The Val de Vie Foundation welcomed fifteen residents to its first Guided Community Tour of the year in February. The tour provided an inspiring opportunity to visit four of the Foundation’s twelve beneficiary organisations, allowing residents to witness firsthand the positive changes being made in education, job creation and community support. Special thanks go to Nation Builder for coordinating this impactful event.
The journey began at Calling Academy Paarl, a new independent school dedicated to providing high-quality education for under-resourced learners. During the visit, learners shared their personal school journeys and the HearX Foundation conducted hearing and vision screenings for Grade 8 and 9 students.
A testimony was also shared by Luhle, a Grade 9 learner at Calling Academy, who had her hearing and vision tested by HearX Foundation in February 2025. The screening identified significant vision issues that had been affecting her schoolwork. Thanks to HearX, Luhle received a comprehensive eye test and was fitted with strong bifocal glasses. She now sees the whiteboard clearly and is no longer misunderstood in class.
At the Elevation Programme, residents heard moving stories about young people who have found much-needed employment through the initiative. The tour concluded at Mosaic Community Development, where orphaned and vulnerable children are cared for with dedication and heart. Residents were greeted by a lively band performing an African song and had the opportunity to meet the founder and CEO, Meyer Conradie.
A touching moment occurred when a German ‘snowbird‘ Val de Vie Estate resident on the tour, upon learning about Mosaic’s upcoming Musical of Hope Tour to Germany, offered to help fund new clothing and warm jackets for the ten children travelling to Europe. The Musical of Hope is a powerful production that tells the story of a young orphan whose life is transformed when someone chooses to believe in her.
The Val de Vie Foundation and Mosaic extend heartfelt thanks to the compassionate Val de Vie Estate residents who continuously work to ensure a better life for all in the Valley.
The tour ended on an emotional high as Val de Vie Estate residents handed over stationery items valued at R10,000 to Mosaic’s after-school programme. These donations were generously matched by the Val de Vie Foundation, further supporting the children’s educational needs.
