Food Security South Africa Project #17691

Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

by Keep The Dream196

Project Report | May 10, 2023
Synergy in Action

By Louise and the KTD196 Dream Team | Director

Derryck

Avuxeni, Minjani? Umfekile Minjane! (Greetings, how are you? I am well!)

Last week I spoke about Synergy, and I wanted to follow up with an example of the synergy I was speaking about.

Since the pandemic (Covid-19) the scout group we had in Pharare had to close down, the reason was the scouter lost her job and decided to relocate to Johannesburg. Currently, in Pharare we have two SHGs groups called Khutso and Witness.

During one of the weekly discussions the women spoke about how they would like KTD196 to open a scout group for their children. Through your support, we were able to realise this request and now we currently we have 24 scouts (11-18 years) and 14 cubs (7-11 years old) based in Pharare.

The women in the group are supporting the Field Officer who is in charge of the group and already there is potential of a second scout group to open soon.

All though we have women who are willing to support the Field Officer, your support provides the necessary staff, transport and resources to open a group and establish the group with the necessary equipment and training. The SHG’s are growing and raising capital but that is for businesses which in the end will support the Children’s Groups eventually but the start-up capital is what you supply.

You are helping to keep 24 youth and 14 younger children away from activities based on peer pressure such as gangsterism, vandalism, experimenting with sex or criminal activities. YOU are assisting these children to find their way and to realise their dreams. YOUR support is bringing hope, not just to the children but also their parents and families in general. We are changing communities.

Blessings

Louise

My name is Derryck and I was a volunteer from England that came to spend 4months with KTD196 under Tear Fund, an International Sponsoring Organization which focussed on volunteer exchange visits. During my time in Limpopo I got the chance to learn and work alongside Keep The Dream196 who are based within the Limpopo area and work with vulnerable children and orphans through the cubs and scouts movement. I staye with Catherine and her Family, Catherine was a Field Officer and worked into the Burgersdorp area.

KTD196 are changing children’s lives through different programs that are using to empower the children mentally, physically and spiritually. The villages where KTD196 works and where I lived for my time at KTD196 does not have any community leisure facilities, children can become idle and disorderly and can get involved in various unruly activities which can lead to issues such as teen pregnancy and drug/alcohol abuse, criminal activities etc. I know this first hand because I come from Uganda, I grew up in a rural area very much like Limpopo.

Sadly, we did not have a KTD196 in Uganda. As children, because of boredom, we got up to all sorts of poor behaviour. But with KTD196 in Limpopo, with their cubs and scout’s programs help keep the kids from going astray but not only do they empower the kids, KTD196 also involves the parents in every way possible in order to avoid challenging conflicts within the household.

Personally, I was most touched by the leader’s recognition event, where the adult volunteers and children were introduced to the importance of gratitude but also to give them a chance to showcase what they have learnt throughout the year and become creative in their own way. They all eagerly participated in the event and were grateful. The look on their faces really touched my heart.

Please be assured that every donation made to KTD196 is changing a child's life. I have seen it first hand, KTD196 does an excellent job, if you can visit and see for yourself that would be very good, I know Louise and her team would make you feel very welcome.

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May 24, 2023
A personal Story from Joy

By Louise and the KTD196 Dream Team | Director

Avuxeni, Minjani? Umfekile Minjane! (Greetings, I hope you are well? I am fine!)

Today I want to share briefly one child's experience.

Did you know 24% of South African's particularly those aged between 15-24yrs of age and femail carry the burden of being infected by HIV. Joy is just one of 100,000's who have been born with this life limiting disease. Sadly, discrimination and fear of being "Found Out" is still real and the repercussions can be devastating for those with HIV.

Joy had the courage to share her status, she had the courage to share with me and with Nkulu our Social Worker. It has been wonderful to watch this scared, shy child, who was under nourished and living in fear blossom as a young child should, her future is so exciting now, because of you!

This is just one child of 100's that we serve. Thank you so much for your gift.

Blessings

Louise

PS for privacy sake I will not display a photo of Joy for obvious reasons but if you would like to leave a message of encouragement for her on our website I will make sure she receives it.

My name is Joy, I am 14years old and have been in KTD196 as a scout since Feb 2021.

I want to share my story, but I asked Louise to write it for me because it is hard for me.

My mum and dad died of Aids 4years ago. I was born with HIV. I was scared that people would reject me because of being HIV positive. I didn’t tell KTD196 or anyone except my sister who goes with me to the clinic to get treatment.

