Physical Health South Africa Project #10010

Lifeskills for 2,587 Children in South Africa

by Keep The Dream196

Lifeskills for 2,587 Children in South Africa

Project Report | Jan 29, 2025
The Gift of Hope!

By Louise | Managing Director

Avuxeni, Minjani? Umfekile Minjane! (Hello, how are you? I am well thanks!

WOW this year has started with a bing. We have been open for just over 2weeks, employed 4 new staff, 3 off them for Self Help Group and one for the children’s project and shuffled a few other employees.

We have a donor visit from our partners from Germany next week which is always good because we get to showcase the work we have been doing on Children’s Rights and Child Participation. They will be speaking with the children, parents who have attended Journey of Life (JoL) training, as well as Induna’s who have been trained on JoL and mapping, they have also created action plans about how they are going to address the issues that their community mapping identified.

Sadly, its not all roses. Despite numerous visits to the different high schools we are not getting buy in by the teachers to participate in the program or be trained in facilitating Learnership Representative Councils (LRC’s) so that the children have a voice in the schools. They are being particularly difficult so we are intending to work with the School Governing Boards and train them, so that pressure can be applied to the teachers to participate and implement LRC’s.

Towards the end of February, 8 staff are travelling off to Pietermaritzburg for further training on the Self Help Group Program as we continue to grow and develop more Cluster Level Associations (CLA’s) with the view of possibly 2027 finally creating a Federation, a combination of CLA’s who main focus is that of extensive and coordinated advocacy to bring about real change in the district, province and even further afield.

All of this work is supported by you! You enable us to do what the institutional donors don’t cover. You are absolutely crucial to the work we do, we would not be able to continue without you quite frankly. Thank you for being a part of the solution so that we can provide these services to people in desperate need.

Thank you for bringing hope where it is so desperately needed. Vutomi's story is actually a combination of different stories regarding the work we do, so many children have lost hope, over such simple issues, that is the power of the work you enable us to do!

God Bless you

Louise

When Louise asked me to write my story I was scared to go back to where I was. I was so sad all the time, I struggled to get up in the morning to go to school. I didn’t want to get out of bed, life was just too hard. I was failing in school; I just didn’t care. I was angry all the time but also couldn’t stop crying. I had no energy, I had no hope for anything different. I just wanted to cease to exist.

I wanted to die.

My mum didn’t see me, didn’t care what I was going through, we never talked, she just shouted at me. I had to do chores after school like collecting water, getting 4 x 20Litre containers from the tap that was about 2kms from our home, every day. That took hours to wait in the que and the drag it all home. I would be even more exhausted and just want to sleep.

Then, my mum went to Journey of Life training and everything started to change. My mum started to talk to me and ask me questions about my day. I was shocked at first, I didn’t know what was going on. But she kept asking me, and I started to tell her about superficial stuff in the beginning, but then I started to really open up and she listened to me.

Finally, I started telling my mum about how hopeless I felt, how nothing mattered, how tired I was all the time. Mom took me to the clinic, and they tested my blood, and it turned out I was anaemic. I was not eating correctly, and iron levels were very low. I went on iron tablets, and I started to feel much better. My energy levels increased; my emotions had improved a bit but I was still feeling very sad.

Then mom started to tell me about Scouts another program run by KTD196. I have found a second home. I feel loved, and encouraged, I feel happy with my new friends. I have started to look forward to the days we meet, and I am joining in the extra activities such as community service. I am even working better at school; I can focus and concentrate and things that were too hard for me are now much easier, which is amazing.

Thank you KTD196 for helping me and my mom. Thank you to the donors who support KTD196 you saved me.

Vutomi

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Jan 21, 2025
Summary from SHG for 2024

By Louise | Managing Director

Stephine standing infront of here new home!

Phew we have not been back to work two weeks and already it feels like it should be March! Since returning we have planned and scheduled for the next 3months intensely and the next 6month loosely.

We have been able to employ for new staff. Three staff for the Self Help Groups (SHG) who now have a target of 50 new groups in 2025 and two more Cluster Level Associations (CLA). That brings the total to 80 SHG in total with 1,402 ladies in the project representing 1,402 families and they support 3,796 children through the small businesses and the money they loan.

Just to explain the SHG groups focus on the individuals and their families while the CLA focuses on developing the Communities in which they live. The CLA’s are constituted by 8-10 SHG representatives.

So far the CLA’s that have been formed have

Started and been trained in Community Policing Forums to ensure their communities become safer with less issues of crime.

In total they have saved R2,253,000 and have used this money to value of R11million which for the poorest of the poor, is absolutely astounding. What is really wonderful is that when we go in our vehicles to the villages, we get flagged down by other ladies who want to be a part of this project, they see the impact, they want the skills, they want the financial freedom being offered.

Just to reassure you, none of this money is available for KTD196, that is why your support is so important to us.

I am including a story from one of the SHG ladies to showcase the impact of this project multi-generationally.

We also, with the passing of Mum Rose, had to restructure our Children’s Project and have re-employed Angy, a staff member we had to sadly let go last year due to the contract coming to an end. So Angy will be our new team leader and we have put in place targets for the whole team which includes focussing on Children’s Rights and Child Participation. The project overlap more intensively now as parents from the SHG are volunteering in the Children’s Project, and their children can attend as well. So that is really nice synergy.

We have entered this year with such enthusiasm and excitement, new premises, new plans, new energy. This year we are determined to make up for the difficulties faced last year.

