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!
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