Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder collaborated with The Walmer High School Choir in 2004 for The Molo Sessions, and he recently reunited with them in Africa, and sent them a letter announcing his plans for the reunion to principal Lunga Dyani. You can view the letter below.
In a new Herald Live article, one of the 2004 grade 11 pupils, Sindiswa Speelman, 30, who is pregnant, said Vedder’s first visit to her alma mater was especially emotional for her as he sang Here Comes the Sun to her unborn baby boy.
“The influence he had on our lives can’t be put into words,” she said.
“He totally changed the trajectory of my life.
“Coming from an underprivileged background where both my parents were unemployed, university was never really on the cards for me.
“His dedication to improving the lives of 10 children he had never met before recording the album is testament to his character.
“Because of him, I now have a degree in media and communication as well as my honours in development studies.
“I am an economic development officer at a top renewable energy firm – all because he took us under his wing, showed us the possibilities life could offer and presented us the opportunity to grab them.”
Dyani said that while the school e-mailed Vedder regularly and touched base on social media, last week’s visit was the result of the efforts of two sisters and friends of the school, Barbara Bulbring and Monica van der Poel, the second of whom lives in Australia.
