Food Security South Africa Project #17691

Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

by Keep The Dream196

Project Report | Aug 30, 2018
Making a Difference now and into the future!

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Dear All,

I just want to say thank you for your interest, your support, your engagement with Keep The Dream196. I hope and trust that you feel like you are part of the team. We literally could not do this work without you. You may not believe me, but I am telling you the truth. Your support means we can keep going when large funders reject our proposals or when their focus and strategies change. This has happened throughout the last 10yrs. We have lost excellent funders because of their institutional changes and its because of your support we can keep going.

So, THANK YOU! Thank you for having the same vision as KTD196. Thank you for seeing the value of the work we are doing and partnering with us. People ask me how can $10/month make a difference? Well, it does. If every one of our past donors gave $10/month we would have in excess of $2870 that equals R28,000 that is a good amount to keep us going for a month. $20/month will keep 5 kids in the program for one month. Currently we have over 2,000 children (we have close to 2,500 unfortunately we cannot get our monthly reports from a group of teachers who have just started with us, so rather than exaggerate I will say 2,000).

We are making a huge difference in the lives of our kids and our communities for the future. We are building tomorrow today. You and Keep The Dream196 are making a huge difference. Dont ever think you are just a donation to us. We would love you to get involved, I would love to receive feedback about our program, website, facebook posts etc. Your opinion matters.

Bless you all, please give feedback, I would hate to be a nuisance.

Louise

Hey guys. My name is Kopano, I'm 19 years old. I started with Keep The Dream196 in 2008 when I originally come from Mokgwathi Village- Limpopo.

Before I started, I wasn't a friendly person. I would always want to do things on my own and not share anything with anyone. I was an aggressive child and loved violence. I had friends who didn't care about school work and I had difficulties completing my own work because I wanted to fit in.

When I joined the Children’s Program, I was taught the scout laws and they changed my life completely although it wasn't easy at first. I now base my life on scout laws. I always thrive to complete my school work on time and I always work hard because I enjoy receiving excellent marks.

I am also proud to tell you that I am the most caring person ever. I care about people's well-being and I hate violence. I've drifted apart with my old friends because I've realized that they don't have the same love I have for education and that it might lead me to compromise my values and principles.

Unfortunately the program stopped operating in 2009, because of lack of funding, so I couldn't go on with it. It was sad for me. In 2012 I moved to North West Province. I had to settle in and adapt with the new environment, school, teachers and friends. It was difficult at first but I managed to get through that stage and I got a chance to meet friends with the same vision as mine (ambitious and caring people).

In 2015, my love for the Children’s Program pushed me to make an effort with trying to find scouts near me. I texted Louise Batty on Facebook and asked her to find me scouts that where near to where I stayed and she did that.

I am and forever will be grateful to her for that. She gave me contacts of the North West District Commissioner. I called him and explained my situation and he arranged for me to meet with one of the Troop Scouters and I joined their group. Unfortunately I was 17 years by then so I couldn't be a scout but a Rover and I also became an "Akela". Unfortunately, it wasn't for long because I had a lot of school work to complete. Now I am planning to attend cub training which allows me to work with young people aged 7-10yrs. I have already attended one so far.

Once I have finished studying professional nursing degree in just over a year, I will be free to complete my scouting training and take up my role as Akela properly. I am so excited. Thank you for reading my story, so far!

Kopano

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Aug 21, 2018
Moving Forward

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all well, winter seems to be in its final death throws, autumn and spring to be here simultaneously.

We all need help at different time’s right? Well, I know I do! I know I have needed help and that is why I have a mentor named Jennifer Yarbourgh, she has been patiently showing me how to improve KTD196, our impact, our reach, our program, the board, our finances etc.

It has been a wonderful comfort to me that Jennifer has come alongside and seen the gaps in the organization and together we are developing a plan to address those gaps. Did you know 98% of people give because of IMPACT!

Can I ask why do you give, or have given to KTD196? What has drawn you to us? What has kept you with us? What would you need to start supporting us again?

At the bottom of this email you can give us a rating but also leave a personal comment, please comment, let me know why? How can I improve my relations with you, our partners and supporters?

