Dear Friends of Golden Sunbeams
This year too, our pre-Christmas season is colourful and eventful – full of shining childrens’ eyes and many special encounters. We presented our colourful Christmas bags to a total of six ECD centres this season.
On December 1, 2025, we started at the Sikuthale Pre-Primary school in the Asanda Village township, where we were able to make more than 100 children happy with our colourful Christmas bags.
Two days later, on December 3, 2025, we visited the EmfundiSweni Pre-school in the Nomzamo township.
Our big Christmas party took place on December 4, 2025 at the Mondeor Restaurant – together with the Helderberg Golden Sunbeam and Bridge Park ECD centres. A real highlight of the pre-Christmas season – with lots of laughter, games and joyful togetherness.
Afterwards, we visited Lekkerbekkies and Loflands Day-Care centre in the Rusthof township, where we were also greeted by many beaming faces.
The warm welcome we received at the Sikuthale Pre-Primary school on December 1, 2025, touched us deeply.
The children danced and sang merrily, while their eyes repeatedly wandered expectantly to the promising Christmas bags.
In the afternoon the big moment arrived, and the principal and teachers handed each child their bulging bag.
When we arrived at the EmfundiSweni Pre-school on December 3, 2025, with many brightly filled Christmas bags, the joy was immense. The children danced happily around their bags, sang, and some of them even performed little solo dances, which were enthusiastically admired and applauded by the others.
On Saturday, December 6, 2025, the EmfundiSweni Pre-school held its big Graduation party – a celebratory closing event for the children who have finished their Pre-school years and are now moving on to Primary school. It was a significant day, during which 20 children were bidden farewell with lots of music and choreographed dances. Together with the principal Nomalizo, we decided that the children could look at their Christmas bags on December 3rd, but would only take them home on the day of the Graduation party. We are always impressed by how calmly and naturally the children accept such decisions. No whining, no complaining – just pure joy and genuine gratitude.
On December 4th, the time had finally come: Our Helderberg Golden Sunbeam and Bridge Park ECD centres, which arrived together by bus from Macassar, stormed the Mondeor Restaurant in Somerset West with great shouts of joy.
Alle Kinder waren bestens für die Poolparty ausgestattet – in ihren kleinen Rucksäcken warteten Handtücher und Badesachen auf ihren Einsatz. Kaum angekommen, wechselten die ersten Kinder blitzschnell die Kleidung und stürzten sich begeistert ins Wasser. Während einige fröhlich im kinderfreundlichen Pool plantschten, tobten andere ausgelassen in der Hüpfburg und ließen ihrer Energie freien Lauf.
All the children were perfectly equipped for the pool party – their little backpacks were filled with towels and swimwear. As soon as they arrived, the first children quickly changed their clothes and enthusiastically plunged into the water. While some splashed happily in the child-friendly pool, others romped around in the bouncy castle, letting off steam.
For lunch, all the children enjoyed pizza and refreshing drinks – a welcome treat after all the playing and running around. Meanwhile, many of our friends, sponsors, and supporters of Golden Sunbeams arrived and shared in the joy of seeing the happy faces and shining eyes of the children.
Then the excitement increased because Saint Nicholas had announced his arrival and, accompanied by Christmas music, distributed sweets. But that wasn’t all; there were also life jackets and armbands, water pistols, and water balls.
Before the children set off on their journey home to Macassar, there was one more special moment full of joy. Each child was allowed to receive their own large Christmas bag, lovingly filled with toys, craft and painting supplies – a little treasure that made hearts shine.
And then it was time to say goodbye, and everyone travelled back to Macassar together by bus.
But our Christmas journey wasn’t over yet: On Monday, December 8, 2025, we visited the Lekkerbekkies ECD centre in the Rusthof township. There, too, we were able to surprise many children with our Christmas bags and make them smile.
Florentia (back right in the picture), the principal, and her two long-time colleagues were visibly moved and grateful that every child received a gift.
The youngest little ray of sunshine was just one year old. He proudly accepted his bag—but when it came time to start walking, he needed a helping hand, as the bag was bigger and heavier than he had expected. A moment that brought a smile to everyone’s face.
Our tour then took us to the Loflands Day-Care centre, also in the Rusthof township. There we handed over our Christmas bags to June, the principal and to her colleague, Monique.
The two had planned a special outing for the last day of school on December 10, 2025: a trip to the Water World park in Strand. After an exciting day full of water fun, the children returned to the school and before they went home, one more big highlight awaited them: our Christmas goody bag as a surprise gift.
Thus, an already special day became an unforgettable end to the year.
This year, we again supported all other ECD centres with a financial contribution so that they could organise individual Christmas parties for their children. This support means a great deal to the principals and teachers – without this help, such celebrations would hardly be possible for many facilities.
This year, we would like to extend a very special thank you to Paul and his family. For many years they have supported us with great dedication in selecting and filling the Christmas bags. They have also been a great help at numerous Christmas parties: they took on the role of Santa Claus and generously provided us with water pistols, balls, sweets, and festive decorations.
Their support is a true gift every year – for us and especially for the children.
We say a heartfelt thank you to all those who have accompanied, supported and encouraged us this year. A huge thank you goes to our sponsors and all our friends and supporters who have made so much possible with their generous donations. Without your support, many of these moments and projects would not have been conceivable.
And if you haven’t donated yet but would like to – we appreciate any support and thank you in advance!
Donation account: Golden Sunbeams e.V.
Stadt- und Kreissparkasse Darmstadt
IBAN DE54 5085 0150 0023 0186 32
We wish you a peaceful and reflective Christmas, a happy New Year, and a successful start to 2026.
Warm regards
Britta & Claudia