Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

Avuxeni, Minjani, Umfekile Minjane!

I am so excited, currently at the end of May 2024 we have 68groups; 1,205 families being supported out of poverty, out of food insecurity, fear and hopelessness and out of destitution and vulnerability. This is having a positive effect on the Lifeskills Project for the Children as they are eating better, their self-esteem is improving, they are studying more effectively, they are looking healthier, they are more active in their communities and with the work with the schools and Induna’s we are seeing a general improvement overall.

The ladies are all the poorest of the poor, they save between R5-10 a week, they then borrow the money available at 10% interest which is added to the kitty for the following week. They use the   money initially to bring food security and to get out from underneath the macheroni’s or money lenders. The ladies no longer have to go begging for money for school fees, school clothes, food etc. they are the solution to their own problems.

As part of the process for SHGA, the ladies form a Cluster Level Association (CLA) of 7-8Self Help Groups. The CLA has seven functions:

1. Strengthening current SHG’s

1. Forming new SHG’s
2. Meeting the communities needs either material or services
3. Addressing social problems
4. Participation in governance and advocacy
5. Raising funds for the Administration needs
6. CLA reports to the Federation (3rd level of SHG formation) and KTD196.

This executive arm takes community based issues identified by the SHG’s to the various stakeholders to ensure that the concerns are addressed. To date they have managed to have 6 Boreholes in Burgersdorp repaired which have been non-functioning for between 5 and 20yrs. There were no service delivery strikes, no burning of tires, no disruption to the communities, the ladies presented their demands to the Mopani Municipality and followed up consistently until within 3months, all the boreholes were repaired.

The ladies have joined with the local South African Police Service and initiated 3 Community Policing Forums to assist with crime prevention as well as protecting the children regarding the recent spates of abduction we experienced. Praise God, no more abductions in our area.

The ladies are also joining different leadership committees within their communities such as the local School Governing Boards for the primary and high schools. Plus, they are actively taking on leadership roles in Ward Committees and Village Community Meetings. The ladies are being pro-active and bringing profound change to their villages through their advocacy roles.

It is so exciting to see these ladies, the poorest of the poor, with zero self-confidence, or self-esteem, not only change their own circumstances but those of others in their communities as well. The ladies are taking on huge challenges and are proving to be a force to be reckoned with! They are challenging the sexual and racial boundaries of the prevailing culture, they are showing the leaders of their communities not to underestimate their abilities and determination. They are no longer being dismissed as irrelevant or weak.

SHG is changing lives, families and now communities, all through your support! These ladies are becoming leaders in their communities, they are becoming entrepreneurs, they are becoming community leaders, they are making their mark utilizing the skills they have been given through the various training modules.

We have had 18ladies volunteer in the children’s program which is bringing volunteerism back to the communities, we are training more later this year. They in turn are making the children’s program more sustainable by taking ownership with the children of the project. It is so exciting!

Thank you for your vision and your determination to support the work we do! The children and ladies are just as determined to maximise this opportunity you have given them!

God Bless YOU!

Louise

Links:

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

Avuxeni, Minjani, Um Fekile Minjane!

I hope you are well and enjoying all that life presents to you! So often we are presented with situations in life than can build us, or have the potential to break us. We have the choice how we respond to difficulties, if what comes to us is going to be a stumbling block or a stepping stone into our futures.

I have learnt that whatever it is that comes at us, inevitably neutral but our responses to the different issues will determine how toxic, or helpful, it is in our lives. Let me explain!

As you can imagine, leading an organization filled with different people, from different people groups, with different personalities, from various backgrounds, in a foreign land can be fraught with many challenges. When things go well, harmony is created. When there are issues, regardless as to the source ie personalities, differing priorities, funding constraints etc. It is easy to fall back into patterns of behaviour which are not necessarily productive.

It can be easy to identify the problem as a person and not to deal with the core issues. With KTD196 staff and the work we do with the children, we are all challenged to work on the problem and to use the situation, whatever it may be, as an opportunity for growth, for personal change, for learning.

That is why I love our children’s program!

Despite all the work we do, so often, we cannot change their lived experience immediately ie the poverty, the racism, the abuse, the structural inequalities they are subjected, but we can help them see these issues as stepping stones for them to move forward and not be defined by them but rather use these situations to look at what they have achieved despite where they come from, despite what they have lived with, despite all the negativity associated with their experiences and to use this to propel themselves further in their lives.

Don’t get me wrong, we as KTD196, with your help, are working on changing the levels of poverty, racism, and abuse experienced, it is all a process and often generational changes need to be made for lasting impact however teaching kids to be overcomers, to be victorious and not victims is so important. Yes, our kids earn badges for different skills developed but the soft skills like self-worth, self-esteem, self-confidence are so important and THAT we go to work on immediately a child comes to our children’s program.

The children’s program is such a source of hope! We use it as a vehicle to gain access to the families of the children. From there, we use the Self Help Groups as a vehicle to gain broader access to the communities. We are changing attitudes of helplessness and despair to hope and joy about the future. You are a part of our success, your support enables this to happen. You have read the stories about our youth and our parents and how such a simple investment in them as people has had such a dramatic effect on their circumstances. It is so thrilling to watch and see.

The kids often challenge me! When I go through personal issues, it is easy to fall back into old patterns of behaviour and become overwhelmed by circumstances. But then I stop and look to one of my many hero’s, Sharmaine, Nkoka, Harry, Karabo, Nozizwe, Hlulani or Ronny and realise how they have overcome huge personal issues and become the amazing people they are today and I am inspired to dig deeper, and once again make a decision to use the present issue as a stepping stone to move forward. Attitude is so important; they help me to thrive in an often inhospitable place.

To hear their stories please go to the link below.

So I will ask again, how are you enjoying all that life presents to you!

Blessings Louise

Links:

• Voice of the Child!
• Why not go to our website, you are welcome to leave a message!
• Facebook is a great way to keep up to date!