Huis Horison Vlamvatters (Firelighters) are more than just any fire–lighters, they are an initiative with a purpose. It is a popular item at the Kermis and as a gift, especially now that it is available in a nice and “chic“ new packaging. Some Stellenbosch residents and friends of the centre no longer want to light their fireplace or braai fire with anything other than these firelighters. When the center hands out gifts, the recipients often want to know in advance if they will be the lucky recipient of some firelighters.
The question is, what is a flamethrower and how did it all start?
Antonie Vosloo, a resident of Horizon House, suffered brain injuries in a serious car accident in 1974. His parents had to get very creative to stimulate their son during and after his recovery time and keep him meaningfully occupied. A friend of the family suggested that he fold newspaper, which would also improve his muscle control. Antonie and his father got to work and soon had mountains of folded newspaper. And so the first firelighters saw the light – Antonie‘s mother, Christa, melted candle wax and dipped the folded newspaper in it. Voila!
The firelighters were then packaged in pouches that were also made of newspaper. The family‘s circle of friends all helped stitch bags. In 2012, after the Vosloo family made flame catchers for several years and sold them for Huis Horison, the centre took over the project, and it became a permanent product from our workrooms.
Making the firelighters is indeed a team effort. Our Club Phoenix group takes the lead with the folding, especially Ansie, who loves the creative work. Staff then take the reins of doing the baptism work when old candles and candle wax are carefully melted and flame vessels are dipped into them. After that, they are packaged and labels put on before appearing on Village Thyme‘s shelves.
And so an activity and a product that emerged to keep one person busy and serve as therapy became a team activity and gave new meaning to a whole group of people‘s daily routine. Even better, recyclable materials are used sensibly to create something new and useful – which again speaks to Horizon House‘s environmentally friendly approach – and it‘s also a source of income for the centre.
We are grateful for any donations of candle wax and old candles from individuals and restaurants.
Buy them at Village Thyme or on our Website.
