This festive season, Val de Vie Estate residents brought warmth, laughter, and heartfelt moments to vulnerable members of our community by supporting the Val de Vie Foundation’s initiatives. From beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts and festive meals to heartfelt hospital visits with hand-knitted comfort dolls, these efforts would not have been possible without the care and generosity of Val de Vie Estate residents. These acts of kindness created joyful memories, strengthened bonds and fostered hope within our community.
Residents and children brought smiles to young patients in the paediatric ward at Paarl Provincial Hospital. Guided by Dr Jaco Murray, Head of Paediatrics, volunteers distributed hand-knitted comfort dolls to children and new mothers currently in the hospital. The visit was filled with meaningful moments of connection and gratitude as residents brought warmth and care to the children and their families.
On 5 December, the Foundation visited Huis Andrew Murray (HAM) in Wellington, bringing gifts and festive joy to the 70 children staying at the centre over December. The day was alive with colour and fun as the children played on the jumping castle and enjoyed cooling off in the pool.
The arrival of Father Christmas, volunteered by Elmo Cairncross, a retired principal of Orleansvale Primary, who has kindly served as the Foundation’s Christmas Father for 10 years, was a highlight. Each child received a carefully wrapped gift, their wide-eyed smiles and quiet pride capturing the true spirit of the day.
One of the eldest boys at HAM expressed the children’s gratitude: “We really appreciate this fun afternoon because if it wasn’t for this, it would have been just another normal afternoon of us sitting indoors. Thank you so much.”
Huis Andrew Murray Child and Youth Care Centre, a programme of BADISA Western Cape, cares for 155 children aged 1 to 18, providing residential care focused on emotional, educational, social, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Days like this remind us of the strength of community in creating moments of joy and hope for children facing difficult circumstances.
