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ARCADIA’S CONNECTION WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH POPULATION

Over 3,000 children have been in the care of Arcadia in Arcadia over the 100 years with help going to an even greater children “in need and never in Arcadia”.

It is estimated that 2-4% of the South African Jewish population would have a direct connection with Arcadia and they or their parents or grandparents would have lived in or received help from Arcadia. Also it is estimated that in the earlier days 50% of the South African Jewish families would have been members of Arcadia.

ARCADIAN BOOKS
The Arcadian Centenary Book 100 YEARS of ARC MEMORIES
Published June 2006

The book is over 500 pages and contains the stories and recollections of over 120 of its children of many different ages who now live in many countries around the world and have followed many different walks of life. The common thread that binds the Arc children is that they spent some, or even all of their childhood in Arcadia.

The book is dedicated to all the supporters of Arcadia, to all the carers and to fellow Arc brothers and sisters especially those who bravely opened their inner hearts and shared their more sensitive and private stories.

Although the book may seem to portray only good happy days, this of course was not the case, especially in the earlier years when life was very harsh and many ordinary people struggled to put food on the table. Judging by the standards of the day, the children in Arcadia were very well looked after.

The Old Arcs who have written in and shared their memories are in the minority. Some, unfortunately, are no longer with us or their whereabouts are unknown. But, in truth, the majority chose their silence because they cannot or do not want to remember. This book barely touches on the trauma that a young child experiences when losing a parent, or is separated from them and put into an institution. One can only imagine what goes on in the mind of a young child and how it will affect them in their future years. Also the pain a parent feels when they must place their child in an institution can only be imagined.

Many children were ashamed of being known as, and labeled as orphans at school, and even after leaving school this ‘embarrassment’ was something each child dealt with in their own way.

The Arcadia Centenary book is still on sale in Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and the USA. It was funded with the generosity of Old Arcadians with the full proceeds of book sales go to Arcadia. By July 2009, some R330,000 had been raised. With the books available in seven countries, you can pay for your order locally and have books delivered to you, your family and friends in the country of your choice.

This book is still for sale with all proceeds going to Arcadia

Anyone who might want more information about the book please contact David Sandler by email sedsand@ca.com.au