It is with great sorrow I inform you that Rosemary de Waal, our much loved and respected Honorary President and long-standing member of the Oasis Association Board of Management, passed away on Tuesday 28 January 2025.  On behalf of the Oasis community, I send condolences to her family, circle of friends and all who worked with her.

Rosemary’s work with Oasis has left a considerable legacy in the field of intellectual disability.  Almost four decades ago, she played a key role as a social worker at an Oasis centre in Elsies River. As a volunteer in subsequent years, she served on numerous Oasis committees and was involved in developing day care centres in Ravensmead and Delft; group homes in Kenwyn, Claremont and Ruyterwacht and the current protective workshop in Elsies River.

Her unswerving loyalty to people with intellectual disability is best illustrated by many years of serving on the Board. She held various offices – Chair, Vice-chair, Trustee and signatory.  At the time of Rosemary’s passing, she was a member of the Board elected sub- committee working on the housing needs of ageing residents.

Rosemary was a volunteer extraordinaire. Oasis wasn’t the only beneficiary of her generosity, which to name some, embraced education, social housing, early childhood development, and intellectual disability. She invested resources, unusual time commitments and broad expertise in contributing to the development of sustainable, caring environments. In these contexts, her work was characterized by empathy, hope, humility and a commitment to ensuring the rights and dignity of vulnerable people.

She was an unassuming, quiet hero, who made an immeasurable contribution to improving the lives of so many.

 

Rosemary was also a valued colleague, mentor and friend to me. Over the years, we often met in my office garden, drinking copious cups of coffee and laughing at ourselves while we tried to solve the imponderables that life presented to us.

She had a lovely sense of humour, a sharp mind which would cut to the chase and above all, a heart which cared deeply for others.

Gail Bester
Executive Director

 

 

World Book Day 23 April 2024 

The power of reading to take us to new places and experiences is beautifully captured in Reading your way, the theme of this year’s world book day.

 

A good story, unravelling sentence by sentence, page by page,
can hold us in its grip and transport us to other worlds, to new ways
of thinking, feeling, and using language.

 

It’s an adventure in which we can participate vicariously, experiencing a rollercoaster ride while curled up in bed! We connect personally, perhaps identifying with the characters, and we follow them with anticipation, fascination and delight, cheering them on as they traverse magical unexplored paths, and suffering anguish as they navigate dangerous terrain.

I often find it difficult to put a book down because I need to know how the story will end: at the same time, there is a part of me that doesn’t want the experience to end. This is my present predicament as I’m nearing the end of Prophet Song, a brilliant dystopian novel by Paul Lynch. The story is set in a future Ireland, and yet, for me, it’s triggered memories about police surveillance and brutality in South Africa’s past, as well as anger about the current global approach to the refugee crisis.

It has also prompted reflection on how we deal with prejudice and increasingly authoritarian regimes in our present day. I know there’s no neat resolution to the themes in this powerful, complicated novel – I’d be disappointed if there were one – but that hasn’t stopped me from wishing for peace and harmony. This is what good stories do: they tinker with our emotions and invite us into their world to make connections, but they also challenge us to reassess and to imagine alternatives.

To imagine is to think – an active process in which we stretch our minds, play with words, create, innovate and contemplate how things could be different and better. As Einstein once said, “imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world”.

 

Books have the power to unleash our imagination, to take us away
from comfortable ways of thinking and believing and towards
new ideas and concepts.

 

Reading is therefore an activity: a process of thinking, learning and potentially creating. In recent years, many literacy organisations, educators, and librarians have changed the narrative around books, by moving away from narrow teaching approaches that prioritise the technical aspects of reading over reading for meaning.

They have recognized the power of shared reading activity that doesn’t prescribe what children ought to read and which, fosters a desire to read because it’s fun. Book clubs and libraries are helping children to experience a range of books in multiple languages and are developing imaginative book-focussed activities that encourage young people to discuss and interpret their book experiences, inhabit the characters, and create their own stories and productions. In partnership with literacy groups, teachers are also starting to involve parents and care-givers in the process of reading with their children. In some contexts, these adults are learning to read and to share the pleasures associated with reading alongside their children for mutual benefit.

While these interventions are relatively small scale, and not a replacement for our struggle for better classroom practice and well-stocked libraries, they represent an important model for building a culture of reading.

Another exciting, recent development in Cape Town is that the number of second-hand bookshops has increased.

