Lifeskills for 2,587 Children in South Africa

Thank you so much for the way in which you support KTD196. Many of you are not just donating but contacting me and sharing and your concerns, questions and prayers with KTD196. It is precisely because of this support, I believe, that we are where we are today! Your interest, your enthusiasm, your collaboration and your generosity continues to enable us to do our best and give of our best. You are AWESOME!

I want to share what happened last week when I went to a training called Journey of Life. We asked for 20parents to attend the training, unbeknown to us, word had spread how powerful this training is and instead of 20 parents we had 44 women, all desperate for a change in their families. It was amazing, I think for the first time we had a Great Grandmother, Grand Mother, Mother and Daughter, all in the same training.

The training uses past lived experiences of the participants, who identify the road blocks they experienced growing up and what helped them get past those road blocks and then translate that knowledge on to their own children. Frequently the participants realise they are the road blocks to their own children’s development.

What was very powerful about this particular training was the Mother shared about the road blocks she experienced from her mother who was also attending the training. How her mother demanded she care for her siblings from a young age, how the mother demanded all the chores be done, water collected, fire wood gathered as well cooking for the family, and the repercussions if things were not done to her satisfaction included beatings, all of this while trying to complete homework. This Mother was determined that she would not repeat the damage done to her, on her daughter.

The daughter of this lady stood up and shared how loved and cared for she felt, that yes she helped out with the family’s chores but they were not her sole responsibility. The daughter shared how different her life had been and how important it was for children to be allowed to be children.

Next the Grandmother stood and said that she treated her daughter that way because that was what her mother had done to her.

Finally, the Great Grandmother stood up in front of the whole training group and repented publically for hurting her daughter and by default her granddaughter. There was not a dry eye in the group as others also confessed and repented for the abuse they had perpetuated generationally throughout the years. The revelation that there was a better way, a kinder and more loving way dawned on all of these ladies. They were changed in the 3days it took for the training to occur. Radically and forever changed.

One lady reported after the first day of training that when she called her children to talk to them (as part of the homework), they ran away because they thought they were in trouble. She had never spoken to them in any other manner and they thought they were going to get a beating.

This time 4 husbands came to the training to thank Elizabeth for changing their families and for bringing peace and hope!

You are a part of all of this. You are enabling us to run these trainings in conjunction with other donors. Thank you for being part of this amazing transformation for the children and for future generations.

Blessings

Louise

Links:

• We have a new look website including a shop, hop on over!
• Facebook is a great way to keep up to date!

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

Yesterday I had the privilege of going out to visit the Cluster Level Association (CLA) meeting, and a Self Help Group (SHG) in action. WOW how amazing it was on so many levels.

Firstly, in the CLA meeting I witnessed 20 women coming together representing their SHG’s and sharing what each SHG had achieved and the issues they had resolved and others they were still confronting. It was amazing to watch these ladies with such passion share with excitement about the advances they had made.

I also heard from the different portfolios within the groups the actions that had been taken to resolve community level issues that were identified by the groups that needed to be addressed. There were 7 different portfolios, all of which related to community development and Asset Based Community Development. For example, the are 3 portfolio’s related to replication and creation of new SHG’s independent of KTD196! That means the ladies are mobilizing new groups, empowering them, and training them to level 3 of a 10 level curriculum. This is awesome.

One of the committee’s roles was to address the decaying water infrastructure which I have reported on two weeks ago. This week I heard the group are stepping up their campaign with the District Municipality and representatives have a meeting directly with the manager.

It is just so exciting seeing these ladies plan interventions, and carry out these plans. Imagine, women who are the poorest of the poor, disenfranchised, with no marketable skills, education or opportunities, realising their power, and taking the fight to government to demand services in an informed and assertive manner. Ladies who have been down trodden, dismissed and undermined all their lives, through SHG have found their voices and are realising their needs! That is possible because of your support.

Next, I went to a SHG group that had been in action for 12months. I heard the ladies share some of their stories. One lady stated:

“Before SHG I was dying because of the Machonessa’s, I would take a loan with one to pay off the other! I was in so much debt, I was drowning. I was dragged by a friend to SHG, now 1year later, I don’t owe any money! I have bought school uniform for my kids, they look like every other child now. They are not different. We eat better, I can buy better food, more nutritious food not just bread and pap. I have a small business selling tomatoes, jams, banana and mango’s but I have plans to expand. I will grow my business, buy blankets for winter so we will no longer be cold at night. I want to expand my home and seal it properly so it no longer leaks during the rainy season. I now have hope.” June (mother of 3)

SHG has been life changing, to see the smiles on their faces, to hear the success stories and to see the confidence is just wonderful. All of this has been possible because of your support. You are essential to these ladies’ success and the knock on impact on their children!

Currently, KTD196 is impacting 3,859 children in life changing ways through your support, even more if you factor in the influence these children have on their peers. That is huge, 2024 looks so much brighter through you, THANK YOU so much for being part of the solution that is changing lives, families and communities.

Blessings to you.

Louise

Links:

• Edge of Adventure Pod Cast with Louise
• We have a new look website including a shop, hop on over!
• Facebook is a great way to keep up to date!