Started as a tiny pebble by Sophia Warner who came
to South Africa from the UK with a 13-year background in special needs
teaching, the organization has developed into a much larger pebble, all thanks
to the support of the wine industry and other role players.
The Pebbles Project was started in 2004 with the main
emphasis on children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but after a lot of research
and advice from local specialists, they widened their scope to support the
holistic development of children. While still maintaining the core education
focus, each year Sophia and her team pinpoint a need in the community on which
to concentrate, and this year there has been a big focus on the health and
wellbeing of the children, adults and the greater communities they are currently working in. The three areas
for 2014 have been the launch of the Nutrition Programme, the opening of the
Owethu Clinic and the first Pebbles Wellness Day.
Currently the Food for Thought Nutrition Programme provides breakfast,
lunch and two snacks a day for 110 children within the Pebbles Project organisation
and the goal within the next few months is to have 250 children benefitting
from this programme.
Launched in late 2013 the Owethu Clinic currently offers health
services to eight farms with a total of 792 children on the Hello Health
Database. Established as a result of a
major donation of clinic infrastructure from the Cipla Foundation and support
from Villiera wine farm, the clinic offers a free service to the children, with
adults paying a nominal monthly contribution, from neighbouring farms in the form
of basic medical and dental services, family planning and wellness programmes.
The latest project was a Wellness Day which, which took place on 6th
September and saw 120 children and 13 staff members benefit from this
programme. Topics for the day included Human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, coping with
puberty, substance abuse, oral hygiene and rape. A cause close to the
organisation’s heart, the event was purposely held close to Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awarness Day. FASD Awareness Day is held on
the ninth day of the ninth month of the year symbolizing the nine months of
pregnancy when a woman should abstain from alcohol. As an organization the
Pebbles Project recognizes the serious implications of the dangers of drinking
during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with
FASD.
‘In the last 10 years the Pebbles Project has come so far, and we
couldn’t have done this without the love and support of all our donors,
sponsors and supporters, who make our work possible,’says Founder and Director
Sophia Warner. ‘We look forward to the next 10 years!’
For more information about the organisation and how you can get
involved contact Angela Joyner at angela@pebblesproject.co.za.