 

Second-hand bookshops are affordable and deserve our support
and patronage. They often support a charity, and they aid our
efforts to recycle, share and network around books.

 

As individuals, we can build on these developments. In order to find their way in books, children need a plethora of books to cater for their individual needs, interests and desires. As is the case with most other activities, they need adults to help by turning reading into an active, exciting and joyful journey.

 

ROCHELLE KAPP
ROCHELLE KAPP is an Emeritus Associate Professor (UCT, Education). She is a member of the Board of Oasis Association and part of the management team of the Newly-Qualified Teachers’ Project.

 

Celebrate World book Day by popping in to one of our Oasis Charity Book Shops.

📍 Oasis Claremont
Our charming Claremont village of shops.
Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00 pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

📍 Oasis Fish Hoek
Find us at Shop No. 4, Somerset House, 6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am- 3:30pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

 

 

 

When you shop at Oasis, you shop with conscience. Revamping your closet and home, while donating to a good cause.

It doesn’t matter which shop you choose: Claremont, Fish Hoek or Elsies River, the income from these charity shops is the lifeblood of our organisation, and enables us to do the work we do, while providing work opportunities for our intellectually disabled beneficiaries.

And please always remember that we welcome saleable quality donations of second-hand books, household goods, toys and games, décor items, small appliances/electronics (working), clothing, jewellery, shoes, small furniture, DVDs/CDs, art, etc.

1. Claremont Village of Shops

The Oasis Village of Shops in Claremont is one of Cape Town’s hidden gems.

The Oasis Association for Intellectual Disability has a little “village” of four shops at the corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.

This circuit of delight is home to all things pre-loved and vintage, from clothing and jewellery, to hats, second-hand furniture, books, vinyl records, accessories and more.

– Our second-hand clothing store

There’s nothing more satisfying than trawling through rails and boxes of clothes to come home with unique vintage pieces bought at a fraction of the original cost. Our second-hand clothing store is an Aladdin’s cave of pre-loved clothing ranging from hats, bags, scarves, and dresses to men’s and kiddies’ wear. Even some throwback memorabilia from the 80’s and 90’s to help you get your groove on.

– Bookshop, including an art gallery and furniture

Books, vinyl records, maps, textbooks, plays, antiques, prints – on subjects ranging from children’s literature and nursery rhymes to recipe books by Jamie Oliver and fiction for adults – you’ll find all this and more.

All the books and art are categorised and alphabetised – we know you won’t leave empty handed.  And, our stock changes constantly, so be sure to pop in regularly.

– Oasis bric-a-brac shop

Our bric-a-brac shop has an abundance of pre-loved homeware – cutlery, crockery, vases, framed paintings, toys, puzzles and many other treasures. Stock changes daily, so pop in to see what we have instore.

While you are browsing you will more than likely catch the whiff of freshly baked breads, enticing you from the centre display. The bakery is integral to Oasis’ service and all the goods are made by our beneficiaries. Try our shortbread, brownies, muffins, swiss rolls and other baked goods, all available for sale or on pre-order – or sold to be enjoyed in the tea garden outside.

And our brand-new shopping area
– Lavender Shop

Lavender is the newest addition to the Oasis offering.  Specialising in collectibles, editions of excellent quality used books and goods, treasured collectibles, art, and antiquities.

Then, once your bargain-hunting is done, sit down and treat yourself to cup of tea or a cappuccino and indulge in a decadent scone or one of our infamous creamy chicken toasted sandwiches!

Pop in today!

Where: Corner Lee and Imam Haron, Claremont
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 3:30pm;
Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm. Closed Sundays.

2. Fish Hoek Oasis books and bric-a-brac shop

Our ever-popular bargain shop in the bustling heart of Fish Hoek’s suburbia is a treasure trove of boxes and rails with stylish vintage clothing, records, books, paintings, and trinkets. Here you will find a range of high-quality décor and Bric-a-Brac items, as well as a wonderful selection of books.

Where: Shop no 4, Somerset House, 6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek
Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 8:30am – 3:30pm;
Saturday 8:30am – 1:00pm
Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

3. Elsies River Oasis bric-a-brac shop

Our ever-popular pre-loved goods shop in Elsies River is on the same premises as the Protective Workshop. Practical, pre-loved, must-haves – here, you can shop for electronics, toys, clothes, books, DVDs and more – all at bargain prices!