I am asking because some of you have been with us almost since the beginning of our time on Global Giving, others have come on board more recently. I want to know what keeps you here. What makes you so loyal? How can I meet your needs more effectively (If I can?) I want you opinion!

We also have a new website and a new look. What do you think? http://www.keepthedream196.com Can you please subscribe to the email list on the website and tell me what you think, it is in process and we are still working on it but I would really appreciate the input.

Thank you so much, I want you to feel like you are part of KTD196, getting your input is really important and very much valued.

Take care and God bless

Louise

My name is Neo, I am 17yrs old and I come from Mogapeng Village. Before joining KTD196 program I used to lie always, I did not like other people. I was selfish and I hated everyone. I hated my Dad because he left me with my Mom and went to live with another wife and they got married and they did not invite me and my little brothers, so I never wanted to see him ever again in my life and because of this, I dropped from school, like my performance went down. I thought people were calling me a fool and I always wanted to be alone and I never wanted friends, so my life was just a mess.

After joining KTD196 program I managed to love other people, I made good friends and did not hesitate to speak with my friends about my problems. I even managed to forgive my father for what he did and my school performance was so good. It changed from low to high. As I speak even this year I’m doing grade 11 doing science. I managed to get 100% with mathematics because the KTD196 program developed me and encouraged me to study very hard and even when I tell people I failed grade 5 they don't believe me because I’m always passing with distinctions.

All thanks to KTD196 program, I love nature and everything. When I grow up I want to become a scientist and what I want to become most is an actuarial scientist.

Neo

Links:

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Aug 13, 2018
Did you miss me?

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Well, did you miss me?

Or did you not even notice I was gone?

How often do people notice when you are not there?

This last week I had to go to Johannesburg for training and my time became premium, in that I didnt have an opportunity to write a project report.

Did you miss me? Why am I repeating myself?

Well, it got me thinking, what would happen if Keep The Dream196 was no longer around?

We would have, statistically speaking 1,797 more children in South Africa. The government would be spending R177million more rand on child support grants alone. 1,797 more girls would struggle with completing their matriculation and going on to find work or further study. Which means potentially 1,797 families would be dependent on the Child Support Grant alone. Not contributing to the tax base, not working towards the development of South Africa but taking from her resources.

Without Keep The Dream196 we would not see young people develop and grow with their eyes on supporting their families and communities to develop. We would still have a 62% matriculation pass rate and not the 90% we currently experience in the program. Crime, well 70% of all children under the age of 18yrs are victims and/or perpetrators of crime. We have had one child in over 12,000 in 15yrs go through the courts. Not 70%.

I wonder if KTD196 was not here, if those crimes would have touched your family, your neighbourhood, your community? Its and interesting thought, if we were not here! Its only through your ongoing support we are able to do the work we do. Its only through your regular monthly donation we are able to have the impact we are having. Thank you for standing with us and making a difference in the lives of the children we serve.

Gratefully

Louise

My name is Katlego from Mhangweni village and I am doing grade 12. I’ve been in scouts for years. I joined scouts just for fun because when I joined scouts I was 12 years old and I liked the games they were playing but then there was a lot to learn.

Before I joined Keep The Dream106, I was a naughty boy who disrespected his parents and siblings. I never listened to what they used to tell me or instructed me to do because of that I was feeling as if I was older than them. My parents tried to call family meetings and church pastor for me but then failed them. The reason I did all such things was that I wanted to please my friends.

I had no respect for the environment and how to take care of it. At school I used to disobey my teachers and also didn’t do my school work and I hated people with not reason, I had no respect anyone. I violated people’s rights.

After I've been part of Keep The Dream196 there were so many changes in my life. Keep The Dream19 taught me how to take care of the environment; how to respect people and even scout law no5 states that “a scout is courteous”. I now know how to obey my parents and school teachers. The first time they introduced the laws to me I couldn’t follow them because they were difficult to me.

I had this positive thought that I have to do my best to follow them and I had patience while doing so. Now I am a transformed person, I know what is right and what is wrong; I treat everyone equal because a scout is a friend to all and brother to every other scout. I remember the Keep The Dream196 took me to training called PLTU, there is no way in which I can depart from this program because there are so many good things they teach. Grow big Keep The Dream196, I love you and your team!

Katlego

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