Walmer Angel Project

The Walmer Angel Project is a non-profit organisation that has been assisting children in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, for eleven years.

There are over 30 creches and playgroups in Walmer Township and we are constantly trying to improve them, whether it means erecting jungle gyms, supplying books, or installing safety fencing and strong toys, or organizing staff training.

In addition, we oversee 2 soup kitchens which provide essential food to both adults and children.

We also buy hundreds of school uniforms for learners in junior schools as needed. To date, we have clothed provided 1 200 children with uniforms. We often find ourselves assisting fire victims with building and equipping new homes. There is so much unemployment in the township so we do what we can to alleviate many unbearable situations.

For a small fee, Glenda Brunette, the founder of the NPO, often takes members of the public on community tours to take a look at the work we are doing. We often take students both local and from overseas countries into the creches and soup kitchen to provide them with an understanding of the predicaments faced on a daily basis.

Successful projects:

In 2019 we completed building Creche 28 Area Q, we relied on funding and donations for this project. Funding was received from Stu Davidson, and Tavcor while Poise Consulting assisted us with the planning for no remuneration. This project was headed up by Simon Gallant who worked with members of the Walmer Township community. The creche is completely constructed with recyclable materials

This year we look forward to a completed creche being placed in an informal settlement called Airport Valley. We will be allowing Creche 13 to use it at no charge. This was a project done by the NMMU Architectural 2^nd year students headed by Professor John Andrews.

Walmer angel projects have annually been involved in various Santa Shoebox parties, many of the creches have benefited providing these gifts to all the children.

We co-hosted with Coke South Africa a party for 50 pensioners in December 2019 with full Christmas meal, gifts and entertainment.

Our other important branch of work is the Shine Literacy Chapter which operates in the local primary school. We teach the Grade 3s to read and write English, with the help of 50 volunteers. We do not receive any regular funding for our Shine Literacy work. This occurs during school terms and has provided most beneficial to the children. We have started a library for this Shine Center and the children come on a daily basis to exchange books, in 2019 there are 1400 pupils in the school, and we had 900 members of the library.

We rely on funding and practical help from businesses, universities, schools, churches, individuals, and organizations.

It is also important to note that we have a Section 18 certificate which enables us to issue tax-deductible certificates for any companies that donate to us.

We are currently in discussion with NMMU Architecture students and head of department for the design and build of a “holding place – Safe house” for all abandoned children in Walmer Township. Currently our lady on the ground Julia has to find place for these children until social services assists in placements. This would be our larger project for 2020.

A list of our needs

Anything that can be donated, clothes, food, soup mix, bread, old building materials for fire victims etc. Also, funds for the provision of the building of the safe house. Old school shoes, bags, toys and also children’s books.