Where: 16th Street & 8th Avenue, Elsies River
Opening hours: Mondays – Fridays: 9am – 3:30pm.
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

We invite you to pop in to one of our charity shops and browse our wide range of pre-loved fashion, books, baked goods, bric-a-brac and more.

At Oasis, there’s something for everyone!

PRESS RELEASE 

Global Recycling Foundation        www.globalrecyclingfoundation.org

 

Global Recycling Foundation announces #RecyclingHeroes of Global Recycling Day 2022     

London, March 18, 2022

 

Immediate release – The Global Recycling Foundation today announces the 10 winners of their Recycling Heroes 2022 award marking Global Recycling Day 18th. March.

The winners of $ 1000 each are drawn from individuals and business leaders, sole traders, and multinationals who despite continuing hardships have managed to sustain their efforts to promote the value of recycling.

Ranjit Baxi, Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation, said: “The world has been enduring exceptionally difficult times and we are delighted to have received so many remarkable entries from around the world.

“Indeed, to recognise the efforts made by a large number of start-ups despite two years of the Coronavirus pandemic, GRF has decided to make 4 additional awards of $250 each.”

 

The winners:

Schuler Rohstoff GmbH, Germany – Each year recycle about 280,000 tons of scrap –and are particularly proud that they can inspire so many women for our love of scrap. Half of the administrative staff are women empowering women and promoting their interest in the Recycling industry.

Una Mano per la Scuola, Italy – This committee made by parents of students from 6th to 14th years old (students of primary and secondary schools in Inveruno, Milan province, in Italy) is raising awareness on recycling & sustainability matters by organizing, with the support of the Municipality of Inveruno, for students to collect waste in the “Trash Challenge” for recycling as well as promoting planting of Trees by the students.

Vintz Plastic, Kenya – We are the leading plastic recycling company in Kenya recycling at least 25 tonnes of plastic waste per day. Our business model is unique because we promote circular manufacturing economy by making storage tanks and household items using the recycled plastics as the raw material. We place a strong emphasis of working with and training women in the process of collecting and sorting plastic.

Baby On The Move, New Zealand – An innovative effort to divert expired child restraints from going to landfill. Instead, together have created a stewardship solution of recycling car seat thereby reducing the waste which would otherwise be landfilled.

Ecocykle Limited, Nigeria – a youth-led social enterprise that promotes environmental sustainability, ecosystem restoration, the circular economy, and improved public health by providing effective waste management services to low-income communities who lack sustainable waste management options. Over the last two years, the company has overseen the training of more than 2000 young men and women on how to start their own waste recycling enterprises.

 

Oasis Association, South Africa – since 1952, the organisation has grown to support over 566 intellectually disabled beneficiaries. The organisations activities are all supported through the Recycling and thrift initiatives that fund 56% of Oasis annual income providing sustainable employment in recycling.

 

Brewster Bros, Scotland, UK – a family business centred on the principles of the circular economy turning CDE (concrete, demolition and excavating waste) into quality recycled products which can be sold back into the construction industries, diverting tons of waste from landfill and to create recycled product.

RecycleForce, Indiana, USA – is committed to reducing crime through employment and job training, while improving the environment through (WEE) waste electronics recycling. Since 2006, RecycleForce has safely recycled more than 65 million pounds of electronic waste while providing environmental job training to thousands.

Green Club of Lubanga Primary School, Zambia – Schoolchildren in the Green Club are promoting recycling by collecting waste drink bottles to make litter bins for keeping the school clean. One of the biggest environmental issues in schools is litter. The Green Club members collect used drink bottles littered around the school and community and use them for their Green and Clean school project.

Norwegian Refugee Council, Norway – Working in Bangladesh, to address the existing problem of plastic pollution in refugee camps, thus paving a way for more efficient solid waste management. NRC initiated Producing Shelter Materials from Recycled Plastic project in partnership with Field Ready to recycle the waste plastics produced by the Rohingya refugee community and surrounding host community people, to transform them into safe and sustainable shelter protection products

 

The four additional start-up award winners are:

Japheth Sunday, Nigeria – Japheth is reducing environmental pollution in the community with his JETSAR project by converting biowaste to electrical energy that powers the house including appliances, thus providing one answer to meet renewable energy needs in the country.

