Jive Pro’s Studio needs help to bring change to Skaaprus children
Ms Kina Samuel along with Ms Yvette Summers and Mr Happy Seitlhamo is aiming to give the children of Skaaprus a brighter future
Jive Pro’s Studio in Ermelo recently visited the day-care centre at Skaaprus to meet the children and spend some time with them.
Ms Kina Samuel, owner of the studio, Mr Happy Seitlhamo, a professional dancer, and Ms Yvette Summer, an international smile collector, have taken an interest in the children of Skaaprus to make a difference in their lives.
Skaaprus is a small village about 8km outside of Ermelo with 800 residents.
Most are women and children, as the fathers abandoned them in search of a job somewhere else.The people have no electricity and no running water and they heat their homes in the winter by gathering coal that fell from passing trucks.
Some of the families have chickens, but food is in very short supply. Basic necessities like warm clothing and shoes are also scarce.
“When we visited the children, we saw they did not have warm clothes and some were wearing only a thin T-shirt and pants without a jacket and shoes,” said Ms Samuel.
Mr Ian Campbell built a nursery school in 2011 that received its first learners at the end of January 2012.
The centre provides the children with food twice a day and uses the government’s prescribed curriculum for physical development.
Their goal is to take all 30 children in the nursery school to the dance studio, to provide them with dance clothes and shoes and a meal at the studio. They will teach them to dance.
Ms Samuel is looking for anyone who wants to get involved to teach the children to sing or to play an instrument.
“We want to give them something to look forward to to let them feel special.”
They are also in need of community members to get involved with the project and to sponsor a child with the basic needs.
“We will give the sponsor a photo of the child who they sponsor and keep them informed of their sponsored child.”Mr Seitlhamo knows what it feels like to struggle in life and have a heart for abandoned children.“We dance to give back to others and make people smile.”
They are planning a Christmas in July for the children to brighten up their winter.
“Winter is a depressing and sad time and we want to bring a bit of warmth for these children.”
Anyone who would like to be part of the project, can contact Ms Samuel at 079 276 3483.
