This blog has had many entries about the beauty of Knysna – and it is beautiful. Stretches of unspoilt beaches, sparkling blue waters, sheer sandstone cliffs, blue mountains, ancient forests, acres of Cape Fynbos, rivers, lakes and estuaries – if you can think of a beautiful aspect of nature – Knysna has it.
But what makes Knysna special, is the beauty of its people, and Ella Mahlulo and Penny Mainwaring from Emzini Township Tours are the perfect embodiments of that beauty.
Ella had a dream to help her community by uplifting those around her with food, clothing, confidence, employment, self-worth and safety. Ella and Penny started Emzini Township Tours and started bringing tourists (and a few locals) into the Knysna townships – giving Ella the perfect platform from which to share her dream – and to make it a reality.
Through the kind donations made by their guests, Penny and Ella slowly started to make a difference.
Ella started a soup kitchen at her house in the first week of October 2009, with the assistance of E-pap. She started off by feeding three children – and three turned into 25 in just one week! With new crowds of children finding a warm meal at the soup kitchen, ladies from the area are now also assisting in feeding all these little hungry mouths.
Coming from a background of abuse, Ella’s big dream was to build a facility where those who need it the most – abused women and children – could turn to for a hearty meal, a warm bed and, most importantly, a safe environment. Ella’s dream came true on 26 March 2010 when she and Penny opened Lukahnyiso Safe House (Lukhanyiso means The Light).
The house can provide a loving environment to six people in one bedroom, with a full bathroom and an open plan lounge / kitchen. Ella and Penny are constantly raising more funds and hope to enlarge the house one day so that they can care for even more women and children who need it.
These incredible ladies also started a skills development centre in town, where volunteers offer classes ranging from computer courses, money management courses, beading, sewing of tracksuits, housekeeping, basic nursing and hygiene – and there is a strong possibility of music lessons in the near future.
But in between feeding the township dogs, taking visitors on tours, running their soup kitchen, the safe house and the skills development centre, Penny and Ella also take time out to treat the children to special outings…
A recent outing to the Falcon Creek Spur at the Knysna Waterfront was the first experience of ‘eating out’ for some of the children. And with the good manners taught to them by Ella, 6 year old Marco very politely took his pudding bowl back to the kitchen after he had finished. The ladies explained that he didn’t have to do this in a restaurant and he definitely thought that this was a great idea!
Two of the older children are attending school in town and enjoying a variety of experiences that would otherwise have been denied them, including computer classes, ballet, gymnastics, visits to farms and other special events.
And while Ella and Penny are doing amazing work within the community of Knysna, they can only do so with the support of Knysna locals and the guests who join them on the township tours – and they are constantly in dire need of funding.
Click here to learn how you can help Penny and Ella and make a real difference in a child’s life. Or better yet, book a tour with Emzini Township Tours today – visit the township, meet the children and see the great work done by these ladies for yourself.
And if you have to travel to Knysna to make this visit, you’ll find your perfect overnight accommodation at www.exploreknysna.com.