ATLANTIS AUNTIES BRING JOY

AS GANG violence and crime casts a long shadow over Dura Flats in Atlantis, one woman decided to bring a little light to the community by giving local kinders a day they won’t forget.

Juleiga Arendse, who grew up and still lives in the Dura Flats in Robinvale, Atlantis says she felt she had to do something special for the kids before schools reopened this week and roped in her friends and neighbours to make it happen.

Arendse told the Daily Voice: “I spoke to my two friends saying it would be nice to give out food and do something nice for the community especially the children as they enjoy their last weekend before schools open.

“I asked a few people to help me out and to hand out food and party packets. I also worked around the centre where we stay to ask people to assist and they supported me and that’s how I was able to do it.”

Despite Robinvale often being labelled a “lost city” and red zone due to ongoing violence and gangsterism, this weekend showed the other side – one filled with heart and hope.

One antie said that she hopes that mooi dinge uit die gemeenskap sal kom despite the recent killings and gangsterism in the past.

On the day, the children were treated to bolognese soup, vetkoek, and party packets, but with a lesson built in. Arendse told the kids to clean up after themselves and turned it into a speletjie to keep the area neat.

Despite the lesson, she says the day ended on a high note with music, dancing and happy faces.

Arendse added she also received sponsors from local winkels in the area and that the children enjoyed themselves by ending the day with dancing.

In a place too often written off, these vrouens proved that kindness still lives in Dura Flats and that change begins with even the smallest hands.