This Friday, boxing world champion Nikki Adler and the Hugo Tempelman Foundation are opening a boxing school for girls in Elandsdoorn, South Africa. The aim: to empower girls, boost their self-confidence, make them aware of their own strength and show them how to defend themselves for their own protection. This is particularly important in view of the fact that South Africa has one of the highest rape rates in the world.
Yesterday we were able to attend a rehearsal of the new children’s choir. We were delighted to meet Rachel again in her role as choir director. Rachel was the lead singer of the Ndlovu Youth Choir until she started her training as a nurse. As an outstanding voice, she stood out here and celebrated many successes with the choir.
In an interview in 2015(read here), she explained what a great inspiration her choirmaster Ralph Schmitt was. “Ralf told me that I should concentrate on my goals and that I should focus on what I wanted for myself. (…) He opened up a new world of music for me. I learned a lot from him!”
She now wants to pass on this enthusiasm to the new members of the children’s choir. Singing together brings people together, raising your voice gives you strength and self-confidence. This is what the children, who come from poor and predominantly difficult backgrounds, need.
Rachel is a very committed person who is keen to give the young people courage and encouragement. This and her musical skills make her the perfect leader for the newly founded children’s choir in the Ndlovu Care Group.
Some members of our foundation are currently in Elandsdoorn. They are accompanied by a film team that documents the current developments and progress of the individual projects and new plans for us.
The students of the newly founded vocational school of the Ndlovu Care Group were first visited during their practical training. Thanks in part to the generous support of Postcode Lotterie Deutschland , the operation of the vocational school has been secured for the next three years. We are particularly pleased that the majority of girls are taking advantage of the opportunity to train for skilled trades.