My Hero: Kiara-Leigh is bringing light and love to the elderly
Young girl collects plastic bottle tops to give wheelchairs to the elderly.
When you look at Kiara-Leigh Thomas, you see a normal five-year-old child – a young girl full of the joys of life.
If you look closer you will find a child with a kind soul and the will to help others, a young community hero.
The Grade R learner at Smiley Kids Primrose Pre-Primary has a great love and respect for the elderly.
And this has turned into a wish to aid elderly citizens.
“My mom told me that if I collect plastic bottle tops I will be able to get a wheelchair for a grandma or a grandpa,” Kiara-Leigh said.
“So I want to collect so many bottle tops that I can help 100 grandmas and grandpas who can’t walk.
“But for now I will make sure I help at least one granny and one granddad.”
The idea for collecting bottle tops came when Kiara-Leigh’s mother Nicita-Nicole was researching ways to start recycling.
She came across the initiative on the Interwaste website and if Kiara-Leigh can collect a certain weight in bottle tops a wheelchair will be donated to an NPO of her choice.
Nicita-Nicole said, “She is taking her challenge very seriously and we are so proud of her for putting her own wants and needs aside to take part in something which gives back to the community.
“She is always looking for ways to help others, for example, last year she collected clothes for a young boy in need.”
Kiara-Leigh started collecting the bottle tops at the start of the school year and is doing well so far.
However, if she wants to reach her goal of getting at least two wheelchairs she needs the help of the community.
“I am asking people to please help me by giving me their bottle tops,” she said.
“Then I can help the grandmas and grandpas.”
Kiara-Leigh loves to spend time with her own grandparents Katy and Tony de Jesus, who live in Primrose, and Antwa Freyermuth, who also stays in the suburb.
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Her other granddad, Darius Fourie, lives in Ireland so unfortunately she does not get to see him on a regular basis.
Kiara-Leigh also enjoys spending time with her mom, her dad Kyle, brother Blake (1) and the family pet Trompie, a yellow ringneck parrot.
“My brother Blake is very cute but very naughty,” she said.
“I do like to help look after him though.”
When she is not busy with her project the youngster loves to sing and hopes to become a singer one day.
The school is also helping Kiara-Leigh collect bottle tops and the children bring them in on a regular basis.
For Easter, they have asked children to bring a packet of bottle tops each for the cause to assist Kiara-Leigh.
To help get her to her goal the public is welcome to drop off plastic bottle tops at the school situated at 14 Poplar Street, Primrose, during office hours.
Alternatively, contact Nicita-Nicole on 071 177 7444 or email her at nicita.fourie@gmail.com
“I know that when I give those grandmas and grandpas who can’t walk their wheelchairs they are going to be happy,” Kiara-Leigh said.
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