Perchwin’s Story
Perchwin’s Story
18-year-old Perchwin grew up on Kaapzicht Wine Estate, where he lives with his parents and three sisters. Both of his parents work on the farm. Perchwin has been part of Pebbles Project since childhood, first attending the Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, and now, as a teenager, he attends the Pebbles Project After-School Club on the farm.
Perchwin receives ongoing support from the Pebbles Project social work team. One of the social workers quickly formed a strong bond with him. Recognising Perchwin’s creative spark, she suggested art as a therapeutic outlet and arranged for him to attend lessons at I Am Art in Stellenbosch.
Perchwin first discovered his love for drawing at the age of 11. “I love drawing,” he shares. “My first drawings were of cartoons, but now I realise that I enjoy drawing faces the most.” At I Am Art, he created his first charcoal self-portrait, which was displayed in a group exhibition alongside works by fellow students. To his delight, Perchwin’s artwork sold within the first hour of the exhibition opening.
His parents and the Pebbles Project social worker attended the event to show their support. “They’re all really proud of me,” he says with a smile. “Especially my mother.”
For Perchwin, art is more than just a hobby, it’s a form of healing. “When I’m making art, I feel relaxed. It helps me let go of all my stress and worries.” He hopes to continue learning and refining his talent through more lessons and by being inspired by other artists. His dream is to become a visual artist and one day host his own solo exhibition. “Once I realised that my dream is to become an artist, all I could think was: I want to keep on making art. I want to keep on growing my talent. I don’t want to stop.”
Perchwin is deeply grateful for the support he has received from Pebbles Project. “Pebbles is always there to help me,” he says. “They really care about people. They help you get to where you dream to be.”
The Pebbles Project team is incredibly proud of Perchwin; of his resilience, his talent, and the determination with which he pursues his dreams. Watching him grow into a confident young artist is truly inspiring.
*This story captures a period in the beneficiary’s journey during their involvement with Pebbles Project and reflects their circumstances at the time it was written.