Meraki Bay is a non-profit organisation in Hangberg that provides education and support to 30 children, encouraging them to be good citizens.
For four days a week, the children take part in activities that include arts and crafts and help with homework. On Fridays they go on excursions, work in a food garden or play sport.
Meraki Bay was born when Carlos Andres and Ignacio Alondo visited Hout Bay from Spain in October 2017. They were shocked by the lack of resources in Hangberg, the high numbers of school drop-outs and various social ills.
The project is led by Najua October and Shade Plaatjies, two women from the community. Food is donated by various businesses.
Project director Ibtishaam Samaai said that although the children go to school, many can’t read or write.
“The children used to get 20% at school, but some are now in the top five in their grade. This coming from children who did not want to go to school,” said Ms Samaai, who has also done a UWC course on substance abuse.
“I think of this job as helping to prevent substance abuse. We recently found that one of the children is abusing substances. She would come to the sessions stoned.”
Recently two of the children lost their mothers, she said, one to HIV and another to kidney failure.
Since 2021, Ms Samaai’s family has fostered three children.
Tarese Simon, 12, said she loved planting and painting and learning to respect people, while Summer da Silva, 10, said he had enjoyed going on a boat trip. Betty Goliath, 13, remembers going to Artscape to see the Nutcracker ballet.
Meraki Bay is appealing for volunteers to assist with the homework programme on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. They also want to increase the number of hot meals they provide each week and are looking for a large pot. Email ibtishaam@merakibay.org or call 073 797 4867 if you can help.
