Food Security South Africa Project #17691

Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

by Keep The Dream196

Project Report | Mar 26, 2025
Building the future, sustainably!

By Louise | Managing Director

Khanyisa

Avuxeni, Minjane? Umfekile Minjane!

I so love what I do! At KTD196 we not just work on the Scout Program, but we take the child as entire person and work holistically, addressing not just their mind, but their will, their emotions and their body and spirit. Scouts most people know as a program that runs for ninety minutes once a week plus camps, hikes and other activities. These activities are just tools we use as part of building the child.

At KTD196 we see the whole child, we work with the whole child. We are interested in their wellness at all levels. Children exist in families, however dysfunctional, children exist in communities, villages, schools, friend groups etc. We work in all these levels creating circles of support and enable the child to flourish in all areas. That is what makes our program so unique, so please do not think we are just a “Scout Group”.

We work with our kids installing a moral and values system, using care and love to instruct them in the way to success. We give them an anchor in a life that is often chaotic and confusing. We give them an identity, a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves. We give them a sense of family, they may or may not have a blood family, but we are able to lead, guide, protect and provide for their needs through your support, never to create dependence but always to create strong, independent, resilient young people who have a sense of destiny and purpose.

These kids then in turn, teach the younger generation the same skills, and so this trickle, or cascade education, empowers the next generation. It is amazing to see kids without hope, with out a sense of purpose or destiny, find just that, through our program.

How many adults do you know that lack this sense of destiny and purpose? They go through life just surviving, not really thriving, they go through life wondering what their purpose is, being tossed around by circumstances? Our kids choose actively a path they want to explore and then work towards that goal. It is so encouraging to see and be a part of the process.

Thank you for being a part of their journey, their successes and their trials. Thank you for helping us to equip them to be leaders of the future. Who will lead with compassion and strength, vision and abilities. Thank you for being a change maker and champion of our kids.

Bless you

Louise

“I’m a leader, a good version of myself” says Limpopo KDT196 Scout Khanyisa Mabunda who recently achieved her Springbok Award. Growing up in the small village of Sasekani, Khanyisa was a child full of energy but lacked direction. She often acted impulsively, ignoring the consequences of her actions. But everything changed when she joined SCOUTS South Africa through Keep The Dream 196 at age 11.

“I was in Grade 5 and on Thursdays I would see mum Rose run programmes with learners at school. I was curious about what they were doing and thought it was just a hobby. So, I joined 1st Sasekani Scouts and soon I started loving it! I really grew into Scouting”, explains Khanyisa with a smile.

“After 7 years of Scouting, I have experience in problem solving, leadership, First Aid, and mostly I am resilient. Through Scouting I have the capacity to withstand and adapt in more difficult situations.

Some of my favourite memories include the activities we did like camps, hikes and community service projects. I love campfire time! It is a moment for us all to connect with each other. The warmth, the dancing and singing, we are united in having fun. I also really like the vibe of going on hikes. Being outdoors, being adventurous and seeing things around us with your Scouting friends. It’s so important to have fun in Scouting as it brings people together and helps reduce stress as it can be very calming. It does not matter what is happening at home or school, when in Scouting you get a time to settle, to share stories, to connect and learn with other people.”

Being in Scouting provided Khanyisa with structure, discipline, and a strong moral compass. “Since joining Scouting I have changed a lot. I used to be a bully. I was Yoh! I had no respect for myself or for others. I was a very rude child. Since becoming a Scout I have learned to be more respectful, to care about others. I am a leader now, a better person and a good version of myself! I enjoy being a leader and leading by example. Being able to be a role model in another child’s life teaches you how to help others and not only deal with yourself.”

Guided by the Scout Leaders of KTD196, Khanyisa was able to overcome the challenges on her path and achieve her Springbok Award. “I feel amazing that I was able to get my Springbok!”, she says with a smile. “I did get a lot of help. First from mum Rose. But when she passed, Akela Zabe stepped in to help me. I am so grateful to her. She was a pillar of strength and a true inspiration.

For my Springbok I did my community service project at a community centre where we helped them clean, cook and serve food to the very poor children in the centre. We also helped them after school with activities. It felt really good to be able to give back. My Springbok hike was in Westfalia. We saw so many animals and discovered waterfalls! The beauty we saw there I will remember forever.

I think any Scout can achieve their Springbok, but it requires a plan, determination and you need to be willing to work and persevere. You need to tell yourself “I will do it” and not give up when it gets tough, because it’s not easy but it is so worth it! I’ve grown, I’ve gained so many new skills, I understand and can follow safety guides, I can communicate clearly, and I can live by the principles of Scouting every day!”

Through KTD196 Khanyisa has grown into a compassionate leader, driven to make a positive impact. She is pursuing a career in nursing—a choice inspired by her journey through Scouts and her desire to help others.

