By Louise Batty | Managing Director
Dear Friends,
What a thrill it is to see children with out hopes, with out dreams or a sense of destiny start to realize their own potential and possibilities for their futures. This is true, I realize, not just for the children but also for some adults we work with who also feel helpless and hopeless in their lives. Many times I am told by parents and volunteers in our program that they also felt destitute of hope and useless and that this program has helped them realize by helping others they are empowering and encouraging themselves.
This last month we have seen the successful completion of a number of different projects for example, the Food For Life project and the Climate Change and Identity Document awareness campaigns. In total, over 1,400 children participated in learning how to create door sized vegetable gardens and over 750 have developed a small income from the project which is wonderful as food insecurity and poverty are both major players in this area. This project had some interesting moments when the kids were supposed to create worm farms but refused because they thought the worms might get inside them!
All of our children now have Identity Documents which means they can access basic government services such as Child Support Grants, education and health services. 99.98% of our children now receive the Child Support Grant which means their families earn less than R1,200/month or $150/month. The Food Garden Project therefor is essential to mitigate the effects of poverty and malnutrition. With your support we are able to offer the project to another 300 children in the coming year.
As an organization we are constantly being challenged to think bigger, look further and dream of possibilities that we can concretize into reality. One such dream is to provide artisan skills training to those Scouts who are not be able to access further education because of poor education received in some local areas. We want to purchase a farm, create our own camping site and bring in 8 Scouts each year to learn basic building skills such as tiling, painting, woodwork, metal work and include small business management skills to assist these young people to start their own business’s in their villages. This will assist Keep The Dream196 to become more self sustaining during this global financially unstable time but also help more children reach their dreams.
Louise
Being a Scout is truly a fortunate gift from God ….were by your ready to submit to a mans good will…….! As a scout I regard all life as challenging steps and foundation for being a strong social and emotional young man.
Having the background and back bone of Scouting I have learnt how to face life's challenges that I have come across as a young Scout. I have learnt to have peace, love and care to my siblings at home, friends outside of Scouts and every human being.
Being a Scout for me was not all about fun and joy…..it was and it is a gift from God that you are to grab and let it direct you all the way into your life.
For me I regard Scouting as a Youth GPS where by we are instructed the good and relevant direction towards a good and relevant life.
Just imagine a journey without instruction….for me Scouting is like a GPS with signs and symbols of life. Being a Scout is not all about learning life skills and hand skills, it’s a mother to the Scout children were by its fed us with information to help us shape our destiny and adopt a good way of living.
I also want to commend all our Troop Scouter’s in their role towards us, you are truly magnificent where by you are making sure that we as your children have a healthy state of mind, socially and emotionally. Also for being there for us always when we consult you and you always respond fully and positively.
Scouting in my life has been the key to success.
Scouts is your GPS USE IT!
Harry Malatji (Harry became an orphan at 15yrs, he is supporting his grandmother and two siblings plus running his Scout Troop because his Scouter also passed away. Harry is in year 12 and wants to be geologist)
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