2008 Home MakeOver

The dormitories, bathrooms and communal rooms of the Kids Haven shelter in Benoni were all completely transformed recently in the first Chas Everitt International Home Makeover. Hundreds of volunteers turned up to help with the makeover, which was filmed and will be screened on DSTV’s Home Channel on 22 and 23 November.

Celebrities and hundreds of kind-hearted volunteers rolled up their sleeves recently to transform Kids Haven, a children’s shelter in Benoni on the East Rand, in the first Chas Everitt International Home Makeover project.

This was run along the lines of the popular TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, with the children being treated to an exciting holiday while their home was totally renovated and transformed into a warm, homely and welcoming environment.

Chas Everitt MD Berry Everitt says the purpose of the company’s home makeover project is not only to change buildings but also to change lives – and in that way to create a cycle of hope and help for others. “Hard work and generous support from our sponsors will, we hope, make a material difference to the quality of life of the children of Kids Haven.”

Betterbond and Nedbank were platinum sponsors of the project, as were Jack’s Paint and Hardware, STBB Attorneys, The Home Channel and Ferreira’s Décor World.

Teams of volunteers converged on Kids Haven for the weekend project and were assigned rooms to paint under the keen supervision of representatives of Jack’s Paints, who donated all the required materials. Unexpected plumbing problems were rectified, which added an extra day to the planned schedule, but it was not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of the volunteers.

The delay also proved a boon to the young residents of Kids Haven – they had been ferried by Springbok Atlas bus to Magaliesberg Retreat for fun-filled weekend while their home was renovated, and got to stay a whole extra day.

They then returned to find their home completely transformed. Four classrooms, four large dormitories, the school hall and stage alongside the training kitchen and storeroom, the recreation room, dining room, locker room, computer room, TV room and sewing room as well as six bathrooms were all freshly painted and decorated.

Each dorm was fitted out with new mattresses, pillows and duvets, scatter cushions and beanbags as well as two changes of linen. Gift packs for each child included towels, face cloths and toiletries and the younger children also each had a Chas Bear teddy waiting on their beds.

The home was also fitted with new television sets and the children will be able to watch the marathon makeover when it is screened on DSTV’s Home Channel at 12:00 and 20:00 on Saturday 22 November and again at 15:00 and 22:00 on Sunday 23 November.

Celebrities who lent a hand included Ryk Neethling who proved a dab hand at painting and lent some muscle to move heavy furniture. Volunteers from Chas Everitt branches, Betterbond, Nedbank, Rosebank College, University of Johannesburg, Ferreiras and Springbok Atlas all helped to complete the project and local sponsors pitched in by supplying food to the volunteers to keep their energy levels high.