The Christmas Fair Fund

The Stanger and District Christmas Fair Fund Charity was founded in the year 1952 and is registered as a non-profit Welfare Organisation.

It started out when Mrs Shirley Jex, together with a group of dedicated young women, identified a need in the Lower Tugela region where, at the time, there were no high schools on the North Coast, and existing schools for all races were shabby and poorly equipped. The Child Welfare Society struggled for funds, the Stanger Hospital was very small, and there were few rural clinics.

This group of Ladies got together and used their talents to raise money by holding a Country Fair at Christmas time, offering exquisite handiwork, as well as produce for sale, and made the astonishing profit of £500, which in 1952 was a tidy sum. The Christmas Fair Fund charity had been born.

The focus for assistance was on those causes with people who were prepared to uplift themselves, but needed assistance to do so. An example of this was a remarkable lady called Sister Mquebu, who nursed at Stanger Hospital, and saw a great need for a clinic in nearby Groutville. She persuaded some of the neighbouring sugar-farmers to build her a clinic in 1952 and one of the Fair members sponsored and equipped it.

Vegetables and handiwork from the self-help projects needed to be sold and in 1984 two market stalls were built on the side of the main road, which still operate today. With the assistance of specific fundraising drives, several local schools were renovated and the Mbekamuzi Higher Primary School was built as well as two small Pre-primary schools in the area. Library facilities, a science room and teaching aids were also provided to local schools.

The Fund’s contributions to the Lower Tugela Bursary Fund and others have helped about 120 local children to attend University or Technikon – some becoming Veterinarians, Social workers and Educationists. Two outstanding students have been awarded Honour Degrees – both cum laude – one in Computer Science and the other in Electronic Engineering. This year our donation has provided bursaries for a 1st year student studying a Bachelor of Engineering degree at Stellenbosch University and a 4th year student studying Actuarial Science at the University of Cape Town.

Over the years the recipient list for assistance has grown to include homes for Street Children, St Vincent de Paul, St. Lukes home for the Mentally and Physically Handicapped, Love in Action, the North Coast Courier Orphan Fund, the Siyazama, Siyakhulu and Entuthukweni Crèches, Centre of Hope (Aids), Umuzi Wethemba Kwa Jesu (Anglican Church project), the Crawford Trust Assist-a-Child Programme, Westbrook Retirement Village, Bodasingh School at Kearsney, KwaMama Creche, New Guelderland Combined School, Project Action (Feeding Scheme), Summerhill House Childrens’ Home, Libraries for Disadvantaged Primary Schools and first year fees for a Nursing Student. Last year an amount of R241 000 was raised and donated to these various charities and needy causes.

In addition to this, Christmas Fair Fund facilitated the building of two new ablution blocks, one for girls and one for boys, at a rural school in Groutville, to replace the inadequate and derelict pit toilets which existed at the time. Following an initial donation from an overseas donor, an appeal was made to organizations in the building industry to assist, on a sponsored basis, the building of these new toilets. The response was incredible and a total of approximately R400 000 in materials, services and professional expertise were donated for this project and the new facilities were completed and handed over in October 2010.

The annual Bridge Drive and Christmas Country Fair have become famous on the north coast and draw support from people from as far afield as the South Coast, Highway area and even from the Midlands. Additional functions are held each year to raise funds, with venues and sponsorships being generously donated by local people and organisations.

There are currently 52 members who work tirelessly and on a completely voluntary basis. There are no administration costs and the annual audit is done free of charge by a local firm of Chartered Accountants. All profits therefore go directly to the projects supported by Christmas Fair Fund.