16 kids between the ages of 6 and 13 experienced a good breakfast at Quay 4 on Thesen Islands in Knysna. It was part of the Love Knysna Projects Eat & Smile program which ensures that poorer kids visit restaurants so that they feel part of the town they live in. It’s important that, as they grow into adults, they realise that Knysna treats are available to them too.

Quay 4’s staff were friendly and Julian and Owen, from management, went the extra distance by discounting the meals and ensuring that they were vegetarian as the bulk of the kids were Rastafari.

A big positive is that Avril, a resident of Hornlee, has volunteered to be a community liason. This means that we’ve extended our reach from Khayalethu to Hornlee, something that we’ll solidify over the next year. A community liaison helps other volunteers understand a different community and organises the kids (and their indemnity forms) so that they’re ready for pick-up. She brought along 4 kids and by next trip that number will grow to 16 🙂

After their tummies were filled, the kids were amazingly attentive to an interesting talk in the SANParks building nearby. The topic was The Knysna Estuary and the Knysna Seahorse and it was organised by Melaney Barrath and delivered by Rayno Fredericks who must be applauded for how well he treated the çlass. He is a credit to Knysna.

Dee, one of the volunteers, said that, “It was lovely to see how engrossed they all were. I think that the enthusiasm of the speaker helped draw them in. Thereafter we completed our morning with a brief visit to the play park (which they thoroughly enjoyed. Happy smiles all round!”

Thanks to the volunteers (Nathalie, Dee, Avril, Clint, Sista Kerri and Beejay Taxis) who made this trip a success. It will be repeated with teenagers next month.