Food Security South Africa Project #17691

Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

by Keep The Dream196

Project Report | Jul 23, 2018
Mandela Day versus Volunteerism

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Dear partners and friends of Keep The Dream196,

I trust you are all well and keen to read the next missive from the coal face!!!

Mandela Day - I must be the only person in South Africa who despises Mandela Day! Dont get me wrong, I love the man and what he stood for but I hate what has happened to volunteerism and the idea that volunteering for 67minutes once a year is enough makes me want to throw up!

Volunteering is a heart issue, its having the internal desire to make the world a little bit better by giving of your time, energy, resources to make things a little easier for someone else. What it has become in this country, for a majority of officials, is a photo opportunity. A chance to put on special protective clothing to look like they are going to do a hard days work when in fact they pick up a paint brush for 10seconds for the photographer and then run away after eating a special meal. All of this so that they can "I Contributed" to Mandela day. The other 364 days of the year, they do nothing. The money spent for them to have their photo taken and put in the local newspaper could have been spent on bringing about real change.

I am so frustrated by these token events. Thats why I love what I do. The first 4years I worked on this program as a volunteer and loved it. Then we had to convert to a registered Non Profit Organization and volunteering had to take a back foot. But I still volunteer. As do the kids we serve, every day, every month they make a real difference, helping to build society by acts of kindness from a heart of generosity. That is real voluteerism.

Ok now that I have finished my rant regarding Mandela Day. I just want to celebrate our volunteers. We have literally had 100's come through the program. Some have stayed for 15yrs others have stayed for quite a number of years and others just a few months. We have had international volunteers from the UK, Germany, America, Australia but also from Free State, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. We also have had 100's of people volunteer to make a difference in their communities with the children we serve. Its humbling to think in a society where everyone is chasing the money, that some still have their eye on the bigger prize, that of building social cohension and social partnerships.

Thank you to all our current volunteers, you are awesome. Thank you to those who have volunteered in the past. I started volunteering when I was 6yrs old. My dad and I would go around raising money for a famine in Biafra (I wont tell you what year!). I felt even at 6 I could make a difference for people I didnt know and that I was doing something to help others. That spirit has remained with me to this day. I encourage the beneficiaries of KTD196 children's program to do the same, and they do! Not because they have to but because they want to! God bless you all, we couldnt do this without you!

Because of you all of this is possible.

Thankyou

Louise

My name is Asanda I am 16yrs old and I come from Mhangweni village. Before joining KTD196 program that runs scouts. I used to be a very lonely person. I can tell I was the shyest of the all. I used to tell myself that my shyness was caused by the fact that I was the only kid at home, the fact that I was used to spending most of my time with no sister or brother. I found it very very hard to make friends. I didn’t like spending time with people and enjoyed my own company. I found it very hard to interact with other kids and honestly I was lonely. After joining KTD196 program I found sisters and brother most importantly I found true friends. People whom will forever have a special place in my heart for I know they are true friends. I now enjoy spending time with other people and enjoy their company. I totally lost the shyness I had before. I am no longer lonely for I have a family (Keep The Dream196). KTD196 did not only help me in making fiends but also helped me realise the kind of career I am so keep to pursue. The first aid lessons made me realise that I love, like enjoy and good in this stuff. That why I want to persue a career in medicine and be a “General Surgeon” or “Theatre Specialist”. KTD196 is the best.

Asanda

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Jul 17, 2018
Whhhhheeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww Camp is finished!

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Prince

Well, we survived! Almost!!!

The kids have all returned home safely and well and so have we although its tough getting out of bed to do all the necessary tidying, washing, packing, repacking, storing etc etc which is inevitable with camping.

The kids had an absolute ball, thank you to everyone for your support and interest in the proceedings. For those who are not aware I have posted interviews with the kids as well as some of the fun on our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/keepthedream196/

Go and have a look at the antics, despite the weather it was an problem free camp which was enjoyed by all. Please like our page and rate us while your at it, this will help our visibility.

The kids have learnt a myriad of skills from the basic scouts knots through to project planning and management. Its so exciting to see their excitement.

When I am so focussed on camp I often forget some of the circumstances these kids come from. They just look like regular kids, without any problems or without any stress, just kids having fun. Then, when I sit and I ask them to talk to me so I can write their stories it is literally quite overwhelming some of the pain these kids have grown up with. Loosing parents, loosing other important family members, the pain of being hungry in this day age is obscene in a land that has so much.

