An inspiring visit to the top of Table Mountain.
Author: info@klassikdigital.co.za
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) treated children from a local child protection organisation to a day of fun and excitement today (Monday). TMACC arranged the visit as part of its plans to commemorate Mandela Day.
“We are in a unique position to be able to help inspire those who come to our mountain, thanks to the picture postcard perfect views from the top. Our hope was to inspire the kids from Home from Home and judging by the smiles and the sounds of laughter, it was mission accomplished,” says Rianda Williams, Retail Operations Executive at TMACC.
Home from Home has been providing permanent, family-style foster care homes to vulnerable children in the Western Cape for the past 18 years. Foster mothers take care of up to six children per household. The homes are situated in 16 communities across the province.
“Many of our children have a view of our iconic mountain but have never thought they would ever be given an opportunity to take a ride to the top. Many would not have even seen what the cable car looks like,” says Home from Home’s fundraiser, Tanya Townshend.
During the visit, part of the group of children chose to hike up Platteklip Gorge while the rest travelled in the cable car. They were treated to a lunch and refreshments at the top where they were also given an inspirational pep talk by one of TMACC’s most passionate team members, Pasteur Nkurunziza.
Pasteur is a popular ambassador for the mountain and works as a store assistant in the TMACC retail department. An avid hiker, he also represented TMACC in the recent Cableway Charity Challenge where he was one of the best performing competitors.
“Being from Burundi I was faced with lots of adversity here in South Africa. But I found a home at the mountain, and I now have a chance to help others in the same way that I was helped. I wanted to tell the kids that they too can achieve what I did. Home from Home gave them the same kind of safe space that the mountain and the Cableway has given me,” he says.
Townshend says the visit helped to inspire the children, teach them about the environment, explore our natural Cape beauty, and give them hope.
“I wanted them to see that no matter what your background, you can achieve so much. I also wanted them to see that there are people in Cape Town that care and that are ready to help anyone in need. That for me is the message that Mandela Day holds for all of us.”