PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY LEND THEIR HEARTS AND HANDS TO TOUCH AFRICA (A RED CHERRY INITIATIVE)

During their holiday visit to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, not only did the Princes participate in the Enduro Africa event, run by Red Cherry Adventures and Global Enduro, they also got their hands dirty (literally) to a Touch Africa project in the Transkei. (See www.touchafrica.info)

The focus of Touch Africa’s energies is on the children of South Africa, with the scope of work concentrating around but not limited to, the rehabilitation of schools, clinics and crèches, provision of basic education equipment, rehabilitation and provision of school transport as well as the provision of life saving technology.

When the Princes found out about Touch Africa, they immediately decided to become involved in a real hand’s on way. They both rolled up their sleeves at the Icharga Creche near Morgan Bay in the Transkei, on their rest day from Enduro Africa, to assist with painting the crèche, building a jungle gym and spending time with the children, playing, helping them with their color in books and teaching them a couple of tricks with a soccer ball.

All of this takes money and so the Princes agreed to play in a charity soccer match to raise R40 000 to ensure that the crèche continues to receive assistance for the forthcoming year. A local soccer team was put together and they played a 15 minute a side game in the rain, with both Prince William and Harry taking turns to referee the match.

Each goal scored in the match was worth R5000 and there were eight goals scored, the Princes Side losing to the local team 6-2. The Princes were relaxed and extremely obliging, mucking in with the locals and really being “just one of the boys”. Anyone wanting to become involved in the work which Touch Africa is doing in the province should contact Elise Fish on +27 (0) 76 170 6449 or email elise@touchafrica.info.