Deaf children shine at art exhibition

N1 City Mall presented a R26 700 cheque to the Carel Du Toit Trust. From left, are comedian and host Ismail Moses, trust member Kim Simpson, N1 City Mall manager Ria du Buisson and trust spokeswoman Lynn Cloete.

Deaf children spoke through their art and poetry at an exhibition at the N1 City Mall, on Saturday July 30.

It was a fund-raiser for the Carel du Toit Centre, in Parow, which teaches deaf children how to speak.

On the day, the mall presented a R26 700 cheque to the Carel du Toit Trust, the hearing centre’s fund-raising arm, for Mandela month.

According to Carel du Toit Trust spokeswoman Lynn Cloete, more than half of the children at the centre come from poor households.

“Every year, the centre has their annual 67 Campaign during Mandela month to invite the public to give towards the needs of the centre and children,” she said.

“The 67 Campaign was inspired by Mandela Day. At the centre, the hearing-impaired kids have various needs, and so we categorised these needs to make it easy for anyone to give from R67 to R67 000. Every bit helps.”

The centre still needs help covering, among other things, its running costs and buying hearing-aid batteries.

At the art exhibition, three Grade 3 pupils from the centre recited poems before an audience at the mall.

“These three kids have a passion for drama/poetry, and often compete at the Tygerberg National Eisteddfod. Many people don’t know that these kids are hearing impaired as they compete with hearing children, that is evident in how well they speak,” Ms Cloete said.

Call Lynn Cloete at 060 734 6377 or email comms@careldutoit.co.za for more information.