I want to share Prince's story, he has been with us a long time, he has had more than a few struggles which he didnt want to share, these are some of the stories he was willing to share. I pray he touches your heart the way he touches mine. Some times it is not easy walking a road with some of these kids because of the pain they have suffered and the anger they exhibit but I wouldnt want to be anywhere else.

Thank you for your willingness to support us/me to do this work

Louise

Prince is who I am, but the thing is who I am and what kind of a person I am? Well, all I can say is that I am not as I used to be, my life has changed I won’t say that I am a good person or a bad person. I am 27yrs of age from Ramotshinyadi village. I grew up living with my aunt because my mum passed away when I was 13ys in 2004.

Living with my aunt was not that cool. It was challenging since mum had 4children, aunty had 4 children so aunty was now a single parent of 8 children. It meant that a lot of things were not easy or available; we had to sacrifice a lot. Aunty only had a salary that barely covered food costs. I only got one t-shirt per year or one pair of shoes for a year. Some time I didn’t feel loved, but aunty had 8 of us to care for.

In 2005 I started scouts when I was 14yrs, before I was a scout, I didn’t like sharing, I wanted my own way all the time, I was rude. I didn’t need friends, I was alone. If something was wrong I had to try and fix all my problems but I couldn’t so I just waited for a bigger problem to come along to focus on.

But what I know is that I have realised and understand that we are not the same colour, gender and even in culture. I finally understood what a free will is. When I it comes to giving what you have, to those who don't have it was not simple because I couldn’t share I only had one thing. Now I understand that you can’t live alone and that giving and sharing helps us to get to the end point, you need help from others.

I understand that the thoughts and views will also not be the same at all the times and I now know the meaning of the saying that says “Mistakes are for people to do”! When we encounter a challenge everyone has their own thoughts and views, I understand I have to relax and first listen to what people are saying, discuss the situation and how we will handle the situation. It’s much better to respect other people’s thoughts so that they will respect yours.

Even saying sorry, the value of sorry is beyond my understanding, saying sorry doesn’t mean you are a fool but you understand the fact that you made a mistake and you ready to learn from it and move on. Anyway it’s a mistake if you fall from it but it’s a lesson if you learn from it.

I have also learned that no one should face challenges alone because someone is always there to help. Just reach out and you will see.

This is what who and how I am and its all because of Keep The Dream196 before KTD196 I was exactly the opposite of everything I said.

I lost my parents, shouted at my friends and even lost the. But Scouts gave me new parents, Rosemary, Catherine, Angy, Constance, Elizabeth and Louise. It also gave new friends at this I now consider them as brothers and sisters. Kheto, Remember, Sevvy, Nkululeko, Sunnyboy and others, the list is so long I cant remember them all.

Once I became a scout I started to experience changes.

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Jul 9, 2018
It can be a cold world out there!

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

The Future

Dear Friends and Family of Keep The Dream196

I am so gutted. One of our kids, well he's over 23yrs of age but he's still my kid. His partner tried to commit suicide. This girl did not go to our Children's program.

10% of all natural deaths amongst children is suicide. Praise God I don't have to go a funeral. It started me thinking about the needs out in the communities where we work and it highlights the need for this program.

The power of resilience. Its a cold world out there at times particularly for youth who have to navigate the transition from child, teenager to young adult. Its really REALLY tough if you dont have the support of your family or if you dont have family at all.

My boy, who I will call Fred, is an orphan and was brought up by his aunt who also had to adopt him and his 3 other siblings as well as her own 4children. KTD196 was his life support, through our program we were able to keep him on the straight and narrow.

However, his girlfriend did not have the advantage of being a part of Keep The Dream196, she wasnt able to participate and gain the advantages that Fred had. The things Fred had to overcome have built a foundation of strength in him to continue to overcome and provide support. Also having caring and loving adults in his life from KTD196 contributed to Fred success.

It is really sad that people are so desperate to be released from pain or to no longer be a "burden" on others as to prefer to take their lives. The impact it has on those left behind can be devastating. Please, if you are feeling overwhelmed by life, dont just suffer in silence but reach out for help. There are professionals who can help, even a friend who is willing to walk a journey with you. Dont keep it all in. There are people who can help.

Be that special someone for some one else, we all need support at different times in our lives.

Anyway, I just wanted to share what is happening in our world. I pray you have the resources available to help you or those you love from travelling down this very dark road.

Thinking of you all and thank you for enabling us to be here for others

Louise

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