Lifeskills 2,743 vulnerable children South Africa

Avuxeni, Minjhani? Ni pfukile, minjani!

Avuxeni, Minjhani? Ni pfukile, minjani!

If you could see our office right now, you’d see stacks of financial files on one side, piles of camping gear on the other, and a whiteboard covered in strategy maps in the middle. June is officially here, and we are running at full speed.

I wanted to give you a quick, casual look at exactly what your support is putting into motion over the next few weeks. It breaks down into two massive buckets: Big Picture Strategy and On-The-Ground Action.

Part 1: The Big Picture Stuff (Strategy & Paperwork)

Before the kids arrive for camp, we are focusing heavily on the structural backbone of our work.

• The Road to a Federation: This is huge. Our Cluster Level Associations (CLAs)—the leadership groups formed by our local women's Self-Help Groups—are meeting this month to map out a strategy to form their very first Federation. It’s like watching a small grassroots seed grow into a massive, self-sustaining subdistrict based tree. They are taking the reins of their own economic futures, and it’s incredible to witness.
• The Annual General Meeting (AGM): Yes, it’s audit season! We were initially delayed because our auditors became ill however, we are currently finalising our Annual Financial Statements ahead of our upcoming Board AGM. It’s a lot of paperwork, but keeping our finances airtight and transparent is how we ensure your donations do the absolute most good.

Part 2: The On-The-Ground Action (Winter Camp! June 29 – July 11)

The winter school holidays are about to hit, which means our team is prepping for a massive, two-week, non-stop camp season. Here’s a quick glance at the whiteboard schedule:

• Spider Camps (The Voice of the Child): This isn't just about roasting marshmallows. Our Spider Camps are where our young people get to be the bosses. They use this space to monitor, evaluate, and openly critique the child rights advocacy work happening in their villages. It’s real-time feedback straight from the kids, ensuring their voices guide our work.
• Youth Leadership: We’ve got Cub Camp for the little ones, Badge Camps for practical skills, and our Patrol Leaders Training Course (PLTC) to teach teenagers how to lead their peers.
• Adult Training: We can't forget our incredible volunteers! We’re running an Adult Skills Course and a Scout Warrant Course to make sure our adult leaders have the tools and safety training they need to mentor these kids effectively.
• The Water Challenge: We are also tackling a massive national challenge by running Water Awareness Training for everyone at camp, focusing on water safety, hygiene, and conservation.

The Reality Check

Pulling off a multi-week camp for hundreds of kids and adults—while simultaneously finalising a financial audit and launching a community federation—takes a village. It takes transport, wood for fires, warm blankets, nutritious meals, and heaps of training materials. Thank God for the Dream Team, I am so immensely proud of the work we do. 

If you’ve been thinking about stepping up your support, this is the month to do it. Dropping a little extra into our project page right now directly helps us cover the skyrocketing logistics of camp season and keeps these kids warm, fed, and learning, (Sadly I could not have predicted the increase in prices due to the Homuz Straight issues).

We can't wait to share the photos and stories with you once the camp dust settles. Thank you for making all of this wild, beautiful momentum possible!

Cheers,

Louise

Links:

• Why not visit our website you are welcome to leave a message!
• Facebook is a great way to keep up to date with what we are upto
• Come and explore our YOU TUBE Channel!