Unsavoury dive transformed into ‘a piece of heaven’

THE ‘Ou Kroeg’ (old bar) in Katutura’s Damara location was well known for less socially conscious activities in the past, but today it is seen as ‘a piece of heaven that fell into Katutura’.

In 2003 Pat and Brian Kingston were driving around Katutura trying to find a place where their help and generosity is needed most. They got lost and came upon this dilapidated building where people were drinking cheap wine from plastic drums.They requested a meeting with the owner and agreed to lease the place for three years and buy it thereafter. Soon they started renovating and extending the building, and the Beautiful Kidz Centre was opened in 2006 with 34 children. Today 74 children attend the pre-school where they not only receive breakfast, snack breaks, lunch and education, but are also taught the importance of personal hygiene – they have to brush their teeth after every meal or snack.On the last Friday of every month, all the children who had birthdays that month receive presents and a birthday party is held for all the children. ‘This is normally the highlight of the month, as most children do not know their birth dates and are very surprised by the present and the attention,’ says Pam Kinghorn.The centre caters for older children too – every Friday afternoon its doors are open to those between the ages of eight and 14.The children come to sing, play board games, go on bike rides and generally to have some good, clean and safe fun off the streets.Every Saturday the centre is open to the youth of the area, who enjoy the pool and fussball tables and board games. They also put on some music and dance. The centre is also a place where children of all ages can talk to volunteer counsellors and youth leaders about their problems at home or school. Children who visit the centre regularly are also taken on adventure camps once a year to the ‘Youth with a Mission’ site near Brakwater. There they go on nature walks and bike rides. Beautiful Kidz also offers computer classes and homework assistance. ‘We realised very early that for us to be able to eradicate poverty or make a difference we need to do something about education in the community,’ says Brian Kinghorn.Maths, science and English are the three subjects on offer during the Holiday School for Grade 10 pupils offered by the centre.A new library is being set up and the Grade 2 and 3 children are in reading classes where a teacher reads them stories to get them interested in reading.’We have to establish a reading culture and get the children interested in reading and the library,’ says Kinghorn.Every Saturday morning the centre offers art classes where children, mostly girls, make jewellery, fruit baskets, kites and many other beautiful creations out of recycled material found in the area. Beautiful Kidz does not only educate and feed the poorest of the poor children in the community, it also teaches them about reading, art and teamwork. It offers them a safe place off the street where they can play, learn and relax.It also offers them a second home where they can discuss their problems and celebrate their birthdays.