Precious Plastic, India – Precious Plastic is running a ragpicker co-operative. In this they buy plastic waste from ragpickers. This waste is recycled into plastic granules and sold to plastic product manufacturers. Profits from the sale of granules are distributed equally among the ragpickers helping the local economy.

Circular Shield, Slovenia – supporting sorted collection and recycling of used beverage cardboards, and creating a local, functioning model of circular economy as we return paper products made of regenerated cellulose.

Çelebi KALKAN, Turkey -. Celebi, a primary school teacher has been working on STEM education for sustainable development purposes since 2015. She believes in promoting educational awareness and sustainable development goals to support present and future generations who must be equipped not only with technical knowledge and skills, but also with a deeper understanding of the values needed to create a peaceful and sustainable future.

 

 

For further information contact Global Recycling Foundation team:

press@globalrecyclingfoundation.org

Ranjit Baxi +447860525159 www.globalrecyclingday.com

 

About the Global Recycling Foundation

The Global Recycling Foundation supports the promotion of recycling, and the recycling industry, across the world to showcase its vital role in preserving the future of the planet. It will promote Global Recycling Day as well as other educational programmes, awareness projects and innovation initiatives which focus on the sustainable and inclusive development of recycling.

Our shops are the heartbeat of our income and without stock we simply cannot support our beneficiaries.

We gratefully accept donated goods to be sold in our Oasis shops or online, especially:

• household goods
• clothes, hats and caps, shoes and handbags
• books
• bric-a-brac
• backpacks, tog bags and suitcases
• dishes and glassware
• collectibles
• jewellery
• furniture
• working electronics and electrical appliances
• toys and games
• cds, dvds and LPs
• camping, sports, gardening and outdoor equipment
• art

Our Claremont recycling services are open 

Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 3:30pm and Saturday, 8.30am – 1pm.

 

Here are some friendly reminders regarding recycling etiquette at Oasis:

• Please remember to package and drop off your waste in one container.
• Kindly pre-rinse all food containers such as cans, glass bottles etc. before delivery.
• Kindly refrain from leaving your recycling at Oasis, should we be closed.
• Please take careful note of items we cannot accept or recycle.

Our recycling services are limited which means we are not able to accept ALL recycling. We can only take glass, aluminium tins, all paper, cardboard, magazines and books. 

 

We can accept:

• All paper, including newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, junk mail, circulars, office scrap, envelopes and books. If the latter is in a good condition, please consider donating it to the bookstore.
• Brown/colour cardboard and cereal boxes
• All glass bottles and jars.
• Food cans (please make sure that cans have been washed)
• All cooldrink cans. (Aluminium only)

We cannot accept:

• No plastic, at all, of any sort. So, no clingwrap, no florist wrap or cellophane. No margarine tubs. None of those thin plastic packets, used for bread, milk or veggies. And no plastic or cellophane food trays, at all, whether used for meat, muffins, fruit or biscuits. No plastic laminated items.
• No lever arch files
• No egg boxes
• No wax-lined boxes. Including banana boxes, milk cartons, juice cartons or yoghurt boxes.
• No styrofoam products.
• No foil items.
• No broken glass
• No garden refuse, LED Batteries, medicine or light bulbs
• Disposable nappies, food scraps, PVC like JIVE cooldrink bottles, wet waste, chemical waste or medical waste.

Please pay particular attention to this list. 

We do apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. We understand these restraints are frustrating, however COVID-19 has made the recycling of the above-listed items impractical for the time being and we simply do not have the manpower to render a full service. We will keep you up-to-date, and advise the moment these restraints are removed. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support. 

 

Need to get in touch with us:
OASIS RECYCLING (DOMESTIC DROP-OFF/BUSINESS COLLECTIONS)
Recycling Manager – Beraldine Jagers
recycling@oasis.org.za
Cnr Lee Road and Imam Haron Claremont, 7708
021 671 2698

 

Dear Oasis family,

Your generosity for our food parcel campaign at the end of 2020 helped to care for, nourish, and encourage 350 of our beneficiaries’ households. We are all mindful of the challenges that millions of South Africans have experienced over the past 19 months.  Challenges that have been felt across the globe.  In trying to aid and do our part, Oasis has distributed hundreds upon hundreds of food parcels during this period to those who have found themselves unable to feed their families.  We have also provided social, emotional and health support.

