Food Security South Africa Project #17691

Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

by Keep The Dream196

Project Report | Dec 14, 2018
It was the week before Christmas

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Xirkandziwa

Welcome to our new members of the KTD196 community!

Your response to our cause has been phenomenal; I am grateful and very excited about the coming year because of the lives that will be transformed because of your faithful partnership and generous support.

Unlike other projects I want to develop this reporting process into something more personal and more engaging. I want you to know that you matter to me, to Keep The Dream196, and to the children. Some of you have actually been to see our project; I would love to hear from you and some of your takeaways from that experience. Your feedback not only encourages me, the staff and volunteers, it actually inspires the children. If you can imagine how blown away they are to learn that people from outside their immediate family and community actually care about them and their ability to keep their dreams.

I spoke 3 months ago of receiving a phone call to say my mother was dying in Australia and was given 3days to live. Now I would like to give follow up and share what is happening. My mother is getting stronger every day. She is now in a nursing home recovering from her ordeal. I have felt torn inside because of leaving my family in South Africa to return to be the daughter my parents needed. KTD196 has continued on and powered through the last quarter of the year under the leadership of Elizabeth Mabuza (co-founder) and Program Manager. We have been in contact daily and I have continued to work this side, the internet is a wonderful tool and so KTD196 has not skipped a beat, in fact I think it has proved the succession planning we have put in place is effective and correct.

On the 17th December 2018 I start the long journey home, with a heavy heart to leave behind my frail mum, not knowing if I will see her again and also my dad who will be left to support his wife virtually on his own. On the other side, I have my life, my work, my kids.

I am very grateful to Elizabeth and the Board who have covered me during this difficult time however I am so looking forward to getting back in to routine and implementing the new plans that we have for 2019.

In 2019, we will be starting with two new programs. Firstly, the new program for children aged between 11-18yrs. We piloted this program in 2018, all the bugs have been ironed out and so its full steam ahead in Jan 2019. The children are so excited because the new program enables our children to achieve more badges (recognition of new skills and knowledge). This is the outward display of the child’s achievements however it is the heart changes that we are looking for. The way the child starts to have faith in their abilities to achieve, to overcome, to encourage others, to choose wisely, to be part of the solution not part of the problem facing South Africa. An active citizen who cares!! This is the impact we are having.

The second program is for children aged 5-7yrs. For years we have had to watch these little ones stand outside as their older brothers and sisters have had lots of fun, games and learning. Well now we have a program that will include them, so this is so exciting for us and for them.

The early we are able to work with children the less time we spend undoing the results of poor choices, this also means that we start developing relationships with their parents and train them in parenting skills, so it becomes a win-win situation. 2019 is going to be a brilliant year, due to your support! None of this would be possible without funding, with ongoing support. You are making a difference in the lives of so many children, I wish you could all come and see for yourselves.

As 2018 closes, I just want to once again say thank you for your support throughout this year and for some of you who have been supporting us since April 2012 when we first started with Global Giving. I pray you and your family have a safe, peaceful and relaxing Christmas Season.

My name is Xirkandziwa, I am 13yrs old from Shiluvane Village.

Before joining KTD196s children's project I was always doing wrong things that I shouldnt do. I used to lie, steal and get into fights with other people. I regularly used to beat other people and vandalize other people’s property. Behaving bad was my everyday life. I got along with wrong people who even made me join their gang of doing wrong things. My family has always tried to make me a better person but with friends around I wasn’t a better person.

Since being in the program for 3years I am a good and respectable child to my family and the community. This program has changed me to be a good child. It has helped me with things and taught me many good things. Thank you to everyone who brought such wonderful people in the world from Keep The Dream196 now I am a better person in the present and will be in the future.

In the future I would like to be person who considers other people my brother and sister. A person who lives a good life without fighting with anyone and who love others.

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Dec 10, 2018
Why quitting is not an option!!!!!

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Hlulani

This is WHY the work that we do is important NOW!

Right NOW, locally (and nationally) we see young people who are "disenfranchised angry youth” – We see crime on the increase, we see violent clashes between communities and police, we see the push for land appropriation without compensation, we see corruption, apathy and indifference at the highest levels.

