Excitement was in the air when a group of children supported by Bright Start collected hand-made dolls created from pictures drawn by them of their aspirant careers in November last year.
Bright Start, a NPO that provides access to quality education to children in the communities of Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg, partnered with local business, Little Bo Babies, a doll-making company last year, in an attempt to motivate the children to dream big and to take action to make their dreams come true, (“Children inspired to reach their dreams”, Setinel, Friday November 27,2015).
Before the dolls were hand-ed out, the children were treated to a talk by two local entrepreneurs, Janina Samuels and Betty Lott.
Ms Samuels lives in Hangberg and is the head seamstress at Little Bo Babies.
She told the children her passion for doll making started when she was eight years old and that she had to make many sacrifices to finally reach her dreams.
Ms Samuels said each doll is unique in its own way and she wanted to thank the parents for putting their trust in her to make their children’s drawings come to life.
“Now I do what I love and I work for myself. I would not have been able to do this if I didn’t work hard and make it happen,” she said.
Ms Lott is the owner of Max and Morris, a fish and chips take-away shop in the harbour. She told the children how she started out washing dishes and always had a dream of owning her own business.
“You have to work hard and make your dreams come true,” she said.
Little Bo Babies founder and Hout Bay resident, Gaya Schatz, said as a mom of small twin girls, she knew how fiercely protective parents can be when it comes to their children.
“I would do anything to protect them. More than that, I would encourage their hopes and dreams.
A child’s dreams can be as fragile as crystal and easily crushed underfoot by a careless word or a thoughtless gesture, but if encouraged, you’ll find it can be as resilient as titanium,” she said.
She added that the purpose of the “When I grow up dolls” were to make hopes and visions come alive and stay alive.
Brights Start education programme manager, Debbie Marais, said the children remembered their drawings, and had no difficulties recognising their dolls.
“It was a great success and the location at Hangberg library was perfect,” she said.
She added that the talks by community members about their jobs left the children inspired and to think about not only professions but also about being entrepreneurs and running their own businessess.
