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the story of Pa’s Place — best read slowly

Some children have never seen the sea.

An hour inland from here — sometimes less — are children who know the ocean only from pictures and other people’s stories. This is the story of a place built to change that, one holiday at a time.

at night, some of them dream of it —

a sea they know only
from bedtime stories.

is it bigger than the river?

does it really roar?

how salty is salty?

· one ·

and one morning, an envelope: pack a bag!

Pa’s Place was built for that dream.

A holiday home in Pennington on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast, where the beach is a two-minute walk — and where fun-filled seaside holidays are given, not sold, to children who need them most.

· two ·

every retreat, a notebook goes along

And this is what they say

the night before.

tomorrow we go to the ACTUAL sea.
things I will find out:

  • is it bigger than the river?
  • does it really roar?
  • how salty is salty?

packed: the red cap. gogo’s scarf. my lucky marble.

DAY ONE. I saw the sea.

  • it IS bigger than the river. it is bigger than EVERYTHING.
  • it does roar. it also whispers when it goes back.
  • salty is VERY salty.
A grandfather and child walking hand in hand through the dunes toward the sea
me and Pa. my first wave.

the water chased me and I chased it back.

pages like these are why Pa’s Place exists — and why the door stays open.

· three ·

so, plainly then:

Pa’s Place Non-Profit Company was founded with a simple mission: giving coastal, fun-filled holidays to disadvantaged children. Based in Kelso, Pennington, on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast, we provide affordable, comfortable, peaceful and activity-filled beachside accommodation.

But Pa’s Place is more than accommodation. It’s a retreat — one that lifts children out of buildings, classrooms and familiar concerns. With attention to communication, care with questions and energy toward activities, we’ve learned how deeply a real holiday can settle a young mind.

Our days move with the tides — through the noisiest and the quietest hours. Beach going, trail walking, nature seeking, sports playing, team building, music and arts creating, unique foods preparing. And woven through all of it: learning. Whether it’s a piece of marine life in a rock pool or a fruit hanging from a tree, children leave Pa’s Place knowing something they didn’t know before.

The holidays are funded by sponsors — and by the ordinary paying guests who book the house for their own family holidays. That’s the whole machine: every stay helps fund the next child’s first look at the sea.

Every stay carries a little learning — and a lot of sea air.

the page you get to write

For R200 a night, a child who has only heard of the ocean can fall asleep to the sound of it.

Sponsor a night, a weekend, or a whole retreat — every rand goes to a child’s holiday. Ask us for our banking details, or simply send a message and we’ll match your gift to the next group.

Sponsor a holidayMore ways to help

or phone Luke on 073 436 5056

· the end — and the beginning ·