Not far from Plakkerskamp, the slum where many families once lived among the town’s waste, a small piece of land became the beginning of something new.
It was close enough for everyone to reach and slowly turned into a place that gave hope.
With little more than determination and goodwill, the team started to build. There wasn’t much, a few containers, an old building, second-hand furniture, and whatever materials could be found. But there was a shared goal: to create a safe space for children who had nowhere else to go.
In February 2003, the first kindergarten opened with 27 children. A small garden was planted to grow vegetables for the daily meals, prepared by Bonnie People’s cook, a warm plate for every child, every day.
For many, it was their first regular meal, their first classroom, their first feeling of safety.
Together with the local people, a South African board was established under the name Bonnie People. The municipality welcomed the idea and offered their support whenever it was needed. Slowly, the project began to take shape, step by step, with patience, care, and community spirit.
The goals were clear from the start: to fight hunger, give children access to education, and open a path off the streets.
But it was never just about giving. It was about helping people find the tools to shape their own future.
That’s why social work became an important part of the project - helping children get identification papers so they could attend school, supporting families in difficult times, and simply being there when someone needed to talk.
On the property, training programs for mothers soon followed: sewing classes, cooking classes, and small workshops that gave women new skills and confidence.
Many of the women who learned to sew back then still use those skills today - creating handmade items in Bonnievale that we continue to sell on our markets in Luxembourg.
As time went on, the project grew naturally.
The feeding scheme became a vital part of daily life, making sure no child went hungry.
The first permanent classrooms were built, and the number of children kept growing.
We started holiday programs and aftercare activities for young people - helping with homework, sports, and creative workshops. Slowly, the streets became safer, crime decreased, and more young people began to believe in their own future.
Here in Luxembourg, we did everything we could to support it.
Through Christmas markets, local events, and donations, every contribution helped the project move forward.
Over time, we officially became an ONG in Luxembourg, allowing us to work with the government and secure the means to build proper school buildings and expand our programs.
After years of hard work, two Early Childhood Development schools were created — Bonnie People and Kapteintjies - offering children aged 0 to 5 years a place to learn, eat, and grow safely.
Looking back, it’s hard to describe what these twenty years mean to us.
What began on a small piece of land near a dumpsite became a place of learning, dignity, and hope.
And perhaps the greatest sign of success was seeing that, when we could no longer be there every day, the community continued - strong, proud, and ready to carry the work forward
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