EXTRA MURAL CURRICULUM

• Total building cost for the Library is : R2 700 000.00
• We have already fund raised to date: R2 000 000.00
• Shortfall still to be raised : R 700 000.00

Blomvlei Multipurpose Center : Hanover Park, Cape Flats.
“We could start to make a difference”

Dear Friends of the TCD Trust

You are invited !

With your help we have begun building phase1 of the Blomvlei Multipurpose Center -
The Library and Educational Garden.

Please join us to celebrate the beginning of construction of the Blomvlei Library and
Educational Garden in Hanover Park on Monday the 22 February.

“Schools must become centers of community life”

Date : 22 February 2010
Place : Blomvlei Primary School, Hanover Park.
Time : 14:00hrs – 15:00hrs

Dress code – closed shoes

Here are some photo’s taken this morning to show how wonderful
and exciting the progress is at Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park.
The very first foundations of construction of the library.

Construction has only just begun and already a meeting was held today to
start implementing at the school the first social upliftment programme.

The sessions focus on the 4 pillars of a healthy home foundation :

“Children LEARN what they LIVE ! “

1. Proud – 2 – B – Me Youth Programme which focuses on
The child’s role & responsibility as a positive youth, self esteem,
communication skills and my value and character.

2. Proud 2 Parent – same focus as above but working with the
parents in the community.

3. Proud to Learn – same course but done with all the teachers
at Blomvlei Primary School.

We have only dug one foundation and we can already see the change
starting to happen for this school and community.

Help us to complete this dream and start making a change for the community of Hanover Park – become a Friend of the Trust TODAY !

Logon to our website www.tcdtrust.org.za or contact Bronwen on 079 899 2294

Dear Friends of the TCD Trust,

2009 has been a fantastic year for the TCD Trust. We have made tremendous progress on the BLOMVLEI PROJECT, with construction set to begin in early 2010 !

We would like to thank all friends for their valued support and commitment through the years. We could not realise any of our dreams without you. Congratulations!

We are very excited as we begin building Phase 1 of Blomvlei project in January 2010. This will be the community library and educational garden. The center will provide a place of safety, inspiration and education to the community

The design of the buildings is to include as many cost effective sustainable construction methods and materials as possible. The design will enable the facilities to maintain heat in the winter without costly heating and be cool in the summer months without air conditioning. Rain water storage tanks will also be installed to catch water run off from the roof and gutters

The building contractor will also be recruiting people from the local community who have building skills to help with the construction of the center.

We have sourced various companies and NGO who will also be supplying the school with trees, an educational garden, vegetable garden and a recycling depot.

“Schools must become centers of community life”

Programs which we will work with local NGO’s to implement at the Library will include:

• Literacy development
• Thinking skills
• Business Life Skills
• Career Guidance and exposure to career opportunities.

We have also incorporated into the project plans to help the school generate funds and to incorporate the local community :

• Employment of local community with building skills during the building.
• Recycling depot on the school premises
• Food Tents – vegetable tents for growing produce to use and sell.

To date we have raised over R2 million Rand for phase 1 and even though our budget is still short of the total building costs we have decided to go ahead in good faith and start the building process. We will continue to fund raise during construction and hopefully come up with the shortfall in our budget. We appeal to everyone in the tourism industry to support this project and help us to raise the funds required to complete it.Your donation towards this project could help us to start to make a difference to the community of Hanover Park.

We seek donations of any size, private or corporate, for the balance of our funding for phase 1, the Library and educational garden, of this project.

“Creating a variety of secure, sheltered, meaningful and inspirational spaces.”

What is our call to action for 2010 ?

1. SECURE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MAKE THE DREAM COME TRUE.

2. ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY TO JOIN AS FRIENDS OF THE TRUST AND SUPPORT THE GOOD WORK WE DO.

3. GET THE COMMUNITY, PARENTS AND CHILDREN INVOLVED.

On behalf of myself and the trustees (Enver, Di, Lisa and Andre) we wish you all a happy festive season and all the best for the year ahead.

2010 promises to be a big year for the TCD Trust and South Africa!

All the best,

Bronwen Wetton
Trust Manager

Cape Town Tourism Team South, together with a number of Cape Town Tourism members, had a fun-filled, jam-packed networking function on Wednesday, November 11 at Rondevlei Nature Reserve, just 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre.

The setting was ideal and although the weather threatened to derail our plans, we were able to go ahead with our activities.

Joy Bennett of Imvubu Nature Tours was a gracious host and she, together with the Cape Town Tourism staff, had put together an informative, interactive self-guided 45-minute walk. Most of the function’s attendees had never been to Rondevlei before and were delighted by what they found.Rondevlei is managed by the City of Cape Town and has a dedicated team of staff and interns who manage the area sensitively and responsibly. The area is home to eight hippos, some unique vegetation and roughly 230 bird species.

Our intrepid walkers were encouraged to look, listen, smell and touch – all under the watchful eye of Joy. We challenged the members to return with some hippo dung, which we got in abundance – with some droppings of the Cape clawless otter sneaked in among the lot! It made for a most fascinating dung lecture.

Then it was on to more serious stuff: we looked at a case study of a local fishing community in India that showed just how damaging irresponsible tourism development can be. This particular community, once a happy, self- sustainable community, where rice and fishing were the main industries, ended up a sex tourism destination in a relatively short time.Because the initial development lacked vision, was not subjected to environmental impact assessments and was bogged down in corruption and greed, the community did not benefit at all from tourism but was instead plunged into abject poverty, with mothers and daughters eventually resorting to prostitution to sustain their families.

We also looked at sex tourism and child prostitution in South Africa and Cape Town, and examined how the tourism industry could be involved in various ways to assist and support lobby groups, and international and local organisations.

TheCode.org is an international code for the global tourism industry that encourages tourism businesses, organisations and governments to inform and educate residents and visitors. Molo Songololo is a Cape Town-based non-governmental organisation that works in the field of protection of children’s rights and the Tourism Community Development Trust (TCD Trust) is supported by our local tourism industry through the Friends of the TCD Trust programme. The Trust has done some amazing projects in various communities around Cape Town.

We were privileged to have the Trust’s Bronwen Wetton talk about its latest project in Hanover Park, where a local school has been earmarked for the development of a multi-purpose educational and recreational centre – keeping children off the streets after school and thus reducing the lure of gangsterism and drugs. The project is huge and members were encouraged to support it, either through donations or in kind.
One of our tour operator members, Arlene Hermanus of Shiya Afrika Tours, sprang into action immediately and is offering her services as a storyteller for the soon-to-be built library!

Finally, furthering the theme of safety and security, new Cape Town Tourism member Guest Alert presented its product to us. The product aims to protect the industry against unscrupulous visitors by creating a database of reported bilkers, thieves, scam artists etc. This will be a very useful tool, with real-time reports available to subscribers to the service.

We then got down to some serious eats and drinks, and some productive networking – in true Cape Town fashion!