What we do

These are some of our current projects: (click on each for details)

• Caring for Crèches

• Kids R Special

• Outreach in Soweto

• Funding a Crèche

• Research into "Why"

Protecting vulnerable children

In 2006 we started visiting and then working with Childline on training for people working in crèches; in doing this I came across a very poor area in northern Limpopo where, as usual, there is little employment no running water, no toilets, rutted roads and extreme poverty. What makes this slightly different is the amount of adults who go away to work leaving their children alone for hours on end.  In this area alone 25% of children go to primary school [aged 6 yrs] with sever malnourishment and a further 4% have foetal alcohol syndrome – therefore in this one primary school alone 29% were cognitively impaired by the time they started school. This is abuse of another kind. The primary school also identified that about 30% of their children were regularly beaten and/or forced to have sex.

We determined to work with Childline to set up a crèche for those aged 2yrs to 5 yrs and see what difference could be made.

We have since funded over 100 places so far and got the local community involved.

Lesley admires the new jungle gym that we funded

We have:

• paid for the training of all the volunteer staff
• funded the stipends of the teacher/carers and the cook
• funded books, tables and, latterly, a jungle gym [climbing frame].

The first cohort of children moved to primary school last December and already the school has said this first group of 25 children are more healthy, more robust, have less sickness, are more attentive, are more able to do simple writing and sums, have less behaviour problems and are less smelly [less neglected].

The crèche, through Childline, picks up and deals with issues of malnutrition, illness, emotional abuse [and in 2 cases serious sexual abuse], worms, neglect and beatings. Gradually the local people are getting involved and we are hoping for piped water to the crèche soon, some toilets and more training for the staff.  There is room, and clamour, for taking a further 50+ small children.

Liz discussing lunch with the cook

Recently we met the Head Teacher of the local primary school and he is brimming with enthusiasm for the project - he thinks these children will now have a different and much more positive life; he talks about some going on to university where this would have been previously unthinkable. In addition he is waiting for a vacancy to arise as he wants to employ one or two of the women at the crèche – this provides encouragement, opportunities and economic possibilities for other local women.

This is such a successful and positive project.  We need more funds to do more like this