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TWO volunteers from America have started a programme that allows parents to make a quilt depicting the dreams they have for their children’s future.

Eileen Kugler, 59, and her husband, Larry, 60, organised the quilting programme at Addo’s AV Bukani Primary School in a bid to increase parent involvement at the school.

Eileen said: “There is a lot of research showing that when parents are actively involved in a school, pupils do better.

“When a parent is involved, the child tends to pay more attention and do homework more often.”

She said it was a worldwide problem that parents had little contact with schools. Only if a problem arose would the parents be contacted.

In cases where the families did not have had a good education themselves, or worked long hours, there was often no connection felt with the school, Eileen said. “So they tend to stay away from the school ... they think it is the teachers’ job to educate their child.

“Creating the quilt is a non-threatening way of getting parents involved.”

A parent, or grandparent in some cases, of each pupil has made a square, with the squares then being sewn together into a quilt that will be presented to the school.

The squares illustrate the hopes and dreams the parents have for their children. “On many there are children with graduation caps, to say they want their child to graduate.

“Some have specific careers depicted, like a medical doctor. Others are very personal and are decorated with things that are important to the families.

“One parent wants her child to become a social worker. So she put on a hand, saying we must always be willing to help someone and that a social worker must have a good heart.”

So far there have been seven meetings where parents work on the quilt and discuss ways of bettering their children’s school performance and future. At the end of each meeting, the parents receive a full meal, prepared by several mothers in the community.

Eileen said she and her husband had picked Addo’s Nomathamsanqa township because it was a rural area where they felt they could make a difference. This is their second visit here and they look forward to coming back next year. “The quilt is only the beginning, ” Eileen said.

The quilt will be presented to the school at a farewell for the Kuglers later today. It will then be hung at the school.

Source: Esté Coetzee, HERALD REPORTER

www.MyAddo.co.za: The area of Addo, Sunlands and Kirkwood is referred to as "The citrus route"

With the annual Kirkwood festival a massive success, "The citrus route" has proved to all visitors from far and wide that the area of Addo, Sunlands and Kirkwood can stand proud as one of South Africa’s top visitor’s destinations.

Addo, Sunlands and Kirkwood boast with South Africa’s "Big 7". Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Great White Shark and Whales are all viewed from this area. The citrus route also offers other attractions and wild life, such as;

• National Addo Elephant Park
• International Class accommodation
• Worlds best citrus, local and export
• Annual Rose festival
• Bird watching
• Adventure Sports and team building
• Lion cub handling
• Top Class restaurants
• Crocodile Parks
• Beautiful view of the majestic Sundays River Valley
• Warmest Hospitality

The ever exciting crocodile and lion farm specially catering for big school and educational groups. Get up close and personal with lions, tigers and crocodiles. Or treat your employees to team building like river and mountain safaris, quad biking or even a guided tour through the Addo elephant park.

The area really delivers on most of the attractions that makes South Africa one of the worlds most traveled countries.

Submitted by: Roy Booyens, PowerShot Marketing, 079 740 1879