At a time when the issue of Aids in South Africa has, once again, hit the national news headlines following the death of Nelson Mandela’s son, plans to open another Community Home in Cape Town for orphans of Aids victims has received an injection of cash thanks to the generosity of pupils, parents and staff at the College. A cheque for £1000 was presented on Friday 21st January towards the work of Nazareth House in Cape Town which runs a home for the elderly, a day care centre for orphans and more recently Community Homes for HIV+ children. 

The Sisters of Nazareth opened the first of the Community Homes just over a year ago in response to the increasing number of HIV+ babies and children needing care and accommodation. Each house has six children cared for by a housemother with the assistance of volunteers. This new initiative allows the children to experience “family” life and, importantly, to be educated at a local school and integrated into the local community. 

Mary Davison, who recently retired from her position as Headmaster’s Secretary at the College, explained that her South African friend, Gaynor Walkey, first introduced the school to Nazareth House. “Gaynor has worked hard for many years to raise funds for Nazareth House and her family business, Granny Goose Duvets, has also donated bedding and towels. During a College rugby tour in 1998, she took our Head of PE, Bob Kisby, to visit one of the Aids Hospices and from then on Nazareth House became one of the College’s adopted charities. Gaynor will take our latest donation which was raised through our annual Carol Services and rugby dinner back to South Africa for us and work directly with the Sisters to allocate it, probably towards furnishing another Community House.” 

This is just one of a number of fundraising initiatives that take place at the College on a regular basis. Helping the victims of the Tsunami disaster has been a special focus in the last few weeks with money being raised in a variety of ways including a Grand Charity Shoe Sale which raised £3000.