Educating the Thabang Children

2016 has been a difficult financial year for Thabang Children’s Project as an organisation. Like everyone else, if not more than the average organisation, Thabang has no guaranteed finance sources. As a project Thabang depends on the grants from the Department of social development and the generosity of the community, individuals and companies.

The work that was supposed to start last year of building the girls house on the same site as the boys finally began in April 2016. The relocation is a way to minimise operational costs for the project. This move will see a reduction in the distance to school by 20 km daily. A significant amount as it amounts to 30% of the school transport. It will also see an 80% reduction in administrative travel.

On the good side our children have been healthy this year so far with none needing serious medical attention. One girl, 17 years old was realised into foster care were we are certain her progress can only trend upwards.Our children at Kambaku private school are doing extremely well despite the lack of funding for them. Their grades continue to improve every term. One girl will be writing her Cambridge exams this year. She is very excited and looking forward to the occasion and challenge in October 2016.

This year we received $696.50 (R10 447.50) from donations through Global Giving which went towards covering the school uniforms for winter, school stationery and fuel for the school bus. We are immensely grateful to all those that have contributed on this platform and wish them the best in their daily endeavours. Our thoughts are always with you, and every contribution you make is always telling, making a huge a difference in the lives of the children under our care. Thank you.

Our Marimba Band has increase in popularity with requests coming from as far afield as Cape Town and Durban. The children in this program have shown continuous growth and maturity. Give us a ring and we can transform your event or function.

The local community has also been very generous with many donations coming in. Meat, grocery items and educational trips Marakele National Park and Predator Park as well as Thaba Tholo. Thank you. 

A huge thank you to all the Americans and Canadians that have been here and/ or involved with the Blue Bags. Thank you. We look forward to seeing again soon.

The Thabang Cycling Team will again be taking part in this year’s Cycle Challenge, contact me on 083 226 7758 to find out how you can get involved.

From the the Remedial Teacher:

Observation of classes between fourth term of 2015 and January 2016

Classes resumed well in the fourth term. The fourth term concentrated mainly on revision and we were using past exams papers to help prepare children for the end of year exams.

Ysterberg Primary school: saw two of our children who are doing Grade 7 progressing to Grade 8.They are currently attending at Mabogopedi High school. From the 10 children who sat for exams last year at Yestebererg 7 passed well and has since progressed to the next grades respectively. One boy has joined us at the Youth centre, he came last year December .He is struggling at school academically, due to his home background and school back ground which was not good. One girl who joined us last has also started attending school; she did extremely well in the fourth term exams’ coming top in grade 4.Her teacher is contemplating promoting her to grade 6 or 7.

Kambaku Private School: There are currently 7 children attending at Kambaku private school, three girls were transferred at the beginning of the term to a Public school. The reason for the transfer was that the three were hardly coping at all, due to the pressure and workload that comes with the school-work. Furthermore we decided to transfer them because 2 of those children were assessed by the educational psychologist and were found to be performing far below their age level. From the 10 children who sat for exams at Kambaku at the end of last year, 6 of them did well and have since progressed to the next grades. One of the girls is set to write her finals of the EGSE exams towards end of the year.

Thekganang Technical school: Two of the boys who attending at Thekganang were transferred to a public School at the beginning of the year, the reason being that they were struggling with subjects that are offered at the school. Thekganang offers science subjects, pure Mathematics and technical drawing, their aim is to produce leaner’s who will pursue engineering courses. As such the two boys found the pressure to be too much, after failing their exams in the third and fourth term last year. But one boy who remained is doing tremendously well academical, and is showing commitment in his school work, and his school report shows that he is competent.

CHALLENGE

Our children are struggling in English; especially the ones attending high school .We have introduced the reading programme in the afternoons. We have also introduced the use of English in the centre as language of communication.

CONCLUSION

It remains our aim to help  the children catch up years of lost learning due to their “home” back ground, which was not good and then develop them educationally to a point where they can get work or get suitable qualifications to sustain their lives in their jobs.

The year has come and moved briskly for all here at Thabang Children’s Project. We are grateful to all that have pitched in and helped along the way.

Thank you very much.

 After spending the school holidays with foster parents, guardians, family and people who cared enough to open their doors to host them the children came back well and in high spirits and started school on a high note. Two children moved up to high school.

Two of the boys were able to seat for their learners licence exams and pass at the first time of asking and a currently attending driving school.

The year so far has been filled with plenty of highlights. On the 27^th February 2016 the Project took part in a family run were 32 in house children and 8 from the Drop in Centre with members of staff all joined the community at the Marakele National Park and run/ walked the 5km loop. An event we look forward to every year and appreciate the people that pitch in to provide the necessary tickets.

Our Marimba Band has become a national sensation, being invited to play at all sorts of places and events that vary from weddings to year end parties, company ceremonies and restaurant promotions. We can be contacted at admin@thabang.org for details. Unfortunately we have to turn down invitations from too far as travel costs become prohibitive. The children have enjoyed the growth in opportunity, and the chances to see far off places, and the weddings. We have enjoyed seeing the new members morph with the Band.

The extra lessons have been upped this year with the concept being employed twice a month at the Drop in Centre with results being event in the progress that most children have shown in their results from first term. Thanks to Pastor Bongwe and the Christ Holy Meeting Centre for the stationery they donated at the beginning of the year.

Unfortunately with life there is also lows which for us come in the form of children that are chronically ill and have to receive medication constantly. An eye is kept on their health and with the constant love that we are able to shower upon them their health has always on the up. The CD4 blood count supports this assertion and we pray that one day they can be totally off the drugs.

Our efforts to uplift the lives of our children are still on going and we are grateful for all the guidance and support we can get. If you have an idea on how we can do something better please email it to us at admin@thabang.org you can also subscribe to our quarterly newsletter at www.thabang.org/newsletter. 

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