Dress it Forward, a non-profit organisation (NPO) in Fish Hoek, plays an integral part in making dreams come true for matriculants on the Cape Flats, gifting pre-loved evening gowns and suits to those without the financial means to purchase dresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interview with People\u2019s Post<\/em><\/span>, Dress it Forward director Sherri Bell said the NPO started 12 years ago after noting that some learners could not afford farewell dresses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI used to work at Fish Hoek High School, and at that time, a few kids approached me to say they did not have a gown for their matric farewell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since then, the initiative has grown from Cape Town to the United Kingdom (UK), with hundreds of pre-loved dresses donated to make matric farewell dreams come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe started an NPO in the UK and Cape Town,\u201d Bell said, \u201cand got to the stage where we have our own staff members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe smart rich schools in the UK donate dresses, and while it is always a challenge for [them] to get here due to the costs of freight, we find someone travelling to Cape Town to bring it over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pre-loved dresses from adults and teens locally and abroad find their way to the Dress it Forward charity shop at 33 Kommetjie Road, Fish Hoek, where matrics have the chance to pick their gown at no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe receive tons of dresses donated, locally and abroad,\u201d said Bell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the UK, regular fund-raisers are organised to contribute towards the NPO\u2019s initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAround R100 000 was raised during pub quizzes recently, and each year the Bath Marathon takes place, in which many people run in their prom dresses and then donate the outfits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year alone, 650 dresses were gifted to local matrics with \u201cno strings attached\u201d and in February this year, 81 dresses were donated from Scarlett Fashions, a boutique in Somerset West. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most dresses are donated to schools and learners in impoverished areas such as Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Lavender Hill, Steenberg and the Cape Flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor some learners, reaching Grade 12 is a very big deal, and sometimes the learner is the first generation to reach matric,\u201d explained Bell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn many cases, learners are too shy that they can\u2019t afford a dress for their matric farewell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With no financial obligations on parents and learners, the initiative not only assists cash-strapped parents but boosts the self-confidence of the learners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome girls become overwhelmed when they see 500 dresses in our charity shop,\u201d she added, \u201cand they don\u2019t know where to start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut when they find their dresses, they beam from ear to ear, and at first they don\u2019t actually believe that the dress belongs to them . . . a look of disbelief comes over their face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe see a completely different child leave, and it builds their confidence and self-esteem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bell encourages matriculants to visit the charity shop and \u201csay yes to the dress\u201d as early as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMost matric dances are in September, so we encourage girls to come in as early as possible, during the year to choose their dresses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf there is a pair of shoes or handbag to go with the outfit, they get to choose their entire outfit for free.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dress it Forward, a non-profit organisation (NPO) in Fish Hoek, plays an integral part in making dreams come true for matriculants on the Cape Flats, gifting pre-loved evening gowns and suits to those without the financial means to purchase 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