Les-Leeco Koopman, an 18-year-old young man who lives on Delheim Wine Estate in the Cape Winelands, has attended the Pebbles Project After-School Club for 11 years.
The Pebbles Project is a non-profit organisation that partners with local farms in the Western Cape to establish and manage early childhood development centres and after-school clubs on farms to enable children from farming communities to access quality education programmes, health, nutrition, and social work services.
Currently in matric, Les-Leeco has his heart set on furthering his studies, and giving back to the organisation which has been instrumental in his growth, by becoming a social worker.
The goal is to have Les-Leeco work alongside the social work team at Pebbles Project as an auxiliary social worker (social work assistant) once he’s completed his 12-month course at Hugenote Kollege, a private Christian post-school training institution.
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
With his acceptance letter in hand for the Occupational Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work at Hugenote Kollege in 2023, the only obstacle in the way of Les-Leeco’s dream of impacting the children on his farm and neighbouring farming communities is much needed funding.
“I really want to become a social worker, because I see the children on my farm who are struggling to deal with their problems and they don’t have people to talk to. I want to help them to stay motivated. I love Pebbles, I’ve seen how they have helped people on my farm to follow their dreams,” says Les-Leeco.
With the goal of having Les-Leeco work along the Social Work team at Pebbles Project as an auxiliary social worker, the organisation has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, hoping the public will support "hardworking" Les-Leeco.
As Hugenote Kollege is a private institution, which does not offer bursaries and isn’t eligible for NSFAS (government) funding, Les-Leeco will need to raise a total of R65 000, to cover his deposit, tuition fees, accommodation, and spending money, to begin his schooling.
Pebbles Project social worker, Mineke Toerien, speaks highly of Les-Leeco and is excited about the possibility of having him join the social work team. Mineke says that:
“Les-Leeco is a wonderful child. There is just something about him. I can say with certainty that he will make an exceptional auxiliary social worker, and he would be a great asset to the social work team. I know that he will have an immense impact on his community and on other farming communities. He will inspire so many. Please support this wonderful child’s dream so that he can help uplift communities and inspire other children on his farm to follow in his footsteps.”
Les-Leeco teaching rope skipping to the other learners at the Pebbles Project After-School Club. Photo: Anna Lusty
All donors who contribute towards Les-Leeco’s tuition fees are eligible to receive a Section 18A Tax Certificate, issued by the Pebbles Project.
“Les-Leeco has put in a lot of work to get good grades in order to get accepted at Hugenote Kollege. He’s really given his all to take the first step towards getting accepted to study. We kindly ask to please help him take the next step in pursuing his dream,” says Liesl Ahlers, Pebbles Project ambassador mentor.
Support Les-Leeco’s campaign on BackaBuddy: www.backabuddy.co.za/les-lecco-koopman
Alternatively, donate Via Snapscan: pos.snapscan.io/qr/Pebbles_Project
About the Pebbles Project
The Pebbles Project enables children from farming communities to access quality education programmes and health, nutrition and social work services. Since our inception in 2004, we have positively impacted the lives of thousands of children by partnering with local farms to establish and manage early childhood development and After-School Clubs for farm workers children who either live on the farm or their parents are employed by the farm.