I just want to also share, one of our original 13 girls who started with us in 2003, has now returned to volunteer and will be working with 10 of our kids as a Occupational Therapist. This will add to our offering as we have many who have learning issues, or physical challenges, so this is wonderful. Multi-generational giving is so important.

Thank you for walking this journey with us, your gifts are having an amazing impact on the lives of the people we serve. You truly are a gift from God. I know I say this, but quite frankly if it weren’t for you and your donation, Keep The Dream196 would have closed 8years ago. Since then we have gone on to impact many more adults and children. My gratitude for you overwhelms me often.

Thank you for trusting us, thank you for being such a huge part of the work we do. Please if you are ever wanting to come and verify what I speak about or come and just visit, you would be very welcome to come and be hosted.

Blessings to you and your family.

Louise

Stephine is a 61-year-old member of the Khutso Self-Help Group (SHG). She joined the group in 2021 and has accomplished a lot since then. Her husband passed away in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving her to care for their four sons, all of whom have graduated from high school but are currently unemployed. Her sons have tried applying for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), but have not been successful. While they do odd jobs here and there, they have not been able to secure permanent employment.

Before joining the SHG, Stephine supported her family through various odd jobs as a domestic worker, but she lost her job during the pandemic. To make ends meet, she would often go around her community washing clothes for people in exchange for payment, using the money she earned to buy food for her struggling family. Since her children are not working and have aged out of receiving the Child Support Grant, the situation has been particularly challenging.

In 2021, when she first heard about the SHG program, she was eager to join but found that the group was already full. Despite her disappointment, she held on to hope that a spot would become available. She learned about the R10 contribution from a relative in Sekororo (over 100kms away), which further motivated her to join. When a group opened in Pharare, she was one of the first to enroll because she didn't want to miss this opportunity again.

During the admission process, Stephine expressed her concerns about her living conditions. She was staying in a three-room RDP house, which felt too small for her family. "Imagine sharing a house with three men and one boy while I am the only female," she said. "They are sharing the bedroom, and there’s no privacy. Two of my boys have children, and I feel sad when they visit because there isn't enough space for everyone. This situation troubled me a lot; I often prayed to God for a miracle."

By God's grace, her prayers have been answered. Through her participation in the Khutso SHG, Stephine has managed to build a three-room house separate from the RDP home. This new house is designated for her sons, while the RDP will be for her and her grandchildren when they visit. Remarkably, she completed the construction in less than two years.

Additionally, Stephine has started a small business selling snacks and other goods in her community, which has helped her take out loans and repay them within the designated time. She is extremely grateful for the SHG program, as it has helped her realize her dream. Next year, she plans to expand her business and furnish her new house properly, so when her sons get married, their wives will feel at home.

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Jan 18, 2025
100% Pass for our Matriculants in 2024

By Louise | Managing Director

Over crowding and poorly resourced rural schools

Avuxeni, greetings and once again, welcome to 2025 and all the possibilities it holds!

Thank you for joining us on this journey, we have been sojourning for 22years unofficially, for 22years we have been laying the foundation for the future, not only for the children we serve, but the families in which they reside and the communities in which they live.

We have a huge vision we are working towards. One that will ultimately affect the whole nation and beyond. Just a quick recap of that vision!

OUR VISION

Keep The Dream196's vision is to create a world where children, women and families have the resilience, and have access to the knowledge, skills and support they need to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to use a rights-based approach to holistically empower children, women and families by providing life skills training, and self-employment opportunities to break the cycle of poverty, dependency, and by empowering individuals to become active contributors to their own prosperity and also to the well-being of society.

Thank you for joining us on this quest.

Recently we received our matriculation results for KTD196 and I am proud to say we once again had a 100% matriculation pass rate with all students receiving a Bachelors Award which means they can go on to university. Our average over 15yrs is 99% whilst governments is 71%. This is the power and importance of KTD196. Our students are focussed on their futures and building towards that now.

Sadly, the Department of Educations standards are very low and although the Province received an 85% pass rate, it is not a true reflection of the quality of the education received.

For Example:

To receive a bachelors pass, it requires one to obtain at least 50% for five designated subjects, this includes Life Orientation. One also has to get above 30% for two other subjects and one is only allowed to fail one subject. A bachelors pass allows you to study at any higher education institutions, like universities and colleges, to become doctors, lawyers and psychologists.

A diploma pass requires one to obtain at least 40% in five designated subjects including Life Orientation. One also has to receive at least 30% in two other subjects and can only fail one subject. A diploma allows you to attend some higher learning institutions and technical colleges, to study things like engineering, nursing and many other things.

For a higher certificate, one must obtain at least 40% in Home Language. One must receive 40% in at least two subjects and 30% in three other subjects. One is also only allowed to fail one subject. When studying further with a higher certificate you can apply to TVET colleges and some private colleges to study in a field of your choice, as long as you meet the admission requirements.

Regardless of the marks on your final certificate, if you fail two subjects, which mean scoring a 1 (0-29%), you fail the year.

So, a national pass is 30% of a subject.

The Education Department believes if they drop the standard nationally, their reports as a department will improve. Not only that, in Matric, students are forced to be a school 7days a week for “extra” classes, without teachers teaching. They fail to teach the curriculum effectively within normal school times and so it is believed that by keeping the students for long periods of time, that some how marks will improve. During the exam period, the learners have to live at school to ensure they are studying!

We have a lot of work a head of us, but together we are making a huge difference.

Thank you for being a part of our vision.

Blessings

Louise

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