South Africa: Princess Caroline of Monaco Sees City Miracle
Princess Caroline of Monaco arrived in Cape Town this weekend and visited a child care centre in Macassar which the principality has funded. To show their appreciation the 3 and 4-year-old pupils of the Khanyisa Educate Centre sang to the princess and gave her flowers. And with hands on hearts, they proudly belted out the national anthem. The princess, who was accompanied by her youngest son, Pierre, described the centre as a “small miracle”. “What has been done here is truly remarkable. If my brother Prince Albert, the ruler of Monaco, were here he would be very proud. This is something worthwhile,” she said. The princess is on a two-week trip through Africa in her capacity as president of Amade Mondiale (World Association of Children’s Friends), a non-profit child-advocacy non-government organization founded in 1963 by her mother, the late Princess Grace. The Macassar project is one of three in the Western Cape funded by the principality. Some 85 children from newborns to 6-year-olds attend. Other local projects supported by the NGO include the Rainbow Crèche in Masiphumelele near Kommetjie, and one to be built at De Doorns in the Karoo. The organization has donated R300 000 a year for three years. A South African NGO, the Centre for Early Childhood Development, is overseeing the construction of the projects and trains the teachers. Also visiting the educate centre yesterday was Premier Ebrahim Rasool, who thanked the princess and the principality for their support. He also commended them for the efficient manner in which they dealt with the projects, which he said created “a beacon of hope”.