- Evelyn Markides is well-known for helping many in need as the co-founder of Jeffreys Bay-based non-profit company.
- Evelyn Markides’ school Happy Hands provides both general education and special needs education.
- As the winner in the Community Development category of the Kouga’s Power(ful) Woman competition, Evelyn Markides was finally recognised for her dedication to the community of Jeffreys Bay.
Well-known for uplifting the community as the co-founder of Jeffreys Bay-based non-profit company, One Village, Evelyn Markides is also passionate about children and has established Happy Hands. Here she offers individual education, training, and exclusive childcare to children throughout the town.
At the age of 19, Markides sold her car to establish her first school in Pretoria.
She later went on to qualify as a teacher, but it was only after a close family member was diagnosed with dyslexia and various other learning disabilities at the age of five that she began completing specialised courses focused on special needs children.
Finally, in 2010, Markides opened the doors to Happy Hands, where she was able to offer both general education and special needs education through remedial classes, home schooling, and after-care to 215 children, with a staff of 15 members.
After teaching at her Pretoria school for many years, she said God instructed her to move with her family to Jeffreys Bay, and in 2017 she opened a much smaller version of Happy Hands where she could fulfil her passion of providing Grade R to 6 learners with the additional support they needed.
Markides said that since her close family member’s diagnosis, God has brought her many special needs children whom she has welcomed at her centre.
“Teaching and my passion for children with special needs is a gift from God,” said Markides.
Since she is familiar with helping special needs children, Markides said that if she is unable to help children at her centre, depending on their specific needs, she is willing to redirect the parents to places where they can find help.
She further said that she has a good relationship with each child’s teacher, parent, and in some cases the child’s psychologists.
Markides said that by working together they can provide the children with the assistance they need.
Happy Hands currently has 18 children, two tutors, and multiple volunteers.
Markides said that at Happy Hands the children are not bound to the classroom, and often volunteer at One Village’s vegetable garden and soup kitchen.
“The children at the centre, especially those who are home-schooled, often tag along to do volunteer work which educates them about social development,” said Markides.
Currently located at the Baptist Church in Dolly Varden Street, Jeffreys Bay, she said that they are very thankful for the assistance they have received from the church.
They are, however, hoping to receive sponsorship of a larger facility, which will enable her to expand the centre to add a pre-school as well.
Despite being located at the Baptist Church, she said that Happy Hands is non-denominational and open to all children, regardless of their religion.
She said that even though Happy Hands is a privately-owned business, they also function as an NPO, since a specific quota of children is sponsored by the centre.
In addition, Markides said she also does regular outreaches, where she has donated large amounts of school supplies to nearby schools, children’s homes, safe houses, churches, and soup kitchens.
By doing outreaches, she said that she tries to fill in the gaps where there are not enough school supplies for each child.
After many years of dedicating her time and effort by serving the community through her involvement with One Village and Happy Hands, in August this year Markides was announced as the winner of the Kouga’s Power(ful) Woman competition, where she won in the Community Development category.
She said that the award was not just a celebration of her journey, but a celebration of the collective strength of all the nominees and winners, and the difference they all make in their respective fields.
“I was completely humbled to accept the award, recognition, and blessing with enthusiasm and a fresh deposit of gusto and elation for God’s favour to my servant heart and soul.”
Markides said that receiving the award was proof that the good that people do never goes unnoticed.
