Supporting local community projects is important to Giltedge Africa, and one of the amazing initiatives we support is Christel House in Cape Town. Based in Ottery, Cape Town, the school takes in disadvantaged children who come from households where parents often can’t afford to pay for school fees.
Christel House was originally started by Christel DeHaan with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty. The school raises funds for kids (from Grade R to Grade 12) to receive free schooling, as well as free breakfast and lunch. Health is also an important aspect at Christel House, and there are nurses and therapist on site to help the children deal with the abuse, violence, drugs and crime that they are exposed to daily.
Christel House Assembly
This month we were invited to Christel House’s special assembly to bid farewell to their CEO, Nicky Sheridan. Originally from Ireland, Nicky used to work in the corporate world (most notably, as Vice President of Oracle). Over the past three years, he’s used his business savvy and corporate connections to generate more funding and invigorate the school with true Irish flair!
Nicky’s decision to become CEO of Christel House was a surprise. He said, “After spending 30 years in the Commercial world, I decided on a very different direction for the next Chapter of my life.”
It’s now three years later and he’s decided to step back into the business world, pursuing a career in intelligent connections.
This special assembly was a heart-warming event at Christel House school, showcasing the many talents and skills the school fosters through classes and after-school clubs. Pupils from Christel House were awarded prizes for coding, robotics and poetry, as well as entering and winning at the annual Kite Festival. Between the awards, guests of Christel House were treated to traditional dancing, singing and orchestral performances.
Photos of Christel House
Have a look at the photos below to get an impression of the amazing work that Christel House does in Cape Town’s poorest communities.
Christel House contacts
If you’d like to donate to the school and fund a child’s education for a year, chat to one of our consultants, or alternatively, if you’d like to visit Christel House, do chat to us.
Read more about our visit to Christel House and what the school’s all about in our last blog post.