Celeste House

Community Engagement

MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE!!

The beginning of 2009 saw me arriving at Rhodes University  and at Celeste House in particular but little did I know that life will never be the same ever again! Not until I volunteered to assist the then Community Engagement Representative , Monique Senekal from whom I eventually took over when she became the Head Student for Celeste House. Celeste House is a mixed race postgraduate residence filled with selfless people who have been doing amazing things in terms of reaching out to the Grahamstown community, especially the less privileged ones. The beginning of first term saw Celeste House residents donating in cash or kind towards charity. It was then that I volunteered to help Monique to do rounds and collect whatever the residents were prepared to part with. This venture culminated in a lot of clothes being donated as well as tinned food stuff, bathing and washing soap .

This was only the beginning, during the second term we bought and resold cake on Sundays. The selling experience boosted my confidence as I went door to door marketing the cake. You should have seen how amazing some Celeste guys were. For example, my first Sunday to sell the cake, Josiah, Sam and Judah bought the cake not to eat themselves but to donate. You must be wondering who got the cake? It was none other than the ‘saleslady’ herself: me! Then there were those ladies who have a sweettooth but fortunately whose faces got smoother with the cake instead of the mythically expected skin problems- Brittany and Kimberley. I am not going to get into the tiny details rather I am gonna leave that to your imagination!! Hweeh Celeste House,who said cake was for ladies. Let me tell you, Zee and Nish were my first port of call on the guys floor and they definitely would buy unless they were broke like we all know as students we are prone to be at some point . Oh I almost forgot, Sarah loves her cake guys! She bought every Sunday and this is without even considering the cake she had at the dining hall. How she maintains her figure remains a mystery to me. But as for Zee and Nish I could not tell whether their visits to the gym were meant to get rid of of the unwanted kilos or for body building reasons. What can I say about Monique? You should have seen her for yourself. I used to wonder if we were going to have enough to sell to everyone, reason being as soon as the cake was cut she would start feasting just then. That was infectious and obviously you must be able to tell who the victim was. Folks get me right, I have to highlight these particular episodes because they caught my attention and it does not mean these guys are the only ones who participated in these Sunday feasts- everyone did buy, thank you.

We did not end with Siyazama Preschool, rather I have a bitter-sweet story to tell about what Celeste House did next. Having personally known what it means to do without the most basic necessities in life, I could not help thinking of donating the clothes to the pupils at Amasango School where I am a mentor. This school which educationally rehabilitates the children from troubled families, and has pupils in high school who solely depend on what the school for their basic needs . Hence, you see Monique (obscured), Zoliswa and me in the picture above carrying in the clothes and shoes.

Amasango is a rehabilitative school for children from troubled families. It is situated along the way to the township at a disused railway line just outside town on the left side. What I find special about these pupils is that they have strong enough to admit that they have problems and need help, because pride is our downfall when it comes to issues about life. They are hopeful and as happy as any other kid they are age. Yet, there is that need to be accepted and loved which Celeste House did in this special way, thank you.

How does it feel Celeste to have brought those contagious smiles on their faces? The feeling you get is what happens when life is worth living. Thank you once again and may the Lord Almighty bless you abundantly!!!!