Pikkewyntjies Penguins
The Boulders Penguin Colony in Simonstown is very well known and very important for the work it has done in building the numbers of the endangered African Penguin.
Not nearly as famous is the very successful penguin colony in Betty’s Bay where conditions are also highly conducive to breeding.
It’s a question whether Overbergers have made the connection between the Betty’s Bay Penguin Colony (providing security for our penguins / pikkewyntjies) and the Betty’s Bay’s Pre-School, Penguinkidz / Pikkewyntjies (providing Early Childhood Education for our children).
Of course, there is a difference in the goals of the two sanctuaries. By no means is Pikkewyntjies focussed on increasing numbers, our focus is on the quality of what we give the children we have, while the penguins don’t live in a world where quality varies all that much but their numbers sure count.
There are similarities too, neither the colony nor the school can function on its own, both need affirmation and encouragement as well as any practical help the public can give.
Also, although our children can’t swim and penguins can’t build models, our children are among the dearest children you will meet anywhere, and the penguins have a charm no other bird possesses.