30th August 2006, was an awesome morning and one which I will not ever forget. To see the children’s faces and responses to the closed box with only a ribbon tied around it, gave them no clue as to what was inside.

We decided to decorate and open 3 of the four boxes as the teacher for the 4th class was not present and we will have a little ceremony with her next week.

The first class to open their box was the Older English class – children ranging from the age of 4 years through 6 years. Heinz found it hard to contain him and let other children have a turn at seeing what was in the box. He then took a book and began to show it to Rudy.  Picture included. 

It was then on to the Senior Afrikaans class where the children’s ages range from about 3.1/2 to 6 years. A very controlled class who waited on the cues from the teacher, Cora and eventually the class assistant Ivy got them to participate in opening the box. Here too the books were received with great enthusiasm and the children could not wait to get their book and sit quietly on the carpet and look at all the wonderful pictures. 

I must add that Jean (Bibionef) did a wonderful job selecting suitable books for each age group. Thanks Jean!

Once again it was off to the toddler’s class, ages ranging from 18 months old to 3 years old. Here we were greeted with them returning from the playground in formation of a train saying choooch choooock ---- and then sitting down very quietly. They simply had no idea what was going to happen next. We knocked on the door saying knock, knock, repeatedly until they got the idea we wanted to open the box and some of them began to repeat, --- knock knock….. Then the bow was undone and as the door opened it revealed a treasure of BOOKS!!!!!  Odirile took the lead and dived in to the box making his selection quickly. I will never forget how Erica who cannot hear very well at present as she is waiting for her Cochlear implant switch on, on the 9th September, just put her hand to her mouth as if to say oH !!! OH !! OH Whow !!!!!.

Leaving the children and teachers to savor the delights of their new treasures we made our way to have a well earned cup of tea.

Donations like this can never be quantified in monetary value but rather let me close by adding a slogan I have been using in correspondence for a while now and feel it sums up this whole wonderful morning!

“To give a gift for hearing is to give a gift for learning!!!”