Passionate teacher is nominated for an award
Alison Botha has recently been nominated for the Clarins Most Dynamic Woman Award by making a difference in underprivileged childrens lifes.
KWENADAM – Alison Botha has been nominated for the Clarins Most Dynamic Woman Award in association with Clarins, Fairlady/Sarie and True Love. Anyone can partake if they work to improve the lives of children in need. And who better than Alison who started Lydenrust Farm School last year. Alison currently educates 16 underprivileged children of the local area. When Steelburger/Lydenburg News first visited the school, she was teaching the children in a small room of her home.
Since then she has managed to get sponsors for a playground and an educationally designed trailer. A source says there are currently requests from more than 50 children who want to join the school. Alison works tirelessly to find the means to not only continue the school but also expand it so more kids can receive what they so rightly deserve. Dana Eskelson, an American television, film, and theatre actress, was volunteering at the school where she saw that Alison was making a difference in these children’s lives.
Dana spends summers volunteering in impoverished countries and has extensive experience in orphanages and schools in South America, Africa and South-east Asia. After volunteering here she decided to nominate Alison for the award. “Never in my life have I met a more inspiring woman with such an overwhelming and tireless conviction, dedication and selflessness in her quest to educate children. Never in my life have I met a person more deserving of financial support to realise her vision,” explained Dana. The winner of the Clarins Most Dynamic Woman Award will receive R200 000 for her cause.
Dana explains what Alison will do with the money. “There are many urgent priorities. There is no electricity, and with summer approaching there is a tremendous need to build a roof over the trailer to help keep it cool. Solar panels are needed for electricity. The pit toilet Alison funded to be built is in need of plumbing. More than anything, monies are needed to employ a full-time teacher fluent in both Zulu and English, and she is willing to provide private housing on her property, as travel from the nearest town is too great an expense.
Petrol just to pick up and drop off the children is a tremendous cost; food for the children who have brought none is an added burden. There is a constant need for appropriate materials.” Read more about Alison and her projects on the school’s website www.lydenrust.com or by joining Lydenrust Rural Farm School on Facebook.
