As The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund celebrates its 21st anniversary, we bring you Charmaine Premlal, the fundraising coordinator with a knack for sniffing out discounts like a bloodhound.
The former teacher, shaping young minds in life orientation, has been the superhero for the Orphan Fund for the past two years.
She possesses superpowers for getting the best deals for the kids, earning her the nickname “The Discount Negotiator” from her colleagues.
Born and raised in Redcliff, near Mt Vernon, Charmaine’s life took a happy turn when she moved to Verulam and met her now husband of 34 years, Santosh.
Charmaine’s passion for helping others started young. Her parents were all about giving back, often whipping up big pots of biryani for charity events. Before joining the Orphan Fund, Charmaine was busy working her magic at Reach for a Dream KZN, which she joined after retiring from teaching.
“While I still have the energy, I decided to retire early from teaching so I could make a difference for as long as I can,” she said.
When Charmaine arrived on the North Coast, she was struck by the numbers of kids in desperate need. But what has warmed her heart is the generosity of residents and businesses, always ready to lend a hand.
Her big dream is to see the Orphan Fund partner with organisations that not only feed children, but also help them develop skills.
“If we can start skills development right in early childhood, and offer career guidance and workshops, we can really make a lasting impact,” says Charmaine.
When she’s not out there making the world a better place, Charmaine is a die-hard sports lover, particularly cricket, and a passionate Liverpool fan too.
So, here’s to Charmaine, living proof that you can retire from teaching but never from making a difference.
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