PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - From 27 January to 1 February, six specially selected children from Plettenberg Bay will take part in a unique sunrise ritual known as the Golden Child Project, designed to support children who have experienced loss or trauma.

Accompanied by the 'Sun Queen', the children will set out on a magical boat journey across the Keurbooms Lagoon at dawn, singing a special song intended to 'help the sun rise'.

Locals are invited to join the celebration just after sunrise on the N2 bridge over the Keurbooms or at the Plettenberg Bay Angling and Boating Club to show their support and thank the children for their part in this moving ritual. For more information, participants can WhatsApp Stuart on 083 423 0083.

The Golden Child Project was created by Belgian artist Barbara Raes as a mourning ritual for children aged five to 11, offering a guided process of healing and hope.

Since 2018, the project has involved 48 children in Belgium and the Netherlands. Through a collaboration with Born in Africa, Het Paleis, and NT Gent, Lunchbox Theatre will facilitate the first African iteration of the project.

During the 12-hour ritual, each child spends the night by the river with a trusted family member and project leader.

At dawn, the 'Sun Queen' awakens the child, and together they sing a mantra that symbolically transforms sorrow into light. The project celebrates resilience, renewal and the quiet strength of children navigating loss.

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