Khanyisa’s story is a testament to the life-changing impact of your support through KTD196.

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Mar 19, 2025
Testimony on the power of Change by Induna Fred!

By Louise | Managing Director

Avuxeni, Minjane? Umfekile Minjani!

Two weeks ago I was speaking to an Induna named Fred, from one of the villages we work with, and he, as a traditional leader, was raving about the work we were doing in his village. He had seen the changes and experienced the impact first hand. He was excited to tell me all about the changes and the impact it was having on the community as a whole. Changes he didn’t think were possible.

Induna Fred spoke about the way in which the SHG groups over the last 3yrs were increasing in number in his village and for him this meant they ladies groups were squeezing out the macherones (money lenders). This meant the more criminal element was being pushed out of the village. They no longer had customers.

He was watching women in particular go from begging their neighbours for food, to ladies who had started small businesses and were able to add to the local economy. People were looking more encouraged and even the level of peace in the community had improved. Often he was called to settle arguments and fights between couples which were based on money, or lack there off, and so he believed the work we are doing was directly affecting marriages and restoring harmony in the homes.

Induna Fred also believed that the ladies were directly responsible for and increase of peace in the communities and the removal of more criminals through establishing Community Policing Forums, they advocated and demanded training by the police and established a Community Watch type set up. Now the local criminals have been chased out of the village and no longer are people afraid of being mugged or their homes robbed. Responsible adults patrol the communities in the evening and nights, they meet the taxis that arrive late which hold workers from Tzaneen, and escort particularly the lady’s home to their doors. Others do so in the mornings when the workers have to go to work before sunup which is when they are most vulnerable.

Induna Fred also spoke about how the women banded together and demanded the municipality repair the boreholes supplying the village, he had been trying for more than 6yrs to get the municipality to do their job, and these ladies went orderly and respectfully to the municipality and just refused to leave until they had a committment regarding repairs. They didnt burn down or cause any damage the way so many other times service delivery strikes happen, they just demanded the service, which was a real eye opener to many people. They go the job done!

He also proudly spoke about how after training with KTD196, he was taking on children’s issues seriously and had started a Junior Community Committee to hear about the children’s issues concern the community and how he as the headman could help address these issues but also to be an information conduit to the adult Community Committee, so that children’s issues were no longer ignored. Our scouts participate actively in this project and their concerns are being listened to seriously.

Another impact which I observed is that people are caring more for each other, people in the villages are volunteering their time and energies on behalf of others. From a Health Education and Health Promotion perspective this is wonderful. Volunteering was killed by the ANC government 20yrs ago by introducing stipends to volunteers, volunteering became a job, so if there was no financial incentive, people didn’t volunteer. To see the return of volunteerism to me is just wonderful. I understand that people who live below the poverty line need assistance, don’t get me wrong, but their willingness to help others for mahala (nothing) other than personal satisfaction is just incredible. Real change is being affected and you are a part of this whole thing. You need to celebrate the affect your donation is having on the lives of whole communities. Currently we work into 26different villages with different levels of impact and this is just one.

Thank you for walking this walk with us and for being a part of real change.

Blessings

Louise

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Mar 12, 2025
I am Devastated!!!!

By Louise | Managing Director

Greetings, Avuxeni! Minjane? How are you doing? Umfikile minjani, I am well!

I am gutted, I have just found out, that in one high school matriculation year, 70% of the girls are pregnant or have a child already! I am devastated, not just for the babies but also for the young mums! 70%!!!!! I can’t wrap my head around that figure.

It grieves me! Children are having children.

The babies statistically will be undernourished and underfed, they will be weakly children, constantly unwell purely because their mothers are teenagers. The mothers’ bodies will never be the same! Many teenage mothers struggle with long term health issues after giving birth at an early age.

All credit to the mothers, they have gone back to school to try and get their matric however school for this year requires attendance from 0700 to 1900 plus weekends and school holidays for extra classes (which primarily are unsupervised and no extra classes actually take place).

What we do, is so essential, we have not had a teen pregnant since 2018. We have had only 12 girls pregnant in over 22years. We are winning the battle in the Children’s Program. (See attached Document belows) Children need boundaries, we provide those boundary’s, we teach A.B.C. (Abstinance, Be Faithful, Condomize) however we actively promote throughout the whole program that being Faithful to yourself and your dreams is what is necessary to reach your dreams. The children hold on to their dreams at risk of peer pressure and being ridiculed for not having sex and not spreading HIV. The children honestly share they are abstaining.

I am so very proud of what we are achieving and the impact we are having, thank you for making it a reality. We are changing futures, destiny’s and ultimately this nation by having young healthy people engaging in positive activities that are building a new South Africa.

Blessings

Louise

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Attachments:

KTD196 2003-2025 Pregnancy Rate (DOCX)

3 Attachments

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