Symbulon Charitable Trust is raising funds for the construction of a new performing arts centre to benefit underprivileged children in the charming Langeberg town of McGregor.
Also read: The ultimate guide to the Langeberg: There’s magic in McGregor
A step in the right direction
Professional dancer Mary Corpe Silver, affectionately known to locals as Miss Mary, has dedicated the past eleven years of her life to the upliftment of underserved children in McGregor through the performing arts.
From a church hall in the small Langeberg town, she runs a registered non-profit organisation and performing arts programme called First Step Ballet. Here, she teaches drama, singing and various styles of dance to students as young as three up to eighteen.
Like so many other small towns in South Africa, McGregor is afflicted with problems of poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancy.
First Step Ballet aspires to change the mindset of children born into this community by teaching them to ‘believe in themselves, visualise a better life, and hope for their future.’
A place to call home
One of the organisation’s biggest supporters, Symbulon Charitable Trust, believes in the transformative power of the performing arts and has dedicated funding and material support to Miss Mary’s cause.
To ensure the development and continuation of the programme, Symbulon has embarked on the mammoth project of building a studio for performing arts.
While the church hall serves its purpose, it is not structurally suited for dance classes due to the absence of sufficient storage space, a sprung floor, mirrors and barres. This is in addition to the inconsistent availability of the hall.
It takes a village
To realise this dream, Symbulon has enlisted the help of various members of the McGregor community. The land was bought with the backing of a generous resident.
Many local suppliers are supporting the project. A local architect and trust member named Louise van Riet created the building plans pro bono.
And construction will be headed up by local contractors who will upskill youth from the village’s Breede Centre – a skills training centre that educates youngsters through various hands-on programmes.
The progress so far
The Dutch foundation, Wilde Ganzen, contributes to the construction process; however, Symbulon and First Step Ballet will need additional funding to see the project through.
Raising funds
Symbulon Charitable Trust is raising funds for the construction of the centre. All donations will go directly towards the building of the studio for performing arts.
To make a donation, visit Quicket.
More about the sponsors:
Sempurna Estate
Sempurna Estate is a family-run guest farm nestled among vineyards and orchards on 458 hectares of land just outside the small town of McGregor. The heritage farm provides the perfect setting to get to know the nearby wine farms, various trails and hikes in the Langeberg, and, of course, the quaint town of McGregor and its welcoming residents.
The estate is a working fruit farm that grows wine grapes, olives, peaches and apricots, but it is also a provincial heritage site with some of the original buildings dating back to the 1860s.
Sempurna offers self-catering accommodation in three deluxe Santai Suites and in its heritage Kecil Cottage. The grounds within the werf have been beautifully landscaped with multiple gardens and gravel pathways that wind between the white buildings.
A leafy arch leads to an indigenous botanical garden with a trickling fountain, and perfectly placed benches invite you to sit down and admire the stillness of the surrounding nature.
Santai Suites
Santai is a historically listed 1860s barn that has been renovated into three elegant self-catering suites. The roomy suites comprise a lounge, a fully equipped kitchenette, a lush carpeted bedroom with a king size bed, an en-suite bathroom and a private covered patio with a braai.
Each unit is tastefully decorated with a blend of stylish amenities and rustic charm, providing a comfortable and tranquil retreat for guests. However, if you need to connect, there is Wi-Fi and a television.
Kecil Cottage – 2 bedroom heritage cottage
Kecil Cottage, once the original settler’s home in the 1860s, has been meticulously restored and sits nestled in a lovely garden within the werf. It has a spacious living space that includes a kitchen and a dining area with a large open fireplace.
The main bedroom is furnished with a double bed and an en-suite bathroom with underfloor heating. There is a private courtyard with a built-in braai that leads to another separate bedroom with two single beds and an en-suite bathroom.
Activities on the estate
While you’re there, take advantage of the sprawling wilderness surrounding you. Between the orchards and vines, there are a number of activities on the farm. Follow the 11km-marked walking or cycling trail through unspoiled Karoo fynbos. The short walk to the ‘Bench With a View’ is not to be missed, or you can enjoy sundowners or a bush braai in the boma.
If it’s harvest season, pick some peaches and apricots, and during the warmer months, spend some time at the dam swimming, paddling or fishing. Failing that, the estate boasts a 25-metre indoor, heated swimming pool that is heated in the winter.
- Location: 1km before McGregor coming from Robertson | GPS: S33° 56′ 22.32″ E19° 50′ 38.43″
- Contact: [email protected] | 082 561 1861
- Website: sempurna.co.za
Fat Lady’s Arms
51 Coffee Shop & Deli
From Friday morning to Monday morning, there is a hive of activity at 51 as people meet for breakfast, coffee and cake. Every weekend, there is a new breakfast menu. Sometimes it’s eggs, sometimes it’s galettes or even breakfast pizzas; either way, it’s always delicious – just check out its Google reviews. Sourdough bread, cheese, cold meats, homemade jam, marmalades and different products are available in the deli for purchase.
- Location: 51 Voortrekker Street, McGregor
- Contact: 83 675 0403
As a non-profit organisation, First Step Ballet operates with the support of various sponsors and donations, be they monetary or dancing gear such as ballet shoes, leotards and costumes.
If you do not want to donate and would prefer to offer your support in another way, visit firststepballetmcgregor.co.za.
Also read:
Picture: Peet Mocke