I live with my older sister. We survive on the Child Support Grant R480 ($27USD) for the month.

One day Nkulu (social worker for KTD196) saw that I was not feeling well, she organized for Louise (a nurse from KTD196) to visit me. She asked me all sorts of questions and I was too afraid to tell her that I was HIV positive. I didn’t tell her the medication I was on, but later that day I sent a message to her. She realised I was positive. Instead of rejecting me like I thought she would, the next day, she came all the way to my village, and hugged me. I was so scared she would stop me from coming to Scouts. I started crying with relief.

After a big discussion about my health, Louise and Nkulu realised that I was not eating enough and the medication I was on was making me unwell. From then, KTD196 has encouraged my sister to participate in the Self Help Groups (SHG) to increase our income and start a small business. KTD196 also have been bringing us food parcels to help with eating properly.

This week I went to camp. Since receiving the food parcels, I have grown about 4inches in 6months. I have put on some weight, no one will know that I am sick now. I loved going camping and your donations sponsored me to camp and also provides the food parcels each month until my sister and I can start a small business. I am also doing better in school, I can concentrate. I do not feel sick or scared any more. I am HAPPY!

Thank you for helping me and my sister. I promise I will be a good girl and do my homework and study hard. You have made such a difference to my life. I cannot thank you enough. I think KTD196 saved my life. I think you saved my life.

Joy

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May 3, 2023
Synergy - Children's Project and SHG!

By Louise and the KTD196 Dream Team | Director

Planning and structuring success

What an exciting time it is to see how our Children’s Groups are growing and also how our Self Help Groups are growing. We are now entering a time of synergy, where we are introducing the Children’s Program to the SHG’s and requesting their children join the Children’s Program. We are also asking for volunteers from among the parents so that the program will not be dependent on KTD196. The parents are loving our Children’s Program.

We are also establishing SHG’s where we only have the Children’s Program, this way parents will be able to assist with the children’s groups, and volunteer as well. It is exciting stuff.

Last week I spoke about KTD196 recently hosting the Southern African regional manager for SHG development, but what I didn’t share was that the relationships we now have with the Traditional Leaders, due to the Children’s Program and the SHG Project, are flourishing and we are being given priority over other NGO’s working in the area.

KTD196 is being included in the Traditional Leaders monthly meetings to give report backs about our activities, successes and challenges, and the leaders are so keen to have us in their villages, they are now actively assisting us, which is a huge change. No longer are we recipients of benign indifference (because Children are not really culturally “important” and neither is an organization which works with them), rather we are actively being sort out for advice and guidance in matters related to children. Induna’s (Village Leaders) are wanting us in every village, which is stretching but exciting.

If you get a chance check out the Map I posted for Greater Tzaneen and you can see how many villages are potential targets for the program but also the expanse we currently cover is circled in blue. The pink circle is where the current SHG program is focussed. Sadly, the map is not great quality but you get the idea. Officially there are 125 villages in Greater Tzaneen but that does not include some of the informal settlements where we work.

There is still a lot of work to be done. Obviously budgeting for this increase demand was unexpected. The success and synergy of both programs working together plus the increase in engagement with the Traditional Leaders has necessitated a rethink about priorities this year. Understandably growth and development needs to be thoroughly investigated and costed however it is through GG and your support we are able to cautiously say YES!

We currently have 720 families involved in the SHG program. These women are all caring for multiple children and are becoming financially independent, this means the children will have what they need physically to grow and develop mentally, biologically, emotionally etc. Mothers will no longer be as stressed about financial issues such as where will the families next meal come from.

Currently we have approximately 50 groups in 50 different villages in Greater Tzaneen which include 1,400 children in the Children’s Program, we are still recovering our numbers slowly from Covid. Sadly, many supportive teachers and principals passed away during Covid and the Dept. of Education’s reluctance to reopen their doors to KTD196 has been problematic but with increased support from the Traditional Leaders and the parents this should change throughout the course of 2023.

We also work into 5 other districts through our partners.

If you would like to support us on a regular basis through a monthly donation please go to the link below, any amount every month makes a huge difference. If you already donate on a monthly or regular basis, thank you. Your support enables us to continue so strongly for the sake of the kids.

Blessings to you and your family

Louise

ps I have attached a YouTube video of the ladies celebrating the formation of the CLA (Cluster Level). They are singing a gospel song about Noah and the flood, no longer will they be subjected to the flood of poverty, thanks to your support.

The Future is becoming brighter through synergy

Operational Area

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