Spreading magic with the Epic Foundation’s magic wand

The Epic Foundation’s Fairy Godmother Project for 2021 again opened its doors for matriculants in need to pick the perfect outfit for their matric farewell.

Alta McMaster founded the Gauteng-based Epic Foundation, which is an NPO with a vision to empower victims of rape and abuse, in 2013.

After having experienced various traumas in her own life, Alta now has a deep understanding of how lonely and helpless one can feel if no one reaches out to help.

This understanding encouraged her to be that helping hand, through assisting and empowering survivors of trauma.

The foundation runs several community projects and they also reach out to other NPC’s to assist them with their needs.

“We live in a society where people often find themselves in difficulty due to trauma, crime, unemployment and other circumstances beyond their control. Everyone has the right to be assisted to help work through these hard times and to be empowered to uplift their lives.

“It is our mission to put projects and tools in place to make this possible for men, women and children,” Alta said.

This year the RECORD went to visit the Epic Foundation office to have a look at what is happening behind the scenes.

The Fairy Godmother Project

The project assists underprivileged teens in their matric year who do not have the financial means to buy a matric farewell dress.

“Some of these learners end up not going to the farewell due to their circumstances,” said Alta.

She with the rest of the volunteers came up with this project where they can make a difference in these children’s life by allowing them to attend their matric farewell by supplying them with an evening dress, a suit, evening jewellery and an evening bag and, where possible, shoes.

“Donations were requested from the community and just like always they opened their hearts and donations poured in.”

Alta and her volunteers approach schools to identify these students for fitting days.

On a fitting day, they will come in with a parent and choose from a variety of dresses or suits.

“We have something for everyone and sizes for every body type. There is a variety of dresses and suits and I am so thankful for this,” she said.

No money is requested from these identified matriculants and the dresses and suits will not be given back to the foundation, which means they can keep their outfit.

“I remember how special I felt in my dress on my matric farewell and I am a very sentimental person. I wanted these children to be able to keep their outfits,” Alta explained.

The foundation requests those who do not want to keep their outfit to “pay it forward” to someone who they know would need it the next year.

During the RECORD visit, we got the chance to meet two matriculants who were looking for their perfect outfits and both of them could not believe their eyes.

“There is so much to choose from and I feel so honoured and special. Thank you Epic Foundation for creating hope and making dreams come through,” said the one matric girl.

So far the foundation in 2021 has helped about 60 matriculants.

Leroy Jackson will be going to his matric farewell on December 1.

“This foundation is a big blessing to me and it has given me the chance to be able to not worry about not having money for an outfit. Thank you for helping us and making dreams come true. I am so excited about my matric farewell and thanks to the foundation I will look handsome,” said Leroy.

Other ways of giving back

• Volunteering

Help is always needed with the Comfort Pack and Fairy Godmother projects – help collect, sort or contribute towards the needed items.

• Free counselling and legal advice

If you’re a fully qualified, registered counsellor or attorney/lawyer who can offer free counselling or legal advice to survivors of rape and abuse, it will be very helpful for Epic Foundation in making a positive impact on these survivors’ lives.

• Monetary donations

If it’s in your means, you can make monetary donations of any amount to Epic Foundation. Contact Alta for the banking details.

You can also sign a monthly debit order of R100 towards the Comfort Pack Project.

• Donations for comfort packs

“We are always in need of items for our comfort packs. Items such as bottled water or cooldrink, brown paper bag, chips or snack, colouring-in book and crayons, soap, .deodorant, face cloth, hair comb or brush, hair elastics and clips, lip balm, underwear, Vaseline, sanitary towels, shampoo, small notebooks, pens, sweets, a small packet of tissues, a toothbrush and toothpaste.”

For more information about the Epic Foundation and its projects, contact Alta McMaster on 082 940 6230 or send an email to infor@epicfoundation.org.za or visit their website.

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