Christrien Coetzee leverde 27 april 1999 de volgende persverklaring
Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
The internationally renowned cabaret artist, Herman van Veen, will be visiting South Africa shortly
for the opening of the Columbine Birth Clinic at the Ndluvo Medical Centre in Elandsdoorn, near Groblersdal,
on 17 May 1999.
The clinic is one of the projects under the patronage of the Herman van Veen Foundation and is
financed by the Columbine Foundation.
During the rest of his visit, Herman van Veen will have meetings with
publishers and film producers about future projects in South Africa. Two private concerts are also being planned.
Due to organisational difficulties a concert tour to South Africa is currently impossible.
The opening ceremony of
the Columbine Birth Clinic and Ndluvo Medical Centre will take place on 17 May. It will be attended by the Premier
of Mpumalanga, Mr Matthews Phosa. Visitors will have a chance to inspect the completed clinic, surrounding sports
grounds, bakery and day school for toddlers. The ceremony will be closed with a short concert by Herman van Veen,
accompanied by the well-known Dutch guitarist, Edith Leerkes, and the choir of the Groblersdal Primary School.
A second phase of this development project is the errection of a culture centre. Here a music school, theatre
and local radio station will be housed. The aim is to create a space where knowledge and cultural values can be
exchanged and where talent can be developed and explored.
A project currently being planned, is the marketing
of South African wine in the Netherlands. The proceeds from the sale of these wines will go towards the
Herman van Veen Foundation and will be used for the financing of studies for underpriviledged students in
South Africa.
The Herman van Veen Foundation was founded in Benoni, South Africa, in 1997.
The Foundation's policy is to help and to guide children, irrespective of their background, to develop and
explore their creative talents.
The Foundation has four sources of income: money from the sales of
"Herman van Veen Goods" (t-shirts, jerseys, shirts, rain coats and other articles) at concerts; proceeds
from the exclusive sale of Alfred Jodokus Kwak merchandizing at the Vroom & Dreesman chain store in the Netherlands;
financial support from the Columbine Foundation (this foundation develops and supports projects in the field of
education, health and work generation in developing countries and the Netherlands); donations from individuals.