A breath of spring!
Vibrant volunteer brings joy to New Brighton kids
SPRING may have only half-heartedly sprung in Nelson Mandela Bay, but when pharmacist Marcelle Wentworth arrives at New Brighton’s Philip Nikiwe Primary, the smiles, hugs and sheer joy on the faces of the schoolchildren when they see her, immediately spark a heart-warming spring day.
Where once a drab and grey quadrangle formed the centrepiece of the school buildings, a carefully manicured garden bursting with shrubs and flowers now fills this space, colourfully painted playground equipment lights up the entrance, and lovingly nurtured vegetable patches flourish.
This is all due to The Herald GM Citizen of the Year 2015 finalist Wentworth teaming up with recently retired principal Rebecca Makeng to completely revitalise the institution.
“It’s been a 13-year journey and I never knew it would continue for so long – but I just got more and more involved,” Wentworth says.
And one thing the bubbly, vibrant volunteer has learnt above all else, is a message she wants to spread to everyone: “One person can make a difference. You know, volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!”
When Makeng’s late husband Edward needed to collect medication for his diabetic wife from Wentworth’s Summerstrand pharmacy all those years ago, they got chatting about Philip Nikiwe and its desperate needs.
“When Edward brought Marcelle here to see this place, she cried – she couldn’t take it,” Makeng recalls. “That is when she offered to become a mother to the school and adopt it.”
And since then the lives of the kids who have passed through Philip Nikiwe – which has up to 300 children – have been enriched.
A completely overhauled library, a separate book room, a science lab, beds for the sick bay, repaired windows and refurbished school hall, staff room and secretary’s office, two lawn-mowers to tend the grounds, new wooden playground amenities, and much-needed donations in every sphere of school life – the list goes on. They all bear tes- tament to the legacy Wentworth has achieved, while she hastens to add it would not have been possible without the Makengs.
“If it was not for Rebecca I would not have continued. She is passionate like me, a true friend and we work so well together. Rebecca helped me with all my projects and she and her husband collected donations from all over PE. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
“When I started, for me it was unthinkable that I could help. Classrooms, toilets – everything was appalling. Every window broken. But I learnt patience and African time. “We had the grounds cleaned and cleared – and were very strict about litter. And slowly but surely we got donations after I handwrote letters of request by going through the Yellow Pages. I also wrote letters annually to The Herald which elicited responses.”
A unique aspect of Wentworth’s work is that she has never asked for money – “just what people no longer want” – and help has flooded in. Makeng said: “Marcelle is a good-hearted person who simply adores children.
“She spends weekends here – playing with them, cleaning noses and sharing peanut butter sandwiches and fruit juice.
“She has been a godsend – also getting her family and friends involved.”
Wentworth succeeded in giving the whole school new shoes and socks at the beginning of the year and, for the second year running, hand-knitted beanies and scarves were distributed to all the kids as part of her “Winter Woollies” project in June, with jerseys handed to every Grade R.
One of the most touching stories has been that of Grade 4 pupil Anathi Nkanunu, 12, who had such bad vision she was virtually unable to see.
Wentworth arranged for an optician to see her and he generously sorted out laser surgery free of charge.
“I feel the government has failed these innocent children who all deserve better,” Wentworth said. “I have simply tried to give hope and respect.”