Latest News
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS:
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR DATES AND DETAILS...
March: Community Awareness Outreach
– Human Rights Day
June: Community Awareness Outreach
– Youth Day
August: Orion’s Purple Shoelace Fun
Race & Orion’s Pink Ball Golf Day (Women’s Month)
September: Arbour Day
November: Annual Fundraising Gala
event
December: International AIDS Day &
International Day for Disabled
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JOE DOLPHIN VISIT
On 11 February, Orion received a visit from the
Deputy Mayor of Malmesbury, Ms Maude Goliath, Alec
Amerika, social worker of the Dept of Social
Development, and collegue Jaques Swart, to “look and
learn” more about the activities, daily programmes
and management of Wilge Special Day Care Centre. A
great need for a similar establishment in Malmesbury
area was identified, and they chose Wilge as their
role model. |
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IT’S RAINING KIMBIES!!!
Wilge received thousands of disposable nappies from
Kimberley Clark, a well-known producer of a variety
of hygiene products. “I was so glad to hear that our
charity of choice was chosen, and our company is
proud to be associated with a wonderful organisation
like Orion,” said Susan Filby and Simon Apollis,
managers at the factory. This donation makes Wilge’s
daily task of keeping our children clean, dry and
healthy so much easier, without any costs to the
parents or the organisation. |
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TOP ATLANTIS STUDENT AWARDED WITH
UNIVERSITY BURSARY
Laura De Wet’s parents cannot stop smiling since
they have heard the good news that their daughter
was chosen as the top student to receive a full
bursary from Solstice Foundation, one of Orion’s
longstanding donors. Laura is given the opportunity
to qualify herself as a Physiotherapist at the
University of the Western Cape, as a result of her
diligence, passion for children and total commitment
to her studies and the community. Laura will work as
a volunteer at Wilge Special Day Care Centre at
Orion during her holidays, and will be joining the
Orion team after successful completion of her
studies. Well done, Laura, and we wish you all the
best with your 4-year course. |
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STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION
2010
The management team spent 2 days quality time
together to plan the way forward for the next 3
years. The team had the privilege to be addressed by
Timothy Maurice Webster, well-known International
Motivational Speaker specialising in Personal and
Corporate Branding. Many thanks to Timothy who
donated sharing his phenomenal, mind-blowing
expertise and experience with the team. He was a
real inspiration to us all, and the team looks
forward to taking on future challenges. We are also
grateful towards Johannes Stiefel, owner of Alpha Du
Cap guest house in Blaauwbergstrand, who sponsored
our accommodation and meals. (Websites:
www.timothymaurice.com and
www.alphaducap.co.za) |
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WELCOME BACK
We wish all our stakeholders a wonderful, blessed
and prosperous 2010!! We look forward to the
challenges of the year. You are most welcome to
visit us during the year, to experience the
incredible work that’s been done at our
organisation. |
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IMPORTANT NEWSFLASH!!! ORION IS LICENSED!
During December 2009 we received the good news that
Orion was the first organisation in the Western Cape
to receive its licence to render a service to people
with mental disabilities. Congratulations to Team
Orion for doing their utmost to adhere to all
standards and requirements of the Department of
Health. The organisation is a true example to other
similar establishments in offering outstanding care
and training to people with disabilities, in spite
of limited funds. |
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UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS:
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR DATES AND DETAILS...
March: Community Awareness Outreach
– Human Rights Day
June: Community Awareness Outreach
– Youth Day
August: Orion’s Purple Shoelace Fun
Race & Orion’s Pink Ball Golf Day (Women’s Month)
September: Arbour Day
November: Annual Fundraising Gala
event
December: International AIDS Day &
International Day for Disabled |
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CEO CELEBRATES HER 50th BIRTHDAY
On the 19th of January, Lizelle turned half a
century and she celebrated in style with everybody
at Orion. Happy Birthday, Lizelle, and may God bless
you in abundance. You are an inspiration to us all.
Stay forever young! |
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Dear Friends of
Orion
One cannot believe how quickly this year went by! Please note
that we will close for the summer holiday on Friday afternoon,
18 December 2009, and back at the office on Monday, 18 January
2010. We want to thank all our donors and friends of Orion for
your incredible support, commitment and dedication to our
project. We wish you, your families and colleagues a safe,
wonderful Festive Season, and a successful, prosperous and happy
New Year!! |
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MR & MS ORION – 30 October
This is certainly one of the most exciting highlights of the
year for our disabled people – electricity is in the air when
the pumping music stops, the drum roll starts, the judge gets up
from his desk, one can hear a pin drop... the finalists holding
their breaths, and then! The magic moment arrived when he
finally announced the new Miss Orion for 2009, Gertruida
Philander!! Mr Orion, Jonathan Jack, took his place by Gertruida’s side, and for the next year, they will be our
ambassadors at big events, representing the disabled adults.
This year for the first time, Wilge joined in this annual
competition and the little ones almost stole the show from the
adults. The spontaneity and confidence of little Andrew Daniels
and Shaadieka Jacobs blew us out of the water!
MEDIA COVERAGE
We experienced the true meaning of the
expression, “the power of the media” this
year, when the professional services of
Mostly Media was contracted, who takes care
of companies’ marketing and media needs.
