Pebbles Project is a non-profit organisation in Stellenbosch that enriches the lives of disadvantaged farm children and families through education. Operating throughout the Western Cape, they have changed the lives of many vulnerable people. One of these people is Jay-Lee, an 18-year-old hostess at Creation Wines in Hermanus. Read her story:
At just 18 years old, Jay-Lee is an inspiring example of resilience, ambition, and quiet determination. Born and raised on Diepgat Farm, she has one older and one younger brother, and lives with her family in the close-knit farming community she has always called home.
Jay-Lee had attended the local government school, Diepgat Primary. When she was 12, Diepgat Primary officially closed due to funding issues. Overnight, the educational future of many children from nearby farms, including Jay-Lee, was left uncertain.
Pebbles Project stepped in and established the Pebbles Academy: an independent school providing quality education to children from Grade R to Grade 7 from around 40 neighbouring farms, including Diepgat. For Jay-Lee, Pebbles Academy quickly became more than just a school, it became a second home.
"It was amazing," she reflects. "The staff at the Academy is always so friendly. And even to this day, they are willing to help us where they can."
There were teachers at the Academy who left a deep impression on Jay-Lee. Their passion for education and their care for the learners sparked something in her, something that shaped her dreams. "They made me want to be a teacher. I saw how they inspired us, and I want to do the same for others."
After finishing high school in the top five of her class, Jay-Lee was accepted to university but postponed her studies due to financial challenges. Instead, she made the proactive decision to work and save for her studies. She now works at Creation Wines as a hospitality hostess. "It was out of my comfort zone," she admits. "I’ve never found it easy to speak up or interact with people. But just a few months in, I feel more confident and see this as preparation for becoming a teacher."
Jay-Lee enjoys working at Creation Wines: "I feel at home here."
Her family couldn’t be prouder. "My parents sometimes feel disheartened that they can’t always support me financially in the way they wish they could. But their love and encouragement have never once wavered," she says.
When asked what the Pebbles Project means to her, Jay-Lee speaks with quiet conviction: "Without Pebbles, I honestly wouldn’t be where I am now. When Diepgat Primary closed, they were there. No one expected it, and no one knew what to do, but Pebbles did. They came to save us."
The Pebbles Project team is immensely proud of Jay-Lee’s perseverance and strength. We know she will go on to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher, and, beyond that, inspire the next generation, just as she was once inspired.