The work that we must do NOW will train the next generation to work together to achieve outcomes which are honest and fair for all. We work to empower the youth to make informed, wise decisions about their lives and their futures, too look past their current needs and to see the bigger picture of South Africa and how they can contribute.

The work that we must do NOW is preventing generations of suffering children and families condemned to making consistently poor devastating choices with extreme life choices.

Unless we step in NOW, we will be spending in excessive R133,000 per year to incarcerate one person in Correctional Services. Over 99% of prisoners in jail are HIV infected due to poor choices this adds a further tax burden on South Africans of R1,000 per year for ARVs alone never mind the extra illness's that go with being in confined spaces like Tuberculosis. To treat one Multi Drug Resistant TB patient costs in excess of R200,000 per year often for 5yrs.

The places we serve will continue to have poor education outcomes which in turn mean increased poverty for body, soul and spirit. With this cycle continuing there will be increased high risk behaviours such as unprotected sex leading to unwanted pregnancies, increased spread of HIV and Substance Abuse. With these issues come increased chronic illnesses; increased involvement in crime including organized crime, suicide and death. There will be a reduction of contributions to the Tax base if we fail to act NOW for the sake of the leaders of the future.

As South Africans we have knowledge of these issues NOW! This is not just a South African issue, many African nations and infact 3rd World Nations have similar problems however KTD196 has the solution.

Make no mistake; these children are the leaders of the future however it is up to us NOW as to where they are going to lead us. Spiralling down in greater chaos, anarchy and destruction or spiralling upwards to greater destiny as a nation, and healing of the many social woes.

The opportunity for change is NOW! This is why we will never QUIT! Quitting is not an option!

Below is a testimony I have used before however I asked Hlulani to update the information so you can see the impact.

My name is Hlulani,

I grew up in a dysfunctional environment where life was shaped by the behaviour of the community, and some may call it peer-pressure. I was born in 1994/11/06 in a family whereby my father was the only bread winner, this had an impact on my growth. As I grew up I had to go to school with people who had enough at their homes. I watched them tease me because I never even had pocket money. I went to school not enjoying because I was forced. When I reached grade 5 I went to initiation school and this was a turning point for me. My life became a mess, I became something I don’t even believe I was now. When I went to grade 6, both my parent had to go and work at Johannesburg to supplement the needs of the family. They left me at home with my neighbour to look after me, I then dropped out of school.

I unleashed my so called “pseudo manhood”, I thought I had it all under control and knew what I was doing. Pity I had no idea I was only fantasising which fantasies would never have had flourished, I became naughty. I got involved with crime, drugs and sex. I did not listen to people who tried advising or putting some sense into me because I thought I was a man. I repeated grade 6 where I was always fighting and when interrogated about the fights I had no sugar-way of talking to adults I was always rude.

When I went to grade 7 I met people who were almost thinking the same way I did, we influenced each other, wherein a class a teacher could only reach the two-front row. We enjoyed that because that’s what we wanted, we did not want to be in the spotlight with teachers. By this time I was also involved with an organisation called Sizanani which worked together with Keep the Dream 196. Keep the Dream196 focused on changing the lives of teenager to the right path using the scout laws, motto, and promise which also enshrine in them words from the bible. They enforced behaviour change but a lot of us did not take them serious because we thought we were man and to old to be playing games.

June 2009, Sizanani selected a few learners to attend a scout camp at westfalia, I was one of them with my other two friends. When we arrived at the camp we continually thought it was just for fun and did not take it serious. We continued to play at the camp and they noticed us, they separated us and created competitions. Those competitions ensured that we brought our A-game, we all wanted to win and it came to my attention that it was not about competitions but to ensure that we conform to the group, we respect other members, learn to share and to work with others.

My eyes opened, I saw a future in the scouts, I learnt to live by the laws, motto and scout promise. It impacted my life in a positive way, because they enforced that scouts are not failures, instead they smile and whistle under all difficulties and persist to achieve. I took advantage of Keep the Dream196’s vision and mission and it worked for me, I started advancing on my English, communication, writing and academics. From that point I never failed a grade with guidance provided to me by Keep the dream 196.

