Launching a charity shop at the Elizabeth Conradie School (Elcon) in Kimberley is a dream come true. Not only will it raise much-needed funds for sustaining the Vocational Stream, it will also help to improve skills development. Furthermore, a space will be provided where the community can get involved by either donating or buying items.
The shop is named the “BB Charity Shop” as “BB” is the abbreviation of the Vocational Stream’s Afrikaans name, “beroepsbaan”. “BB” can also refer to “bric-a-brac” which is defined as a miscellaneous collection of small, ornamental, sentimental, and household items, says Shaheda Kleinsmith, departmental head of the Vocational Stream.
Elcon, a school with a long history and for learners with physical disabilities, teaches learners from Gr. R to Gr.12. However, financial constraints limit the skills development of learners with severe physical and intellectual disabilities.
Now, with the BB Charity Shop, these learners are assisted to create items and produce products that can be sold in the shop. This empowers them with essential skills to sustain themselves while teachers get resources to teach with a hands-on learning programme.
Charity shop to play valuable role
At the launch on Friday 7 November, several well-wishes were received from parents, school governing body, organisations and the Department of Education (DOE).
A representative of the DOE said due to financial constraints, schools need to think outside the box. She also said people are not always aware of the level of poverty in their community, and that the charity shop will play a valuable role in this.
A former teacher at Elcon said teaching there was “the best time of my life. I learnt more from them than I taught them. Never give up on a learner; never think you came across a brick wall with a learner. Every day miracles happen,” he said, expressing his belief in the future success of the charity shop.
Principal Martha van Zyl commented that she had a dream for Elcon to grow.
“With the new departmental head in the Vocational Stream, the dream is coming true. Mrs Kleinsmith is the greatest appointment. She is an entrepreneur and the best is yet to come,” she said.
Learners encouraged to become entrepreneurs
Kleinsmith’s appointment as departmental head strengthened the Vocational Stream, brought new tech-teaching methods, and improved learner academics, through this also empowering its staff. Then the charity shop initiative, spearheaded by Van Zyl, was brought to life through the dedication of Annie Botha and the staff of the Vocational Stream, in collaboration with Friends of Elcon.
Kleinsmith said the vision is self-sustainable Vocational Stream learners where they are encouraged to become entrepreneurs and self-sufficient by providing the community with agricultural products, baked and cooked food, and needed or even luxury products.
The simple and sellable learner-made items include scrunchies, keyrings, doorstoppers, and frames, while projects include the growing of fruits and vegetables, needlework, woodwork, and hospitality.
- All involved at the BB Charity Shop invite community members to donate clothing, kitchenware, games, furniture, tools and more that are not in use.
- It can either be dropped off at Elcon’s “BB” classrooms or call Botha on 083 488 3198 for pickup.
- Shopping hours are Mondays to Thursdays from 12:30 to 14:30 and Fridays from 13:15 to 15:00.
- The shop will be closed on weekends.
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