Provide nutrition for 500 families in South Africa

Dear friends

At a recent celebration, the gorgeous children in our school choir performed two songs.  One was accompanied by an African drum, played by a young girl named *Gemma.  I was getting quite choked up by this particular performance as I saw her putting her heart and soul into every drum beat and her face lit up with pure joy as she proudly sang along with her peers.  When I started working here in Missionvale, Gemma was still a little girl who used to hide under my desk!  She had such a vivacious character and we used to joke and say how we should make a TV series about her called “The adventures of Gemma and friends”!  At the time she was not going to school and I recall how terribly hungry she was. 

We got to know Gemma, her family, and her circumstances.  Although she is not orphaned, her home life is very difficult and they are desperately poor.

Over time, and because of people like you, we have been able to reach out to her and her family through practical means:  a weekly food parcel, a school for Gemma, medical care for her mother when she was ill and a safe place for Gemma to play in the afternoons.  Gemma has grabbed every opportunity with both hands and participates in every extra mural activity possible! 

It is wonderful to see her progressing so well and looking so much healthier than she did.  We are thrilled that she has taken to both academics and the social and cultural aspects of school.  However, we must never forget that she would not have been able to partake in any of these, if she did not have basic nutrition to sustain her.  It is unimaginable to think that if it were not for this centre, and for your kind, generous and continuous donations, that Gemma and her family, would have nothing to eat. 

Your hard earned contributions mean the world to us, and with every dollar, you are providing much more than food.  You are providing energy, hope and the starting point for a changed life.  We are indebted to you forever.

To see a video of the choir, click on the link below (forward 4 minutes in):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97moqk3c-Nw

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of our beneficiaries

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