Don Peters runs this project
The Ashley Kaimowitz Memorial Fund was established by the Rotary Club of Hout Bay in support of the Nonceba Centre in Cape Town, a welfare project for sexually abused and raped children. Past President Don Peters of Rotary Hout Bay, who has just been awarded Rotary's highest award, the Sapphire Award for his sterling efforts to Rotary over the years, coordinates the contributions of the three Rotary clubs that support the fund.
Background. This is a story of a young lady from a privileged background who joined Rotary’s programme Interact while at school in Cape Town. Ashley was a compassionate, loving and wise young woman and she recognized the horrific problems facing society. In her own words; “I have learnt that even thoughthere are horrors facing our world, there is good buried within it, evident in those willing to reach out a hand and a heart to help. I firmly believe that the life of one person, if helped, can change the course of the world, as you never know who that one little girl or boy could be or could achieve.”
Ashley began her journey in the township of Khayelitsha close to Cape Town helping children who had been sexually assaulted, raped,abused and victims of family violence. Ashley was so overwhelmed emotionally that she knew that her purpose on this earth was nothing less than to change it. At sixteen years old Ashley became totally involved in the Nonceba Family Counselling Centre. She made a video film of the centre and she was an amazing fund raiser. In 2004 Ashley was accepted for a Rotary Exchange in Japan and whilst there continued to promote the cause of abused children by showing her film.
In March 2005, Ashley was tragically killed by a drunk driver in Cape Town ending a life filled with promise. In a tribute to her, a Rotarian wrote, “ We have everybody in Rotary, from adults to children, all religions and cultures and we work across all divides and we all, learned much from Ashley. We learnt about humility, determination and cheerfulness when faced with challenging circumstances. Now she is gone, we would like to think that the Fund legacy is a cherished gift from her to all people. Perhaps, if nothing else, this is a monument to the compassion, love and wisdom that this young woman represented. She has certainly left a small part of her personal philosophy and attitude to life with everything she touched.” Her film, a working document of her beliefs, and Nonceba are her legacy and Nonceba with much support from Rotary continues this work.
Hout Bay Rotarians at the Centre Click to enlarge
Those Rotary Clubs closely involved with Ashley, and led by the Hout Bay Rotary Club established the Ashley Kaimowitz Memorial Fund with the soleaim of assisting the Nonceba Centre and completing Ashley's dream. Together with the Nonceba Centre trustess the building was finally erected and the Rotary International dedication was carried out by the Chairman of Rotary Foundation, Bob Scott.
The Nonceba Centre remains very busy as the incidents, sadly, of child rape and abuse are not diminishing. The Centre is now becoming an important part of the community in Khayelitsha and is a must for all visiting Rotarians and indeed new Rotarians to visit. The Ashley Kaimowitz memorial Fund and the Nonceba Family Counselling Centre are a unique example of Rotary International working with many facets of Rotary service such as Interact, Rotary Youth Exchange programme, Rotary Clubs, Rotary Districts and the Rotary Foundation itself.
KEY BENEFITS FOR POTENTIAL FUNDERS OF THIS PROJECT ARE:
Nocawe Mankayi, the director of Nonceba Family Counselling Centre, has been honoured by a Paul Harris award
Any donations made go direct to the fund administered by Rotary and supported by three Rotary clubs locally
Nonceba is situated in an informal township on the outskirts of Cape Town and is a fully functional, well run, project with direct benefits to the local community
Go to Categories for more on the Ashley Kaimowitz Fund 