Keep the Dream196 monitored my progress, they realised that education provided at schools was never enough for one’s life, it needs supplements from other skills thus, they offered me some skills like teaching or training. Keep the Dream196 restored my life, they continually empowered me in a way that I said to myself that failure will never be an option. Through the leadership position I occupied my focus shifted from fake ideologies I had, to school and scouts only. It shaped what I wanted to be, I decided I wanted to be a teacher or a social worker which had to do with changing teenagers minds.

Currently I have enrolled at Wits University as a third-year social work student because of Keep the Dream196. I have been surprised at how much KTD196 has helped me through my studies. Everything I learnt as a Scout I am being taught now the theory. They were very clever how they implemented the program. It is all very good social work theory. I didnt know how it all fit together. Now I see. I am excelling in my studies because I have had practical exposure to the work before. I can also do the practical work easily because KTD196 has taught me well.

I am well motivated and I still live by the scout laws, promise and motto, distance may take away my duties as a scout but I will always be part of Keep the Dream196’s program.

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Dec 3, 2018
Thank you - #GivingTuesday report back!

By Louise Batty | Managing Director

Gracias, Obrigado, Arigato, Grazas, Thanks, Qujan, Paldies, Danki, Mesi, Tak, Koszi, Grazie, Tak, Vielen Dank, Ederim, Tesekkur, Na Gode, Merci, Multemusc, Muchus Gracias, Go Raibh Maith Agat, Mersi, Danke Schon, Baie Danke, Nkomu, Siyabonga!

Welcome to our new partners who have supported us through the #GivingTuesday before and after! Welcome to the KTD196 Community of supporters!

WOW what a great start to the giving season.

I want to give you feedback about how well Keep The Dream196 performed.

We were ranked number 40 out of over 4,800 competing organizations for this year’s #GivingTuesday appeal in terms of performance, that is amazing! We usually around #200.

Through yours and others response we have raised $6,9870 which includes $875 as bonus from GlobalGiving on one day. Our target for #GivingTuesday was $7,000 so well done.

This is the start of the giving season and we have an overall target of $70,000 we are now a heck of a lot further because of your support. So far in October and November we have raised a total of $10,309 in total and we are well on way to reach our total.

I am very grateful for your support.

What this means in reality is we are able to plan and implement services to more orphaned and vulnerable children aged 5-7yrs in the areas where we function. We need to be wise so we will target areas and numbers of children where we know we can sustain services regardless as to if we reach our Giving Season target.

As you can imagine, this is so exciting for us. Currently we have had to limit the involvement of the younger children because of their age, now we will have a proper program to give them so they will feel a part of KTD196 and have a good foundation for the future.

By supporting us with your year end gift you are setting us up for January!

We are SUPER EXCITED to be able to expand and to grow our program. I am looking forward to the work we are going to be able to do, the children we are going to impact in 2019 through your ongoing support.

The lives of the children we shape and the communities we touch are so important and we are so excited that you are going to be a part of this impact. We also have had a donor increase their committment to us for the purpose of working with the parents/caregivers of the children. During this training we teach gaurdians about identifying risk factors for their children and how to prevent their children from going down the wrong road. This is a powerful training that has wonderful impact for restoring hope to families.

I just wanted to keep you up to date with what is happening and what we are planning.

Dont forget to take advantage of your year end gift and also your tax deduction.

If you would like any further information just let me know or if you have any comments please contact me on keepthedream196@gmail.com I have included below a link to a TV program called EARNED where KTD196 was profiled for its experience and expertise. This program was produced to assist new organizations to start up or people just thinking about how to start. In it you will meet my staff, see the environment in which we work and be introduced to a number of our kids. I hope you enjoy. Please send me back feedback via this project report at the bottom.

Your partner in serving orphaned and vulnerable children of Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Thank you

Louise

This is an anonymous comment sent as feedback via GlobalGiving at the bottom of the previous report, from one of the many people supporting us who has actually visited us.

"Your operations in KTD196 have been going for many years and you have all managed to extend your reach but keep your standards in all the areas you work in....an amazing achievement and a huge gift to all you influence. it is humbling to see your work."

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