Dear Friends of Golden Sunbeams
On May 15, 2024, our dear friend and founder Bernd Holtkamp passed away at the age of 85 – a deep and sad turning point in the history of our association (we already reported on this in the previous newsletter).
In his honour, we invited people to a memorial service on May 31, 2024 at the Sage & Thyme restaurant in Somerset West. Around 80 guests came and remembered Bernd with love. For his kindergarten teachers, the celebration was an important moment to say goodbye to Bernd Holtkamp and say thank you one last time.
Many friends and acquaintances who accompanied Bernd during the long time he lived in South Africa also came. Many of his workers, with whom he always enjoyed talking shop, also came to express their condolences.
As the guests arrived, a slide show illustrated Bernd Holtkamp in varied life situations, imparting the feeling that Bernd was with us.
Leanne Keet, founder and chairwoman of Masikhule, a South African organisation with which Bernd worked closely long before Golden Sunbeams was founded, led the ceremony. Britta delivered the opening speech. This was followed by Abraham Manuel, who now heads Golden Sunbeam in the place of his late wife Marinda Helderberg. Bernd’s social commitment in South Africa began with this kindergarten almost 30 years ago.
Nomalizo Pikashe, the Principal at Emfundisweni, with whom Bernd shared his great passion for gardening and who grew his beloved kohlrabi for him, also spoke. Naomi Malebo, the Principal at Great Beginning, delivered a passionate speech about the “balloon man”. That’s what many of the children called Bernd because he always brought a lot of joy to the kindergartens with an inflated balloon. And Andrew Ncube, our highly valued partner for all electrical matters in our kindergartens, also took the opportunity to express his appreciation for Bernd’s life work.
As different as their speeches were, they had one thing in common: their respect for Bernd’s life work. They are all indescribably grateful for his support, for having really improved their living conditions and for having helped to overcome disadvantage and inequality. And he did this in his own lovable, empathic, humorous and warm-hearted way!
The emotional climax came when all the kindergarten teachers stood up together and sang beautiful African songs in their own languages of Xhosa and Afrikaans, in honour of Bernd. It was an unforgettable, very emotional afternoon that ended with a small buffet.
The participants were given a laminated sheet of paper in memory of Bernd and a Guest Book which all attendees could sign. This was so enthusiastically received that there was not enough time, and so we are still in the process of taking the Guest Book to the kindergartens that did not get the chance to write their names in it.
Bernd’s death makes a new board necessary, which Bernd and Britta have discussed intensively in recent months. Bernd’s greatest wish was for Britta to succeed him. Golden Sunbeams e.V. was founded with the idea of protecting Bernd Holtkamp’s life work so that his kindergartens would continue to receive support after his death.
The general meeting of Golden Sunbeams e.V., which had been planned well in advance, took place on the evening of May 16, 2024. Members from Hanover, Bad Homburg, Leipzig, Essen and Alsbach took part in the video conference. Britta reported from Cape Town that Bernd Holtkamp, who was actually supposed to attend the meeting, died the day before. At the last general meeting two years ago, Bernd had already had it recorded in the minutes that he would no longer be available for the next board election. We therefore had enough time to think about the future composition of the board together with Bernd. Britta is to take over his position as first chairwoman, and her current position as deputy chairwoman and treasurer is to be taken over by Claudia Beißner, a long-time friend and a member of the association since it was founded in 2018.
Britta and Claudia have known each other for over 40 years, completed their vocational training and studies together, shared the “happiness and sorrow” of their different professional experiences and shouldered some of the preparations for founding the association together. Claudia had the opportunity to visit Britta and Bernd in South Africa again in December 2023. Bernd had already thanked Claudia at the time for making herself available for election as deputy chairwoman and treasurer – the best choice for Bernd.
Brigitte Stegmeyer, founding member, association professional and woman from the very beginning, was also a long-time confidante and advisor to Bernd. It was always his wish that she would take on a board position. All three board members were unanimously elected and confirmed in their positions at the general meeting on May 16, 2024. They have resolved to jointly lead and develop Golden Sunbeams e.V. in Bernd’s spirit.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all once again for the countless loving, appreciative and warm responses. The many messages from our kindergarten teachers, children and parents, from friends, neighbours and companions have touched us deeply. We would also like to thank our partner organisation Masikhule, especially Leanne Keet and Karen Bufe. They actively supported Britta in the preparation and execution of the memorial service after Bernd’s death. And not to forget, a big thank you to Anton De Freitas, who did everything he could to ensure that we could commemorate Bernd’s life work in a loving and comfortable atmosphere.
Best wishes
from now on and in the future
Britta & Claudia