The weather was perfect as about 900 children gathered on the grounds of the Ocean View Primary School for a Extreme Response/Living Hope Christmas party. There was music and a giant jungle gym for jumping as high and as long as the boys and girls desired. Many of the younger kids had their faces painted and all the while, Christmas music played to put everyone in the spirit of the holiday. Like any Christmas party, there was lots of good food. But this party, like others at Capricorn, Red Hill and Masiphumelele, was for a bigger purpose.

Nathan Panti, Life Skills Educator at Ocean View explained that of course, for many of the children, this is the only time they experience this kind of fun on such a large scale, “like they see on television.” More than that, he says, “a party this huge makes people more aware of the presence of Living Hope in the community and helps to build relationships that open doors.

Our extreme thanks go to the Extreme Response team who came from the United States. They sponsored the parties for over 3200 children as well as Christmas parties for all the Living Hope staff, the hospice support groups and the Muizenberg Centre clients (street people).