Next Level Living hosts community fun day for over 700 pupils in Manenberg

Next Level Living South Africa hosted a Funday at Sonderend Primary School, bringing together more than 700 pupils and staff for a day of games, food, and community activity.

The pupils enjoyed waterslides on Wednesday, December 3, as well as a live DJ, dancing, face painting, arts and crafts, and sports games. Over 500 litres of akhni were served, alongside fresh fruit and desserts, providing many children with a meal they might not otherwise have had.

“The event gave pupils the chance to feel celebrated and enjoy a day of fun,” said Gavin van der Vindt, director of Next Level Living South Africa.

“It was about giving them space to run, play, and simply be children for the day.”

Next Level Living South Africa, co-founded by Gavin and Porchia van der Vindt in 2016, has grown from serving a single hot meal on a roadside to reaching multiple communities weekly.

They are a non-profit organisation focused on two main pillars: alleviating hunger and providing financial support to underprivileged pupils in the Cape Flats.

For many pupils, events of this scale are rare. The day allowed them to experience a sense of community and connection beyond the classroom.

After the Funday at Sonderend Primary, the Next Level Living team visited Kampies informal settlement, opposite Philippi police station, bringing meals and activities to residents there.

For more information, visit their website at nllsouthafrica.org.