New Pebbles Project impact film
This year, Pebbles Project celebrates 20 years of creating change within the farming communities of the Western Cape. As part of this celebration, they decided to create a short film that explores the amazing impact that Pebbles has had on so many lives.
The film was shot in May and directed by our very own fundraiser, Liesl Ahlers. The film, titled Kindness, is a documentary short film that explores the impact of Pebbles through interviews with beneficiaries and our CEO. Viewers will get to witness stories of how a single act of kindness creates a ripple effect of positivity, proving that one person, one dream, and one heartfelt gesture can change countless lives forever.
We would like to sincerely thank Hillebrand GORI a company of DHL for sponsoring this special film.
We are excited to share the film with you soon. Watch this space!
In the spotlight: Liesl Ahlers
It only seems fitting to shine this month’s spotlight on Liesl Ahlers, who joined the Pebbles Project team on 2 June in 2021 as a fundraiser.
Before joining the organisation, Liesl pursued a career in acting and fashion design. She likes to write songs in her spare time and wrote the Pebbles Academy's school anthem in 2023.
Liesl is the youngest of three sisters and enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially making clothes with her mother. She has a brown belt in Hapkido, a Korean martial art, and also does kickboxing. Her go-to meal is a chickpea curry with avocado.
Her favorite quote is from Erma Bombeck: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say: ‘I used everything you gave me."
It’s safe to say Liesl has many talents, and Pebbles is lucky to have her as part of the team.
Liesl with the Silver award that she won at the Smily Charity Film Awards in the UK in March.
News from our youth development program
At the end of June, we said farewell to the first intake of young adults who enrolled at the Pebbles Youth Development Centres in Stellenbosch and Hermanus. It has been so rewarding to see these young adults find their voices and pursue their passions.
We are also very proud to announce that 13 of these young adults passed their WSET Level 1 course, which is an amazing achievement that will open so many doors for them...
We look forward to see what the future holds for them, and we will be cheering them on from the sidelines.
The Early Adulthood Programme is currently open for applications, and we are in the process of conducting interviews for the next intake of young adults. The closing date for applications is 1 September 2024.
For more information, please contact Marian at marian@pebblesproject.co.za.
Harecare day in Citrusdal
The amazing team from Citrusdal Natural Hair Beauties hosted a back-to-school haircare day at Hexriver in June, which a group of Pebbles beneficiaries attended. The professional Citrusdal Natural Hair Beauties team did educational demonstrations on how to take care of your hair. They also washed the beneficiaries' hair and pampered them. Boys were treated to fresh haircuts, and the girls had their hair braided. A true act of kindness.
Our sincerest thanks to everyone involved in making this event possible. We are always so grateful when other organisations and companies open their hearts to our beneficiaries. This special day left our beneficiaries with big smiles on their faces and hearts filled with joy and gratitude!
Annual general meeting 2024
Pebbles Project's annual general meeting (AGM) is set to take place online on 25 July 2024 at 11h00. The AGM is an opportunity for us to connect with our donors, partners, and supporters to provide an update on the organisation's plans and projections but also to celebrate highlights and accomplishments.
A link to the online AGM will be shared via the Pebbles Project mailing list. Should you not be on our mailing list and would like to join in, you can request the online AGM link from Mandy at mandy@pebblesproject.co.za. We hope that you will be able to join us!
Meet our interns
We are very excited to welcome two new interns from Maastricht University in the Netherlands:
- Marie Straetemans is a 5th year medical student who has a passion for primary health care, and enjoys meeting people from different cultures and gaining a deeper understanding of their traditions. Marie will be interning at the Pebbles Clinic until 30 August.
- Sverre Crombag has a keen interest in family medicine, and hopes to improve his skills and knowledge of preventative care and community-based medicine. He will be interning at the Pebbles Clinic until 13 August.
The Pebbles volunteer programme provides students with an opportunity to work alongside our qualified staff members in the various Pebbles programmes and initiatives which allows them to gain invaluable knowledge and first-hand experience in their respective field of interest.
Should you wish to learn more about our volunteer programme, please visit our website or contact Mignon at mignon@pebblesproject.co.za.
Marie Straetemans and Sverre Crombag, our two interns from the Netherlands.
Wines2Whales
As one of the official beneficiaries of the coveted Wines2Whales MTB race that will take place between 1 and 10 November 2024, Pebbles Project has four rider entries available to aid in raising funds for the organisation.
Riders can anticipate a blend of thrilling and challenging sections on the route, offering breathtaking views of the Overberg, fresh trails, and the revival of beloved classics.
Entry per rider team will be R18,450 and will include:
- Single tent per rider (including mattress)
- A 3-day stage mountain biking experience with fully stocked waterpoints on route
- Ciovita rider jersey
- W2W event gift
- W2W finisher medal
- Access to all race village services
- 8 Meals over the course of the event
Funds raised from the sale of entries will be allocated towards the Hemel-en-Aarde Education Project near Hermanus.
To purchase your entry or for more information, please contact Madelein at madelein@pebblesproject.co.za.
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