The BBC, the Lady Mayoress and Kleinvlei
Lady Mayoress of London at the launch ceremony
At first sight no one would think there would be a connection between the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the City of London and the small community of Kleinvlei at Eerste Rivier on the Cape Flats. But at a ceremony at the RR Franks Primary school in Kleinvlei yesterday (Thursday 25th March 2010) all three came together in the final part of a story which began more than eighteen months ago in the United Kingdom.
In September 2008 the BBC launched a project to track a container around the world, as a living example of globalisation and international trade. The container was fitted with a tracking device and people around the world could follow its progress through the Internet. During the twelve months of the project, the container travelled from the United Kingdom to China, and thence to Japan, the United States, Brazil, Singapore, Japan and back to the UK.
In October of 2009 the BBC agreed to hand over the container to an African charity, Breadline Africa, for transformation into a community kitchen in South Africa. The handover was effected in London on the 4th November 2009, and the final journey of the container to Cape Town completed on the 5th December 2009.
Yesterday the newly renovated container, which will serve as a community kitchen for the people of Kleinvlei , was officially opened by the Lady Mayoress of London, Mrs. Claire Anstee, who is in Cape Town on an official visit to South Africa with her husband the Lord Mayor.
She was introduced to President Zuma at a function that was held in his honour recently in London where she also met the Chairperson of Breadline Africa, Louise Seligman and was inspired to reach out to the poor here in South Africa. During her speech to the community she thanked all those involved and added “I am not surprised to see you all here supporting the Eerste River community to combat poverty with this new soup kitchen uniting international trade and community work in a pretty unique way.”
Accompanying the Lady Mayoress on her visit was Liz Wootton, the Lady Sherriff of London, and Mrs Ina Gallagher, wife of the UK Trade Commissioner. Also present at the function were dignitaries of the local community, including the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Jeremy Cronin, in whose “constituency” Kleinvlei falls, Mrs. Wilma Bradey, Mr. B. Van Dalen and Mr. Johannes Jama, ward councillors, Mr. D. Sonnenberg, Chairperson of the sub-council, and Mr. Julian Untank, Chairperson of the local Community Police Forum, and Mr. Angus Baker of the local Economic Business Forum. In addition there were staff members of Breadline Africa, the non-profit organisation which organised the donation and chose Kleinvlei as its final destination. Breadline Africa has renovated more than 100 containers to serve as kitchens, classrooms, libraries and clinics over the last 15 years.During a colourful ceremony at the school, which included the singing of the national anthems of South Africa and the United Kingdom by the school choir and dances by various groups, thanks were expressed to the BBC, to NYK shipping lines which donated the container, to Maersk shipping lines which transported it to Cape Town for free, to Breadline Africa, and to the Principal of the RR Franks school for agreeing to host the container in their school grounds.
Containers, People, Projects | admin March 26, 2010
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By Debbie, March 30, 2010 @ 8:58 pm
Well done to Breadline Africa.
By Collony Faans, June 30, 2010 @ 10:19 am
I just want to commend on the event that took place in Kleinvlei earlier this year when the opening of the BBC container were launched to showcase the start of a new era for the hungry poor people of Kleinvlei (on the Cape Flats). As the Chairperson of NEWCAR (a NPO) I’m proud to be part of the occation and also to have a glimps of the dignatries of the UK.
I also want express NEWCAR’s good luck wishes to Ansie (as she is known in the Community) on the journey she and her team will embark. I also want to stress out the fact that NEWCAR want to form a Joint Venture Partnership with her Organisation to provide sporting codes and other forms of recreation to the hungry mouths that they will feed.
By admin, June 22, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
Thanks for the request, if you could please send a letter to Edna on edna@breadlineafrica.org.za and she will then be able to assist you