Eating and dancing in the dark to raise funds

Many Pretoria residents partook in a fundraiser which saw them immerse themselves in the world of a visually impaired person with a unique dinner experience.

This was the theme of the Prinshof School for the Visually Impaired’s Dinner in the Dark Gala Dinner.

The school partnered with the presenters and team of radio station GROOTfm 90.5 on March 7 to raise funds for the school’s learners.

For the more than 400 guests, eating in blindfolds was not the real challenge, although a few were observed eating slower and more precisely than usual.

There was also dancing in the dark.

At the end of the evening, one of the school’s teachers, Johan van der Merwe, a well-trained American line dancer, led guests through a few line-dancing exercises. Soon, the group was dancing along. Then came the real challenge: Dancers had to wear blindfolds and still follow the music and commands from the stage.

This led to much fun and laughter as the traditional lines of the dancing got mixed up and the steps were not always on beat.

School principal Karin Swart thanked the dedication of their supporters and the radio station for helping their vulnerable learners who require more resources and aid than many other schools.

“The idea behind Dinner in the Dark is to give guests a glimpse into the lives of our visually impaired learners, raising awareness and fostering unity,” said Swart.

She felt the Gala Dinner was filled with warmth and hope, embodying the theme “Be the light!” for the evening.

“Our goal is to empower our learners to become independent adults, and an evening like this helps make that possible. Everyone plays a role in helping them progress.”

The school, located in Pretoria’s central business district, is 62 years old this year with 175 staff members and 472 learners.

It caters to blind and partially-sighted learners from Grade R to 12, with nine hostels on the premises providing three balanced meals daily and meeting the learners’ basic needs. Instruction is in English and Afrikaans.

Blind learners begin learning pre-braille skills in Grade R and progress to reading and writing braille in Grade 1, advancing their skills over the years.

Guests enjoyed a performance by the school’s junior choir under the leadership of Sifiso Radebe. Dancers Heleen Wagner, Portia Tabola, and Larissa Bester from the Rhythm of Hope dancing team impressed diners with their performance.

“The dance studio and team are dedicated to outreach, building Christian identity, redeeming Africa through dance families, and offering hope,” said Bester.

This event and the school are close to her heart because her parents are visually impaired and both attended Prinshof.

Teachers from the school, including Radebe, Aleshe Lourens, Lize Eloff, George Lombaard, and Johan van der Merwe, performed a song for the appreciative diners.

A highlight for many diners was when a learner from the school, Mashego Shlangu, read a poem she wrote for the evening with the same “Be the Light!” theme.

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