They took on Orion as their first CSIProject,
and really made a huge difference to our
branding strategy by arranging an array of
press conferences and interviews with the
media. Not only to create awareness about
people living with disabilities, but also to
introduce the organisation to the public.
Interviews were held with Radio Sonder
Grense, Radio Good Hope, Radio Tygerberg,
Radio Atlantis, and the cherry on top was a
television programme hosted by Freek
Robinson for “Fokus Gee Om”. Via this
exposure, we had the chance to showcase the
various projects at Orion and a number of
new donors joined our Friendship Circle. |
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NEW BUS!!
When we met the General Manager of Mercedes Benz, Commercial
Vehicles Sandown branch, during September, we never realised
that we would leave his office with a brand new Mercedes Benz
23-seater Sprinter! When we were told that this bus would be
replaced with a brand new one every year, we were left
speechless. On 4 November,
the Nomads held a Race Day as part of
their annual fundraising events, to raise additional funds for
Orion. At this event, the keys were officially handed over to
us. |
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NEW BROCHURE
With the creative input from Wadg, our brochure received a
facelift in the form of a funky booklet. It is user friendly,
bright, beautiful and cost effective. |
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SWIMMING POOL
What a glorious day it was when Lydia Goldswain took the first
plunge to open our new swimming pool officially. Not even the
South Easter could place a damper on the enthusiasm. The purpose
of the pool is twofold: not only to provide healthy recreational
opportunities for our residents and children, but also to use it
for therapeutic purposes. The Wilge children will make use of
the shallow 5x5meter pool, whilst the adults can use the
10x5meter deeper side for swimming and water games. Thank you to
Polyoak and Wiehahn Foundation who made this dream come true! |
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WILGE NATIVITY PLAY
Time for jingle bells and Christmas carols! Our children enjoyed
every minute whilst showing off their lovely singing, dancing
and acting talents. There was not a dry eye in the hall when
Malcolm Petersen came down the passage in full procession with
his black cape, ready to be “capped” and to move on to the next
level of education at Dawn Special School in Atlantis. |
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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISABLED
We were invited by the Department of Sports and Culture to join
them in the picturesque small town, Darling, in the West Coast,
in celebration of International Day for Disabled. Scholars from
the local schools and the disabled took part in a variety of
sports activities. The objective was twofold: to encourage abled-body
youngsters to get involved in sport, via the message, “if a
person with a disability can do it, so can you”. Furthermore,
the purpose was also to break down stigmas that are so often
associated with “being disabled” and to encourage young people
to make people living with disabilities part of their social
groups and activities. |
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GALA, 21 November
We are proud to announce that this year’s star-studded gala
broke all previous records when a whopping R205 000 was raised.
270 dressed-to-kill guests arrived in support of the main
fundraising event of the year held at Pigalle restaurant,
Greenpoint. Many sponsors made this an event to remember, and we
want to thank everybody who made the effort to buy seats, a
table or even a few tables. Funds raised will go towards
much-needed operational costs.
The organisation was praised by the Minister of Social
Development, Dr Ivan Meyer, who commended the organisation for
its transparency, good governance and rendering an outstanding
service to people with disabilities. He called Orion “a model
and true example” to other similar organisations, and that we
make him proud.
Khanyi Dhlomo, Orion’s new SA patron, invites more business
people to join hands with the organisation to better the lives
of disabled people, giving them opportunities to grow and
develop to become fulfilled members of society.
Lydia Goldswain, spastic diaplegic swimmer, shared her inspiring
story with the audience. Ryan O’Connor and Deon Bing (Radio KFM
presenters) had the audience in stitches with their hilarious
stunts. Two representatives of “My Life” project presented a
fantastic item in song, and the highlight of the evening was
when Brandon October sang “The Impossible Dream”. Guests stayed
until the early hours of the morning, after an evening well
spent with excellent food (prepared by Pigalle) and wine
(sponsored by Distell), and a superb programme. We are already
looking forward to next year’s gala.... |
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ORION GROUP
Having the same name in common, we approached the “Orion Hotel
Group” to join the Orion Friendship Circle. It was good news
indeed, when we heard that they decided favourably to adopt us
as one of their Corporate Social Investment Projects. Welcome on
board, Orion Group. We trust that this partnership will grow and
inspire others to do same.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - LICENSING
PROCESS
According to new legislation, all institutions rendering a
service to more than 5 mentally disabled people, should acquire
a special license from the Department of Health. We are
determined to be the first organisation in the Western Cape to
adhere to all requirements. We are almost there, hold thumbs,
and watch this space!
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TRW EMPLOYEE SPONSORS LUNCH FOR TRAINEES
On 26 November Kube Govendor decided to surprise our trainees
with a mouthwatering lunch of barbequed hamburgers and French
fries. He also brought along his fellow colleagues to assist
with the preparations. “It is such a wonderful experience to
work together with the Orion trainees who do the TRW contract
work. I just wanted to show my appreciation for their positive
attitudes and enthusiasm” said Kube. Thank you, Kube – this
world needs more people like you!! |
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Related: News Archive |
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