LEAVING her footprint in the South and in the lives of hundreds of children and people, Rene Parker is someone who does not need an introduction but simply continues to go millions of extra miles every year in the Eikenhof community.
The full-time fund-raiser and community worker feeds about 200 children at the Jacksons Drift Informal Settlement on a daily basis. She no longer only feeds those of child-headed homes but feeds all of the children from the camp, including some elderly from the camp.
Read the article for an in depth understanding of what Rene is involved in and how you can also get involved in any small way: Selflessness, compassion and humility personified in Rene Parker
Support and contribute to the Child Reach Youth Centre
Rene, together with her team of diligent and trustworthy workers, some being from the camp, are currently building and starting a youth centre for the children. It will be named the Child Reach Youth Centre after Rene’s foundation or outreach programme.
The centre will play host to the clubs that Rene has started and the new ones that are being opened. There is already a soccer club called Hamworthy United Soccer Club and a netball club called Sisters United Netball Club. The upcoming clubs are a dancing club called Spirit of Conflict Dance Group and a chess club which is still deciding on a name.
Each club has two coaches who all volunteer to help this great cause for the kids. Thus far there is one 12-foot container, donated by Rhema Church, where the centre will be hosted. The grass was donated by Evergreen.
“There is another container in the camp which we will bring to the front where the centre will be, and these will basically be used to store the equipment that the clubs have,” said Rene. “We never stop looking for any donations and I appreciate any small contribution that people make. My netball girls play on sand and stones with slops and some are barefoot. I also want to build a basketball court for the children where they will be able to play netball and volleyball, etc. This all helps to keep them involved in sports and away from drugs and alcohol.”
Poor Rangers
Rene also noticed how dogs and puppies in the camp were in dire need of attention and thus the ‘Poor Rangers’ were started.
The Poor Rangers is a group of kids who will be trained by the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) and will work within the camp to ensure that residents are looking after their pets. This will involve checking that animals have a shaded area, water and food and that pets are not being abused or tied up negligently with wire, ropes or cords as they currently are in the camp.
Rene also stresses her need for donations of dog food, collars and leashes. She explained that the Poor Rangers will track good behaviour by owners using a card system. Owners will have cards that will be stamped if they are treating their animals well, and at the end of the year they will get a prize for taking care of their pets.
“We also want to have little competitions for the pets so that the children will fall in love with their pets,” said Rene. “The AACL will come in on a regular basis and deworm and vaccinate the animals and hopefully sterilise some of the pets. They will also have classes for the kids where they will teach children how to train their pets and how to perform first aid on the animals with first aid kits that they will provide.”
Thus far Rene has received some donations of a few kennels.
Work never ends
Apart from everything that Rene does, she wants to go further and start homework and reading classes for the children to get them to read.
“I want it to be like an aftercare for the children from the ages of about 10 years and upwards where they can come and do their homework and read. I will also encourage them to get involved in the sports clubs from an early age,” concluded Rene.
Also Read:
Organisations network and reach out to 843 children from Jackson’s Drift
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