Lifeskills for 2,587 Children in South Africa

I want to share about how well our Self Help Group is growing. It is wonderful to be a part of something which is so transformative and is really making grassroots changes. Imagine, no longer any fights over money. Poverty, as you know is one of the biggest stressors in relationships. Not having enough money for food, for the basics is traumatic and so stressful to individuals, adults and families. The SHG program is changing this.

Currently, today, I have to say today, because tomorrow there will be changes, that is how fast this project is growing, we have 106 SHG’s. What an amazing achievement for the team responsible. That is just incredible. That means you are helping to support 1,865 women and 5,080 children in their battle against poverty, today. The best part is, once they have learnt the skills, changed their focus, enabled themselves, they will now and forever be their own answer to their own financial issues. They will no longer need to rely on handouts.

YES I LOVE THIS PROGRAM.

Hear from Annah below about the impact of the program.

Thank you for being a part of the transformation we are seeing first hand.

Blessings

Louise

Annah is a 32-year-old woman from Tshwaranang Self-Help Group (SHG). She is a single mother caring for her three children, two boys aged 12 and 10, and a girl aged 5. Annah and her children live in a one-room house, which they have divided using a curtain to create separate spaces. After her mother passed away, Annah moved to Burgersdorp with the father of her children. However, after the birth of their third child, he chose to leave her for another woman.

Annah explained that life was difficult before she joined her SHG. She was unemployed and relied solely on the Child Support Grant. Unfortunately, she did not receive any of that money because a loan shark had taken her ID and SASSA card as collateral. Deep in debt, there were times when her children went to bed hungry, often eating only a slice of bread with water. It broke her heart to see her children struggling because no parent wants to witness such hardship.

In June 2023, Annah joined Tshwaranang SHG. Her first loan was for R40, which she used to buy bread and tomatoes to prepare meals for her children. To earn extra money and repay her loan, she started doing odd jobs for people in the community, such as cleaning yards and washing laundry. By July 2024, as the SHG group's capital grew, she decided to take out another loan for R1500. This loan allowed her to settle her R1000 debt with the loan shark, enabling her to reclaim her SASSA card and ID. With the remaining funds, she was able to buy proper food for her children. Annah was overjoyed to have her SASSA card and ID back, as it meant she now had an income of R1650 each month. This financial stability allowed her to purchase clothes and food for her children, which made a significant difference in their lives.

Annah's most recent loan, for R2500, was for building materials to improve their home. She purchased one pallet of bricks and two bags of cement, with plans to add more materials and build an additional room before the end of the year. She also took R200 to buy sweets and Simba chips to sell in her community. This venture has already earned her R75 in profit, and she plans to expand her offerings by adding atchar (spicey mango mix) to her business.

“I am very happy with the progress and changes I've made in my life since joining the SHG. I have my SASSA card back, we are eating proper food, and I've bought building materials. I feel that the community respects me as a member because of the changes they see in my life,” Annah said.

Links:

• Why not visit our website you are welcome to leave a message!
• Facebook is a great way to keep up to date with what we are upto