Text: Kathalijne van Zutphen - Photography: www.kathalijne.com
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Chris and his wife Benita have been running this project since February 2007. Chris was inspired by God to help the children in this town. Realizing that one cannot teach a hungry child and that education is the way forward the idea for a breakfast scheme was soon born. The breakfast consists of porridge and a cup of tea and is only for children until they are 18 years old and leave school. When the Biegnaars first started out they fed 91 children which became 127 one week later out of their own pocket. Two years into the project they feed about 1,250 mouths a week and 3 out of the 5 days are now sponsored by Katja van Driel (The Netherlands). |
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It’s is only a 10 minute drive from Muizenberg to Capricorn and by the time that we pull up to the church a couple of children are already on their way out and on their way to school. Inside there are about 50 kids eating porridge and about 5 volunteers. I see the same familiar faces every day and I am always greeted with smiles and a warm howzzit. There’s Colin who lives in Capricorn and is in charge of the church and the dishes. There''s Tessa and Debbie, from Steenberg and Seawinds, who put the porridge in the bakkies and add a scoop of sugar. |
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Young Josh is pouring tea. I say hello to everyone and join Colin in the kitchen. Thursday and Friday''s especially are busy days but today is very busy indeed as well. There seems to be a never ending demand for spoons and bowls.
There must have been about 250 kids today. A few of the children pitch in as usual, I see Keelan putting the bowls on the table while Ruben carries pots in and out and the tiny Ashley or “5 bob” helps dry the dishes, one spoon at the time. I see Inge, Muntu, Gwen Shante and Thembi. Some of the children bring their bowls to the kitchen but most of them are gathered in a big tile which stands in the hall on the way out.
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I love it when some of the kids give us a hand and their joy and stories make me smile. When I came here first it was Shaun and Xaviour playing guitar and singing in the kitchen adding a happy note to the early mornings. They matriculated last year and now longer come to the breakfast. These days its boys like Keenan who stand out. |
| While we are busy doing the dishes I ask Chris what his fears and dreams are for this project as well as how he keeps going. The answer to the last question was a simple yet powerful one; it is his passion. Emotionally and spiritually it is something he has and wants to do. The letters he gets from school principles and students stating how much better their results are strengthen him in his determination to keep going. His worries are that one day he will come to the church and there will be no volunteers that he will have to do it alone and that one day there won’t be enough funds to keep going. As for his dreams? Chris is planning a big Christmas party at the end of December and hopes to take the children out of Capricorn for this. Last year they fed an incredible 750 children during the Christmas party. Besides organizing this event Chris hopes to expand the project into other areas so that more children can benefit. |  |
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Around 8 o’ clock when all the children have gone to school, the dishes are done and the tables cleaned and stowed away Eugene comes to fetch us and take us home so we can continue our day. It’s a simple project; feeding breakfast to children who go to school. Yet I feel it is such a worthy project and one that does make a change in these children’s lives. |
| I''ve been coming here (on and off) since September 2007 and the place still amazes me. I''m amazed by the poverty, by the dirt and the lack of facilities. I''m amazed by the visuals and the smells. I''m amazed by the love and generosity I feel each time I come here. I''m amazed by the commitment and determination of everyone involved, by the up beat spirit and warmth that surrounds this project. |  |