Vukile Property Fund and Reach For A Dream have launched the Dream Room campaign, creating sanctuaries for children with life-threatening illnesses in hospitals. The second room opening took place last month at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Paediatric Oncology Ward. There will eventually be 30 such rooms at various hospitals which supply critical care to children with life-threatening diseases between the ages of three and eighteen.
“We are extremely proud of what we have been able to achieve thus far and aim to continue creating more fun and enjoyable spaces for the children to go whilst in hospital. This room, in partnership with Vukile Property Fund, is our second and it is our hope to create many more of these all-over South Africa,” says Natalie Lazaris, head: business development, from the Reach for a Dream Foundation.
Place of purpose and hope
“Every child who battles a life-threatening illness deserves a sanctuary. We want to give them a place of purpose and hope – a source of upliftment to carry them in their fight. This Dream Room helps realise the vision of Reach For A Dream, gives back to the community of Soweto, and honours a special member of the Vukile family,” say Laurence Rapp, CEO of Vukile.
Vukile is owner of Dobsonville Mall in Soweto, and the donation of the Dream Room is a way for it to give back to the greater community of Soweto. In addition, Reach For A Dream chairman Mervyn Serebro is a long-serving non-executive director at Vukile. The sponsorship is a tribute to his good works in the South African community, as well as his contribution to the Vukile board.
“For this reason, we have named the room in memory of Mervyn’s late son, Darren. The Darren Serebro Dream Room continues a legacy of courage, compassion and care.”
