These are the first of a number of initiatives planned by the Nordex Education Trust, which is a 20% shareholder of Nordex Energy South Africa.
"The church runs programmes with a strong youth and education component. These are key focus areas for the work of the Nordex Education Trust, which aims to help uplift historically disadvantaged South African communities and strengthen the value of the company as an international partner in Africa's development," says Anne Henschel, MD of Nordex Energy South Africa.
"We were delighted to learn that English and Maths classes are facilitated by the church three times a week and that a light meal is served at its programmes. These were important considerations in our assessment of the project."
The high-quality 23mx50m oval marquee tent will seat approximately 2,000 people and will be erected on the site of the church.
"We are grateful for the tent donation, which will provide shelter for our churchgoers during Sunday service and other services held during the week such as funerals, baptisms, weddings and gospel singing. It will also provide a communal centre for some 300 learners and youth for extra-mural activities, volunteer initiatives and educational programmes," adds Pastor Penxe.
The Chaeli Campaign was founded in 2004 by five young girls who raised R20,000 to purchase a wheelchair for Chaeli Mycroft, the young South African woman after whom the NPO is named. The Chaeli Campaign has grown since then to mobilise the bodies and minds of children with disabilities through eight programmes that include therapies, outreach programmes, vocation and rehabilitation programmes and inclusive education facilitation.
In 2005, at the age of 10, Chaeli Mycroft became the youngest ever finalist in the Shoprite Checkers/SABC 2 Woman of the Year Award and has gone on to win numerous other accolades including the International Children's Peace Prize in 2011 and a medal for Social Activism at the Nobel Laureate Peace Summit in 2012.
Zelda Mycroft, mother of Chaeli and CEO of The Chaeli Campaign, says, "The funds will be used to enable differently-abled young dancers to participate in the inclusive FEDANSA National Achievers & Dance Sport Championship, teacher and therapist training and to fund the salary of a therapist."
"We were especially inspired by Chaeli's story and drive to provide 'Hope in Motion'," adds Henschel.
Thembakazi Chagonda, a trustee of the Nordex Education Trust, says, "The work of the Chaeli Campaign embodies the spirit of resilience, empowerment and creativity in education that we value and appreciate."
The focus of the Nordex Education Trust is to assist historically disadvantaged and marginalised people in South Africa to gain access to education and training skills to facilitate their participation in the economy.
