RENE Parker is no stranger to the South community when it comes reaching out to the underprivileged and more especially, children.
The CHRONICLE has done numerous stories on the work that Rene does so we decided to focus on Rene as a resident of Mondeor and to share a secret about Rene and Barbie dolls.
Earlier days
Rene (55) was born in the Linksfield area and was raised in Malvern. She spoke of how her parents were compassionate people who always went to children’s homes and reached out to those who didn’t have as much as they did. She was taught to have a very compassionate attitude.
“During the school holidays my parents would always take one child from an orphanage to spend the holidays with us. I distinctly remember my father crying his eyes out when it was time to take the child back to the orphanage,” recalled Rene.
After completing her schooling career in Malvern, Rene completed several secretarial courses and worked at showrooms.
Just like a Barbie doll
In her late 20s, Rene began working for Josse Feldman and she was interviewed for a very peculiar post. Rene Parker, ladies and gentleman, was the first ever real Barbie in South Africa! While working at Josse Feldman, her superiors fancied the way she presented herself and the way she dressed but, most of all, they saw that she had much compassion for children.
This ‘Barbie deal’ saw Rene appear on the covers of the four issues of magazines produced every year. She promoted the four outfits that were released every year. Rene’s duties were to visit children’s homes and hospitals throughout the country. She was also hands-on at the Reach for a Dream organisation: She visited the terminally ill, replied to the Barbie fan mail and she was also the editor of the Barbie magazine. This job lasted for three to four years.
“There was really nothing glamorous about being the first Barbie, but I really enjoyed that time of my life. I mostly enjoyed being able to deal with disadvantaged children,” she said.
All work and no play
After being Barbie, Rene joined Prima Toys. She also ran showrooms displaying art and new stock etc. This lasted for eight years and then she left after she saw how she had been neglecting her family. The proud mother of a 32-year-old daughter and 23-year-old son married for the second time in 1997 and is happily married for 20 years now. Both of her children attended St Martin’s Preparatory School but her son completed his high school career at Waterstone College. It was then that she decided to get involved again in a charity class at the school.
Debutante program
At Waterstone College, Rene was very involved and took children to do charity work. She and the school got very involved at the Lerato Educational Centre in the Jacksons Drift Informal Settlement. At Waterstone College Rene started a debutante program which saw the queens raise money for charity. This taught them compassion and entrepreneurship.
Back to reality and back to charity
It was only three years ago that Rene decided to work with the Lerato Educational Centre. She now is a full-time fund-raiser and community worker. Rene and her team managed to build prefab classrooms at the centre and now she only works at the Jacksons Drift Informal Settlement camp.
By networking with various foundations, sponsors and community members, Rene is able to feed up to 200 children daily and from 500 – 700 children on a Saturday. Jeanice Pillay from the Rebecca Pillay Foundation helps feed children of child-headed homes, children brought up by grandparents and children of alcoholics and drug addicts.
“We used to give out food hampers to the children, but we soon realised that parents would sell them for drug money, so we started the food outreach.
READ: A welcome donation of food for child-headed homes
Pastelaria Princesa at Aspen Hills Nature Estate gives whatever pastries and rolls they don’t sell three times a week, to Rene to feed the children at the camp. On a Saturday, Metro Church goes to the camp where they have a whole service from 9am to 10.30am for the children. Sundays is the only day they do not feed as the ladies who help with the cooking also need a break.
“There is no electricity in the camp and so the ladies who help with the cooking start the night before and use a gas stove. We normally give the kids maize meal, soya, beans, samp, lots of fresh veggies and tea or juice. Because there is no fridge or electricity, any donations of meat must be cooked immediately,” said Rene.
Any of the above food items and tinned food can be donated.
READ: Child Reach extends a helping hand
Clothing, toys and sanitary towels
Every second month Rene hands out second-hand outfits to the children in the camp. In the winter the children wash with ice cold water and need clothes all the time.
“On a Saturday I will buy meat to cook for them and hand out their clothes. With more donations we can give out clothes at least every month or every week. On the day I also organise for them to play soccer because they do not have any other form of entertainment,” explained Rene.
Rene is pleading with the community to help her cause in any way possible. She is also asking for pads to be donated to help the girls who can miss up to two months of school because of not having sanitary pads.
When cleaning out your closets, be sure to also donate second-hand toys for the children who appreciate whatever little gifts they get.
Blankets, beanies, gloves, scarves, socks, t-shirts, dresses, briefs, bras, panties, shoes, pants, pads or any toys can be donated.
READ: Charities network to spoil girls from Jackson’s Drift
Soccer club for boys and girls
Apart from all of the above-mentioned outreaches, Rene also has a soccer club that has been up and running for about seven years. She has 47 boys (ages 10 to 18) and 15 teenage girls. These children train on a daily basis at the camp and play against each other on weekends. They also partner with Amazing Grace Children’s Home, Kibler Park United and Rietvlei Soccer Academy to play friendly matches. Six boys have already been scouted to go to other clubs.
Soccer boots, soccer kits, soccer equipment and soccer balls especially, can be donated.
READ: Organisations network and reach out to 843 children from Jackson’s Drift
Safe transport with Cabbies United
After hearing about the many wars going on between transport companies, Rene started Cabbies United which is a safe transport group operating in the South. She managed to bring together different children’s transport companies who now work together and are helping people and children to travel safely.
Despite all of these different programs, Rene’s heart still lies in charity and Child Reach will always be her number one project. She does have an account for Child Reach (the feeding scheme) but rather prefers people to donate food, clothes or the above-mentioned items. She is even willing to pick items up from whoever is willing to donate.
If you would like to donate anything mentioned in the story, feel free to contact Rene on 083 414 6144 or drop off your goods at any of her drop-off points, namely the car wash at Rietvlei Zoo Farm or Pasteria Princessa at Aspen Village.
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