We recently caught up with Almari van der Merwe, Head of Social Development and Upliftment at Alvi’s Drift. Alongside a deep commitment to fostering a supportive and thriving employee community at our third-generation winery, Almari oversees activities at the Early Childhood Development Centre (community crèche) and ensures the welfare of the young learners.

 

Why is investing in the youth important to Alvi’s Drift, and what are your long-term goals for them?

 

The youth represent our future, which is why investing in them is so essential. We are committed to supporting them in every way possible to ensure both their future, and the future of our business. To us, our employees are not just a priority – they’re like family. Our goal is to educate and empower these children so that one day, they can return and become part of our legacy. That’s how I envision these young ones: growing up and coming back to join our business. To me, that’s the true meaning of sustainability.

 

 

“At Alvi’s Drift, we have a proud track record spanning three generations of investment in education. At the height of the Apartheid era, Alvi’s grandmother, Emmarentia, began giving literacy lessons on her farmhouse stoep, believing that education was a right for all. Over the years, this initiative evolved into a WCED primary school, Nieuwe Morgen, built on our farm on a piece of land donated by Oupa Alvi.” – Richard Bradfield, Alvi’s Drift Sales & Marketing Manager

 

Apart from their schooling, in what other ways does Alvi’s Drift contribute to the development of the community pre-school children on the farm?

 

We try to help wherever we can. One way we do this is by providing milk and seasonal fruit. A well-balanced diet is crucial for children at this age, as it supports their physical health, brain development, and overall well-being. Seasonal fruit, such as vitamin C-rich oranges, and milk, play such an essential role in a child’s diet. Without these, I believe these children wouldn’t grow up as healthy as they should.

Alvi’s Drift also ensures that the young children have safe transport to and from the community crèche. They are picked up every morning, and then dropped off at home again in the afternoon. There are so many children that our transport vehicle makes two trips every morning and afternoon.

To keep them safe during these trips, two staff members accompany the children on their journey.

 

 

Could you share more about any special traditions or events for these young children at Alvi’s Drift?

 

Every year, we host a Christmas party for the children under 12 in our garden, with parents invited too. This tradition started about 20 years ago. We put on a small concert, play music, and have Father Christmas make an appearance. Last year, we even arranged for a fire truck to come with sirens blaring, and the children loved it.

For many of these children, this party is their only Christmas celebration and the only gifts they’ll receive, making it even more special. We provide sweets, cool drinks, and a small gift for each child. During the pandemic, we couldn’t host the party for the first time, but we still made it special by having a fire truck with Father Christmas delivering presents. As early as September, the children already start asking, “When is Father Christmas coming?”

 

 

How are the living quarters at Alvi’s Drift structured to foster community and address common concerns?

 

Our community is often compared to a small town. We have a “mayor,” a community hall, and clusters of houses forming “neighbourhoods.” A few years ago, we introduced a system where each cluster has a neighbourhood manager and a head of neighbourhood, supported by a housing committee. This structure seems to work well. It ensures that any issues, such as security concerns, can be addressed through clear channels like WhatsApp groups and the like.

 

What measures are in place at Alvi’s Drift to support community safety and address issues as they arise?

 

We fund a farm watch that patrols the area and collaborates with the housing committees to maintain the residents’ safety. This system is extremely well-organised – it has evolved to the point where the community can now handle most issues independently. If there are disciplinary problems, the housing committee can step in, and if needed, they can then involve the police or even ask individuals to leave their community.

 

and fruit. Without proper nutrition, these children cannot learn and function well. A nutritious meal supports their brain development and just their overall well-being.” – Carmen Gxilisle, Community Crèche Teacher

 

 

How does Alvi’s Drift support the health and nutrition of the young children, and what additional resources are available to assist with this?

 

The crèche provides a carefully planned, nutritious diet for the children, tailored to different age groups. This includes babies and children aged two to three and three to four years. 

Ensuring a well-balanced diet is crucial, as I mentioned earlier. There is also a mobile government clinic that visits the community crèche once a month. The clinic staff weigh the children, offer nutritional advice, and address any health concerns. I frequently speak with Sister Stemmet, who leads the clinic, about children who are underweight or face nutritional challenges. The clinic also focuses on domestic issues that may impact a child’s diet.

 

“At Alvi’s Drift, we understand the profound impact that Early Childhood Development (ECD) has on a child’s future. In the first six years of life, a child’s brain forms connections at an incredible rate, laying the foundation for their cognitive, emotional, and physical development. While career development is important, and something we certainly focus on at Alvi’s Drift, starting younger is essential for real change. That’s why we’re so excited about our partnership with the Indaba Foundation that kicks off early next year.” – Richard Bradfield, Alvi’s Drift Sales & Marketing Manager

 

What steps does Alvi’s Drift take to ensure the safety and well-being of the children and community?

 

Keeping these children safe from the influence of gangs, as well as substance abuse, is a huge priority for us. To support this, we regularly hold talks with local police and social workers to keep everyone informed and aware. At the community primary school, we’ve taken significant steps to enhance safety, such as repairing the fences and installing an electronic gate. After the recent floods, we also worked hard to ensure the children had access to safe, clean water.

 

How has Alvi’s Drift’s approach to supporting children evolved over the years, and what positive outcomes have you observed?

 

I believe we’ve made significant progress compared to 10 years ago. It’s now about much more than just going to school and returning home; we’re starting to see tangible results. For example, we have a teacher at the community primary school who was once one of the babies at the crèche – now she’s returned as an educator.

Another example is a family whose mother worked for us. They were born on the farm, and her son received a bursary to study at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute. He also attended the community crèche  and later went to the primary school on our farm. Some young women from our farm are now pursuing an EduCare programme after completing their matric. One of the cheesemakers from our dairy received a bursary to study in France.

These are the feel-good stories that reflect the impact of our investment in the community in a tangible way. It’s just so exciting to watch these children grow up and realise their potential. This is what matters most to us.

 

What are some of Alvi’s Drift’s long-term goals for supporting children’s development and education?

 

We believe in dreaming big and holding onto those dreams. Two of our major goals are to establish a library on the farm and to create an aftercare programme. We already have a generous donation of books ready for the library. Reading is so essential for a child’s development – it really opens up a new world of possibilities. We hope to set up the library at the community primary school or the community centre.

Our second goal is to establish an aftercare programme where children can receive help with homework and support in subjects like maths. A place where we can supervise and stimulate them in the afternoons, while their parents are still at work.

 

“I am very fond of children. When a child comes here, we show them love, and we support them. This crèche  is a place where they can just play and be themselves.” – Carmen Gxilisle, Community Crèche Teacher

 

How does Alvi’s Drift foster growth and development among children and young adults in the community?

 

Our teachers are deeply passionate about working with children. Sometimes it feels like miracles are happening here every day. We’ve seen fourth- and fifth-generation children grow up here, venture into the world, and sometimes return. 

Our goal is to provide the children from our farm with as many opportunities as possible, and nurture their growth and development to the best of our abilities. They are our future, and we take our responsibility to set them up for success, and prepare them for life ahead, very seriously.

 

 

Committed to a Better Future for Our Alvi’s Drift Youth

 

At Alvi’s Drift, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. Click here to learn more about our various initiatives to do right for our people, our planet, and our future.