Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

What a wonderful time of celebration we had last week. We hosted our partners in Self Help Group Approach (SHGA) from Limpopo, KwaZulu Natal and from Malawi, they came to KTD196 so we could showcase our work in SHG and to see a functioning CLA (Cluster Level Association). The ladies did us proud!

First, we attended a CLA meeting, the ladies were not fussed at all with having 12 strangers listening to their meeting, making notes and then afterwards, asking questions and interrogating the ladies regarding the discussions observed, the decisions made, and the actions taken.

On the bright side, we were welcomed very enthusiastically with songs and also with lunch, which was arranged by the CLA. (There is a video link below so you can share in the festivities.)

What was extremely frustrating for me was to find out that some of the boreholes that the CLA had had repaired were the subject of further vandalism. Apparently a truck with Eskom logos and Eskom clothed workers, came and removed 2 transformers needed to run the pumps!!!! The ladies reported the matter to Eskom (the electricity provider for South Africa), only to find that the transformers were actually stolen and Eskom was not interested in replacing the Transformers.

One Transformer was placed inside one of the lady’s yards but because they were officially dressed, she didn’t realise they were actually stealing the transformers, the matter has been reported to the police. The ladies, with a certain amount of resignation, have now started the arduous task once again of petitioning the relevant departments for replacements and security for the transformers.

It is really difficult to see these ladies’ efforts be reduced to nothing by thieves or others who are determined to undermine their self-determination. During the recent elections, political party representatives where closing off the boreholes so that the ruling party would look ineffective, despite the fact that it was only through the efforts of the CLA that water was provided. Those boreholes have since been restored.

Our visitors, especially the Southern Regional Manager from Malawi, was very impressed at the ladies’ capacity and fortitude. It has been an exciting journey and we are planning to open another CLA in the next 2months.

This is a wonderfully empowering program which has been benefitting over 1,000 families, your support has been so appreciated. You make KTD196 successful, not just with the children but with their parents as well. By supporting the mothers, you are supporting the children. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

You are such a blessing

Louise

Links:

• Celebration time at the CLA
• Why not go to our website, you are welcome to leave a message!
• Facebook is a great way to keep up to date!

More camp stories I am afraid! It’s just because camp is the highlight of the year for the kids and also for us as adults. During a short period, we are able to achieve so much with the kids and they have so much fun it is wonderful.

By taking kids out of their usual environment and introducing them to the beautiful surrounds at Fairie Glen they appreciate nature and if lucky get to see wildlife such as hippo’s, bush buck, porcupine, bush pig, genet, baboons and the like. The villages are devoid of most wild life which has been replaced with domestic animals such as dogs, cows, chickens and pigs. So this experience serves for a life time of memories.

As part of the overall camp we had 38 Scouts attend PLTC (Patrol Leaders Training Course), during this time, the Scouts were taught leadership skills and team work skills. They were set tasks and had to work as a team to develop their camp sites, to bring their campsites up to standard. They also had various emergency scenarios they had to navigate while learning how to instruct their team in a variety of different activities from hiking, to cooking, planning a bonfire evening and activities throughout the day and night.

The Scouts who attended have all been trained as Patrol Leaders or Assistant Patrol Leaders so they can go back to their troops and implement the knowledge they have, thus we have created cascade learning, a cheap and effective way of empowering the children to be leaders and to implement that learning on their patrols back home, there by maximising your investment.

We use cascade learning throughout the work we do. It improves our effectiveness and reach and it builds up local troop knowledge as well as the local leaders of the future. All of which feeds into our motto “Building Tomorrow Today”!

Thank you, your support has enabled this camp to happen, your support paid for transport, venue, food and all the training. The children contributed the equivalent of $4per day as KTD196 we feel it is important that the children also give towards the activities. There were some children who could not, yet, afford the $4 but through the SHG program growing, that will change in the near future.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and please drop us a line on our website so that we can encourage the children with your comments. The front row of the first picture are KTD196 staff and Rovers who are actively involved in giving back to the youth, it is so exciting to see!

Blessings

Louise

Links:

• How we keep warm on a cold camp night!
• Why not go to our website, you are welcome to leave a message!
• Facebook is a great way to keep up to date!