By Louise Batty | Managing Director
Hi All,
We are in full swing at Keep The Dream196, the year is going so fast that we are really peddling fast. Speaking of "peddling" Mark McNamara from Bike Africa completed his ride from Kampala in Uganda to Cape Town South Africa and through his hard work raised in excess of $12,500 towards our Global Giving target to become SUPERSTARS by April 2012. We have $2,500 outstanding to go and what a ride it was literally and figuratively.
At a time when money is getting tighter people from America, Taiwan, Australia and South Africa have dug in their pockets to help us acheive our goals. I cannot tell you how it has inspired and encouraged us to keep going as a team that people out there care and are willing to show that care by putting their money into our hands for the future of our children. It is very humbling as I know people are doing it tough out there so thank you. From the bottom of our hearts THANK YOU!
Well, the great news from Keep The Dream196 is that 10yrs ago we started with 13 girls in a small village called Shiluvane and now we are 2,500 children in 91 different sites around Greater Tzaneen and Venda (we have expanded into another district). However, that is not the only exciting news. Nkululeko Mabuza, one of those 13 girls was employed by Keep The Dream196 in January this year as a fully fledged Social Worker. She has returned to assist us to continue to build the future and she is determined to give back not just to us but also her community and the children we serve.
It is wonderful to see her heart as she speaks to parents about parenting their children and using positive disciplining measures to encourage positive behavior. She also works with all the 27 Cub groups which are the children aged between 5-11yrs as that is were her heart lies. In 2 short months we have seen such improvement with the Parent Committees and the cub groups its wonderful.
Our logo is "Building Tomorrow Today" and that is what Nkulu is doing with all her heart. It has been made possible by your continued partnership with us and ongoing giving. Its wonderful to see the 2nd generation working with and inspiring the 3rd generation to do their best and become all they can become. Each year we are becoming more sustainable through the work of the volunteers and now Rovers.
Rovers are the third branch of scouting. They are aged between 19-16yrs and we have 3 new groups because the kids just want to continue developing themselves and others to the point last year we were able to employ 3 Rovers short term (all were in between school because of lack of finances) and now have been able to return to school in 2013 because of working with us last year.
In 2013 we have brought Kheto Mongwe on to Keep The Dream196 again a Rover but this time he is with us for 12months and then will return to complete his Bachelors of Computer Science in 2014. It is wonderful to have the youth come behind us with their energy and enthusiasm and courage to take us further and higher than either myself of Elizabeth (Co-founder) thought possible.
I hope you enjoyed this report and are excited about the work we are doing, the achievements we have reached and the possibilities for the future. Please spread the news and WATCH THIS SPACE!!
God bless
Louise
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By Louise Batty | Project Leader
By Louise Batty | Managing Director
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