Addiction Recovery Centre spread a little love to little ones
The Addiction Recovery Centre (Arc), in Rynfield, is investing some tender love and care in the Farrarmere Gardens Nursery Centre, this year.
This is their corporate social investment strategy, which focuses on the improvement of early childhood development in the community.
Arc and its inpatients will visit the nursery school once a month and a variety of different activities are planned for each time.
The nursery centre is located within Farrarmere Gardens, where 75 per cent of the residents are either unemployed or low income earners.
It was established by Anna Kaba, in June, 2009, to meet the financial needs of these residents.
It does not receive any funding from the government or any other institution and depends on donations for survival.
The centre provides breakfast and lunch for children ranging in age from three months to six years and also has an aftercare facility.
Arc paid their first visit to the school on January 14.
Its treatment team and patients were met by Anna, her staff and 45 young children who sang the Lord’s Prayer for them, after which the day’s activities commenced.
These consisted of baking, face-painting and drawing.
Arc was treated to an impromptu African song and dance routine by the children.
Arc’s marketing manager, Lauryn Keel, said everyone had a blast and, during the hour and a half spent there, no one had a care in the world.
Arc social worker Cheryl Schravesande said it was heart-warming to see their patients come out of their shells and grow down to the children’s levels.
“We came back to Arc very sticky (from the icing sugar), exhausted (one forgets how tiring children are) and completely humbled by our time spent with the little ones,” she added.
One of the Arc patients described the experience as an eye-opener.
“We tend to forget that we have so much to be grateful for,” he said.
“These kids do not have much, but they are the happiest souls I have ever seen.”
Another patient said he plans to visit the centre upon completing his treatment.
The next visit will be on February 11, when Arc plans to make Valentine’s Day cards with the children.
