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Donations

Off the mat and into the hearts of local school

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:43

A generous $40 000, almost R300 000, was recently donated to the library of a local school in Cape Town called Christel House South Africa (CHSA) by the non-profit organisation, Off The Mat (OTM). Based in the US, the organisations mission is to use the power of yoga to inspire conscious, sustainable activism and ignite grassroots social change.

On the 16th February, the independent school that educates and empowers disadvantaged children and which forms part of a global network of schools started by businesswoman turned philanthropist Christel DeHaan, hosted the official inauguration of the school’s newly resourced senior library. The group of 23 OTM members who were responsible for the donation were invited to the school to join CHSA in celebrating the joyous occasion.

Christel House’s high school Principal, Ronald Fortune thanked the group of ‘social champions’ from OTM who worked on the fundraising project they termed the ‘Save a Challenge’ project. Christel House gave OTM the opportunity to cut the ribbon that would officially open the schools proud new library and also presented them with a donor’s plaque to show their gratitude.

Seane Corn, an internationally celebrated yoga teacher and one of the founding members of OTM, who are dedicated to bridging yoga and activism by facilitating personal empowerment through leadership trainings, fostering community collaboration, and initiating local and global service projects, said that they heard about CHSA through another American organisation.

“We were sure that CHSA was indeed a worthy cause to support because not only is the school providing excellent education to hundreds of children who come from some of the most poverty stricken areas in Cape Town, but they are creating sustainable change in many communities through their unique model of education,” she said.

"The model is concerned with empowering learners and breaking the cycle of poverty," says Fortune. “Through this model we are cultivating a group of learners that will not grow up conforming to society’s standards of what they should be. In addition to our mandate to educate, we are grooming learners that will stand out and make a difference. They will be change agents for society and have a real opportunity to live their dreams. They will be leaders for a brilliant new generation,” he said.

According to Corn, each of the members who were involved in the project spent a full year raising awareness and funds for CHSA through their own networks back home. Inspired by what Christel House was achieving, they each raised a significant sum of money by selling different types of products, like woven armbands and hosting events like wine tastings. On the day of the inauguration they helped learners and teachers cover and catalogue books in the library.

“I believe that CHSA is making an enormous and lasting difference in solving one of the most critical problems in South Africa and I can’t describe how proud we are, even more so now that we have seen the school, met the inspiring teachers and staff and interacted with the wonderfully natured learners, that we have established this partnership,” she said.

Director of OTM, Suzanne Sterling, commented that this was indeed a partnership and that their involvement would not end with this project. “We are friends and fans of this school for life and will be looking for new creative ways to assist the school in their good work for many years to come,” she said.

Christel House educates its learners through the generous donations of individuals and corporates in South African. For more information you can contact the school on 021 704 9400 or visit www.christelhouse.org.

Media can contact Natasha Arendorf on 021 448 5941 for more information or email natasha@rothko.co.za