By: Kaylynn Walker

Last month saw one of the biggest annual spectacles hitting the streets of Stellenbosch, once again, and this year the Media 24 Rachel’s Angels was there.  The Trust, which operates in the Western Cape in association with the University of Stellenbosch, was the main sponsor of the Lydia Ladies Res and Vesta Men’s ward for the 2010 RAG.

The Rachel’s Angels programme aims to improve grade 11 and 12 learners’ academic abilities and to enrich their life skills by involving senior students from the University as mentors.  “Our sponsorship of Lydia and Vesta for this year’s RAG is not only a way in which the Trust can give back to the community, but will also give the Trust invaluable exposure amongst the very students we wish to recruit as mentors for the up and coming year,” says Rachel Jafta, founder of the Rachel’s Angels Trust.

One of the major goals of RAG is to inspire students to be responsible, productive and giving members of the public who take part in community projects, behave responsibly and lend a helping hand where they can.  This is in line with the message the Rachel’s Angels programme wants to communicate to students and offers them an opportunity to “lend a helping hand”.  “As RAG has such a fantastic effect on all the participants, organizers and spectators at the events, it offers a perfect platform to promote the Rachel’s Angels programme and to recruit our next mentors,” says Jafta.

Lydia Ladies Res and Vesta Men’s ward had embraced a better future with the theme “Love Change”, which was their interpretation of the RAG 2010 theme, Technicolorlegacy.co.za.  “We are very excited about our partnership with the Media 24 Rachel’s Angels Trust and are proud of the work done through this programme.  It re-enforces the message that students should be responsible citizens and for this reason our main goal with this year’s RAG would be to create awareness of the Rachel’s Angels programme amongst all students,”  says Peter Andersen, HK Vesta 09′/10′.

First year students also partook in Akkerjol sales, the Victoria Trolley Race, the Vensters Street Theatre as well as the RAG Float Parade. It was a great week for all!