Long Walk for Technology – forward, not backwards

Secluded and protected by the mountains surrounding Montagu, is a dynamic rural school where dreams are big and funds are low. The bright young primary school learners are not provided with computer equipment to prepare them for high school. The snowball effect is that their high school has stopped computer classes for 2017 as the learners coming from Ashbury Primary are not computer literate. This snowball effect will limit these children’s chances for entering the economic world so their only choice in life might be farm work or no work at all as the area is small.

Nestled too in the mountains of this popular tourist town, is the Montagu Country Hotel where proprietor Gert Lubbe and his co-owner PJ are humanitarians as well as famous hosts to tourists on the Route62, which runs through the Cape Winelands and Overberg Districts.

Capetonian Carol Bruton is a philanthropist who was moved by the humbleness and gratitude of the underprivileged people of Montagu she encountered when she visited. It was at Gert & PJ’s Art Deco Hotel that her vision of a strong infrastructure to support the rural poor resulted in the formation of RAM Charity Projects. RAM now is a constant benefactor to schools, old age homes, ECD’s and Breede River Hospice in the towns of Robertson, Ashton and Montagu.

The International Police Association (IPA) is a body that concerns itself with universal human rights. Carol highlighted the plight of the Ashbury Primary School, and shared her heartache for the children with friends, who then told some active and retired police officers (who are also members of the IPA) about the lack of computers for Montagu children.

Stirred by the story, The International Police Association decided to reverse the situation by organizing a walk to assist in raising funds for the Ashbury Primary Computer Project. With winter just around the corner, Warrant Officer Jan Jacobs, the initiator of the walk, along with Warrant Officer Herman Burger from the Goodwood Police Station and 2 members of IPA who responded to this story, decided to broaden the purpose of the walk by incorporating his passion for providing non-perishables and blankets to the elderly and children.  So touched by this story, the vice-president of the International Police Association, Jakkie Van Litsenborgh is one of the 4 men walking. They are walking from N1 City Mall to Montagu over a period of 10 days. These men are not professional walkers but have huge hearts of gold.

The creation of RAM in Montagu in 2011 has thus snowballed into an extraordinary collaboration between a Country Hotel; a Philanthropist; a Rural School and the International Police Association.

RAM & IPA launched the event on 20 May 2017 at N1 Shopping Mall in Goodwood, Cape Town. The public enjoyed wonderful performances from the likes of Pedro Kruger (aka Boytjie van Brackenfell), Llandi Beeslaar, Minnelie Minnaar, Michelle & Jinelle Louw, Charmaine and Mienke, KayCee, Louisa (Lt Col SAPS) and Granville Michaels. You can read more on our artists and the launch event here.  Thank you to all the artists who gave of their free time to help the cause.

The official send-off was the next morning at 9.00 from N1 City, Goodwood. The walkers started walking from Cape Town, all the way to the birthplace of RAM, The Montagu Country Hotel. Serving participating police officers are using their annual leave to complete this epic pilgrimage.

This long walk fundraiser aims to help the children of Montagu not to slip backwards due to lack of resources. Sponsorship of the long walk for technology will be a step in the right direction of closing the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

RAM works on closing this gap all year round and will be present during the walk, distributing material needs and serving as a role model for all. RAM meaning – Rescue Among Many.

Please support us with our walk to make a difference. Contact Carol Bruton 082 469 3041 for all donation details or email info@ram1.co.za.

All donations of any amount most welcome. With winter on hand, we are also collecting blankets/non-perishables for our elderly, a firm passion of WO Jacobs. Boxes will also be available at N1 City Mall or any cash donations welcome.We are a PBO so will also issue 18a receipts for donations of a reasonable amount or you may choose to have your logo featured on our banner.

Please make any monetary donations via any of these easy methods here.
After donating please send an email to info@ram1.co.za with ref: Walk + Name or Company Name. Thank you.

IPA: International Police Association
Jakkie Van Litsenborgh – Vice President – IPA South Africa and Chairperson – IPA West Coast Region Email: jvlits@telkomsa.net
Alfie Van Litsenborgh – alfievlits@gmail.com