The Princess Project was started by the late Helga Leurs and Erica Pienaar in 1996. Helga was quoted saying “I’m still not sure what contributed to the fact that an extraordinary idea entered my mind without routing to my brain and just inspired me to spread the word. So what’s this all about: Checking my e-mails a few weeks later, I realized that I received over 300 responses from the initial e-mail. What an overwhelming response!!!
So, this was really not in my immediate future planning to respond to all of this. I can honestly say that I wanted to run and hide as far as I could, but the idea came back seeking and haunting me. Nice thoughts, but with no one to help and never being involved in anything remotely like this, I still felt like running.
Then Erica Pienaar, came into my life….still imagining that I’ll be able to ‘quit’ the project & get myself out of it…real soon – Erica somehow sensed I was drowning.”
We continue to realise Helga’s dream of helping young girls all around South Africa feel like princesses, even for a night.
“An unusual idea, but (hopefully) one of great importance. I started the year with determination to REALLY make a difference in someone’s life – Came up with the idea of sponsoring less privileged – (in fact they have nothing) – matriculants that long to feel like a princess at their matric farewell, but do not have the financial capacity to “get dressed” for the occasion. The reality is that they do not attend a function, rather than feeling not ‘fitting in’. The idea is: Let’s all donate ex-evening outfits / wedding dresses / ball gowns, matric farewell outfits (that don’t fit anymore, and you don’t anyway want to be seen in it ever again), etc”
The Princess Project is now proudly a registered trademark.
www.princessproject.co.za