Where kids relax, train, have fun

THE Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Holiday Home is a household name, both in KwaZulu-Natal and to a growing community in Gauteng.

For more than 80 years the home has offered indigent children the opportunity of a short seaside holiday free from care and deprivation. True to this mandate, more than 1 000 children are given this opportunity each year in a safe, happy environment with nutritious meals and managed by committed staff.

Along with visits to the beach, games, talent contests and a host of other fun activities come life skills programmes that help children with social integration, teamwork, responsibility for their actions, and leadership skills.

These programmes are structured by Sherlock Sithole in conjunction with doctor of education and psychologist Maliga Chetty. Between them they select and train the team leaders for the programmes, all of whom are training to be teachers or social workers. In addition, they tailor programmes to be age specific so that every child from youngest to oldest will benefit.

Sithole has been

a

youth worker for 19 years, starting out in Soweto, on the East Rand and in Johannesburg’s inner city schools. He has a diploma in child and youth developmental psychology which stands him in good stead when trying to meet the social and emotional needs of the children.

Encountering the Hibberdene Home for the first time as co-ordinator of the Star Seaside project, Sithole knew that he had “found his ideal place to work”.

“The Mercury Hibberdene Home offers the most beautiful, peaceful place for children to forget the humdrum of their lives for a while. They respond so well to our programmes in this environment and they have such fun while they learn,” he said.

In addition to the holidays enjoyed by the children, the home takes bookings for church retreats, extracurricular school activities, prefect training courses and youth camps. Costs are reasonable and can be obtained from the home administrator, Charmaine Barnwell, at 039 699 2207, or e-mail info@hibhome.org.za.

The Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Holiday Home is a beneficiary of the Woolworths My School Project.

PICTURE: MARILYN BERNARD Sherlock Sithole, back row, fourth from left, with his new team of educators. In the back row are Nomfundo Zwane, Fabien Shebi, Tiffany Jackson and, far right, Sphamandla Shebi. In front are Nkosingiphile Shebi, Noncebo Ngcamu and Priscilla Memela.

The Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Holiday Home has been offering a fun holiday at the coast to indigent children for more than 80 years.

Raygen Magiera has given R5 000 in toys to the holiday home.