Now in our 13th year of food parcels, this year we are aiming to give 400 beneficiaries with intellectual disabilities, the gift of food, nourishment, and care. One parcel costs approximately R600, and the aim, with your help, is to fill as many parcels as possible between now and Christmas closure. You don’t need to contribute an entire parcel, any amount or item is greatly appreciated.

Each parcel will hold nourishing, low-cost food, health and hygiene items, as well as a few treats.

 

Every rand, every tin of baked beans, or packet of rice donated helps us put together a food parcel. We hope that you will assist us in gifting our beneficiaries with intellectual disabilities and their families, by supporting our appeal and sharing this message with your family, friends, colleagues and neighborhood groups.

The details of how to give a tin, or packet of food, or to contribute cash towards filling parcels are below.

 

Thank you to all who can assist. I am also so aware that many who have helped in the past are not able to anymore because of the havoc wreaked by the pandemic.

You remain in our thoughts.

We all look forward to a time when things will be easier for all of us.

Kind regards Gail Bester Executive Director   |   021 671 2698

 

 

 

 

 

Food parcel list is here..

DROP OFF

For all food item donations, we have set up a collection point at the Recycling drop-off, in Claremont: Cnr Lee and Imam Haron Roads.

SNAPSCAN

CASH DONATIONS

Cash donations can be dropped off directly at our Claremont Oasis Book Store and Bric-a-Brac shop where the cashiers will ring up your donation under “food parcels”.

DIRECT DEPOSIT/EFT

Deposit directly into:

Account name: Oasis Association

Bank: First National Bank

Branch: Claremont

Acc no: 593 7179 7078

Branch code: 200 109

If you drop off cash or deposit money into our bank account, please stipulate FOOD PARCEL and give us your NAME and CONTACT DETAILS, so that we can issue you with a Section 18A tax receipt for your tax rebates.

EMAIL US Please email your deposit slip or EFT transaction download to donor@oasis.org.za

In the past we all thought we had to buy brand new products. This way we spent way too much and often our money ran out before the month did. But fast forward a few years and it is now not only acceptable, but it is trendy to shop from “secondhand shops,” or as some would have it, gently used, previously loved or vintage shops.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you call it, pre-loved shopping not only saves money, but it also saves the planet, and often it benefits a wider cause or small local business. We have all seen charity shops, book exchanges, used furniture shops, entire product lines made from recycled materials and objects, and those wonderful boutiques where exquisite clothing, often once worn, is affordable. Antique shops sell used items – i.e. The items in an antique shop must be used items to qualify as antiques!

Charity shops are not focused on retail sales but rather are a means to an end which could support a cause such as people with disability.

 

Your saving money by shopping at these shops becomes mindful shopping with conscience.  Their shelves are usually packed with all sorts of quirky, interesting treasures, scattered amongst entirely everyday items. It is not unusual to see a beautiful crystal glass juxtaposed against a cheap coffee mug. These conscience shops offer a wide range of products dependent on what the donors donate. Stock changes constantly, so you never know what you will find, and you need to keep popping in. But they are guaranteed to save you money.

Several entrepreneurs have set up businesses around selling products made from recycled materials or by just selling on used goods.  At these stores, items like used wooden pallets and cardboard boxes are sold at much less than the original price.  Reuse and recycling are two of the chief pillars to managing our domestic waste.

Buy local.  Support your local charity shops and businesses selling used products.

 

 

UPCYCLING

2021 is the year of upcycling. Many people find themselves in a financial squeeze and it is time for a little out-of-the-box creative thinking.  Anyone can join the upcycling revolution.

Upcycling most often “… creates a product of higher quality or value than the original.”   It is all about a splash of creativity, taking something old, and worn, and turning it into something chic, modern, and useful.

A full-length evening dress is the new mini dress. The rusted wheelbarrow becomes a planter. The china teacup sans its saucer, is a sugar bowl. Plastic bottles are bird feeders. A surplus dining table cut down to size is a new coffee table. New upholstery, a lick of paint, and new handles can create beautiful trendy furniture.

Look around your own home or your local used product shop and get started with an upcycling project.

For a little inspiration simply Google upcycling ideas. There is a wealth of ideas online that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

 

Stay up to date with our news and upcycling tips on our Facebook page.

Contact us 021 671 2698 or email us info@oasis.org.za

Find us at  the Corner of Lee Road and Imam Haron Road , Claremont, 7708

Trading hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 3pm;

Saturdays 9am – 1pm.