Learner’s (12) fundraiser makes for sweet donation

THE saying that while we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about rings true.

Take 12-year-old Alexia Bratos, whose cupcake fundraiser has benefited the children at The Durban Child and Youth Centre.

In the giving spirit of the festive season, the Grade 6 Brighton Beach Senior Primary School learner was moved to extend a hand to the less fortunate but very deserving children in child care.

“I was a driving with my dad and we drove past an area that was so badly polluted and I wanted to do something for the environment,” she said. But the lass soon realised that the task would prove to be beyond her capabilities.

“Then I remembered my gran telling me about the orphanage near our house that it was robbed – they stole copper pipes, food supplies and a lot of other things – and those children have nothing. I told my gran I have to do something because Christmas is coming up and they stole children’s things, there’s nothing worse than that,” she explained.

The idea was now set in motion. She wanted to donate money to the child care centre, but then she realised that there was another problem, how was she going to do this?

“My granny helped me and my uncle, who owns the Corner Bakery, supplied the icing, cupcakes and biscuits, I just had to ice them myself,” she said.

After approaching the child care centre and her school with the idea and getting the thumbs up from both places, it was time to get the ball rolling. In addition to the cup cake sale, her school also helped by making an appeal to learners to donate toys, books and clothes.

On Friday, 22 November, the sale proceeded and no cupcake was unsold. A total of R610 was made off the sale.

“I’m blessed to have done this. I feel I was put here (on earth) for this – to help people, especially children, because I’ve seen the state that some of these children are in. They don’t have new toys or clothes. This whole experience has just been amazing. And it still gives me butterflies,” said the little dynamite whose hobbies include baking, cooking and hip hop dancing.

“My best friend, Denaé Lieveaux, helped me and told me that no matter what I do, the children in the child care centre are the cause that I’m fighting for and I should put the negativity aside and push and pull through. My sister also told me that when she was in school she wanted to do something like this but she didn’t get the chance to, I’m really proud of myself for doing this,” said Alexia.

The hand over was done on Tuesday, 3 December to the delighted staff at Durban Child and Youth Centre. “This is the first time in a very long time that we’ve had child take it upon herself to do something wonderful for our home. We received the donation a few days ago and we are thrilled. This is an absolutely remarkable thing. And we thank Alexia’s parents and school for the wonderful support they gave her in encouraging her realisation in making a difference,” said director at the centre, Mandy Goble.

Alexia hopes to do more intiatives of this nature and her words of encouragement to others are, “Push through. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are. You aren’t just fighting for yourself, you’re doing it for children who have been abused, neglected or don’t have parents. I want to encourage people who want to do this to not just be scared of what other people think but to grow and help other people grow and just be an influence on other people to do this. If we all do our part, the world will be a better place,” she said.

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