Project Play, Learn, Prosper - Olive

The Guy
Apr 25
3 min read

Updated: May 4

When Life Touches You

The Go-To Guy today got woken to something that before did not cross our minds, this through an outreach for a project, that one little corner in Potchefstroom wishes to activate, and the incredible wisdom we garnered from an insight shared with us during that research.

We discovered the Olive Tree School, a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and then we discovered the story of a mother and fathers love for a child.

Yet what really touched us was a little line that we read in the story of the school, and the parents of Olivia, when their daughter Olivia was diagnosed with ASD, that line being "she led us from a planned parenthood journey, and instead took us on hers", pause here and let this line sink in... from your plans to a journey, a special journey that you did not plan for, a journey that is led by your little girl, a journey that is filled by not by words, but by watching her, being with her and witnessing simple excitements that touches hearts, not ears, and the power of love.

A Different World

In our research we read about Autism, discovered a world we never think about, a world that in many respects are different from ours, yet it's also a world where we discovered that it is not about what people say, its not about how people may judge, its a world where everyday there is love shared, perhaps different, yet also powerful.

The diagnosis of Olivia's ASD also had a reality moment for her parents, schooling, and the reality that in Potchefstroom there were no school to cater for the special child Olivia was, and that moment led to action, powerful action, 'let's start a school here in Potchefstroom', not an easy task, and one that can only be built on an intense passion, an intense dream and an intense willpower to succeed, they planted a seed instead of waiting for the shade.

Today, the Olive Tree school operates a non-profit organisation (NPO) model as a private school, a specialised private school and aftercare center, a school where children with ASD can thrive, its a different school, a place where children are happy and safe, a place where individual needs are catered for, a place where children can grow in confidence and maximise their skills, a place where your little Olivia would feel loved and cared for.

More than a Name

Interesting Note: the name Olive, is also the Values Acronym for the school:

Opportunities - Embrace every opportunity
Love - Love and be kind to each other
Inspire - Encourage and be positive
Value - You are valuable, respect yourself and others
Enjoy - Have fun and live in the moment

The school name, The Olive Tree, was not only chosen for our school because of its rich and meaningful symbolism. The Olive Tree traditionally symbolises Peace, Friendship, Victory, Wisdom, Prosperity and Success

The Olive Tree School Project

The school identified a new project, that we here at The Go-To Guy gave a name, that being Project "Play, Learn, Prosper", this is the project placed on the table of the community today, a project that could make a real difference, a difference to our children, the world they touch, and the love they bring,

Olive Tree wishes to provide the children with a playground, a playground that is designed to develop skills in a playful and natural play manner, this playground is designed to foster play, social interaction and sensory development, and consists of the following:

Jungle Gym
Sensory Patthway
Vetgetable Garden
In-Ground Trampolines
New Sand for Sandpit plus a cover
Painting and Refreshing of Pathways
Conveyer Swings, Round Swing Frame and Swing Frame

The Financials

The reality is that this project will require funding, funding that is not available from the school, and funding that will make a lasting difference to the little Olivia's at Olive Tree, and fill the playground with that intense happiness indicator called laughter.

The total project costs are as follows:

Description	Total
Trampolines	R18,000
Sandpit Sand	R4,000
Sandpit Cover	R2,500
Jungle Gym Option 1 (Timber)	R18,000
Jungle Gym Option 2 (Plastic)	R46,000
Round Swing Frame	R22,400
Spider Swing/Basket Swing	R2,300
Conveyer Swings	R3,600
Swing Frame	R15,000
Sensory Pathway	R6,000
Painting/Refresh Pathways	R3,000