GlobalGiving.org: Build a new life for 12 orphans in South Africa

Report on Esther-Hannah House at Refilwe Community

Brian La Trobe — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:22:12 GMT

Esther-Hannah Unit
This is a foster care household, known as a God Parent Family, at Refilwe Community Project. Foster mother, Annatjie Cilliers is now living with 2 foster children, Norah and Malekgolta, in the house. She had a 3rd daughter Yonela, who reunited with her biological family in January 2010. Norah is in the process of reuniting with her biological family and Malekgotla is in her last year of school and expressed the desire to study to become a pharmacist. She will commence a career during 2011. The house will always be available for God Parent families at Refilwe.

Involvement of the Brian La Trobe (BLT) foundation and Global Giving

The BLT foundation has been involved with Refilwe for several years. After an assessment of Esther-Hannah unit the foundation decided to support the renovation of the 72m² to make it a more comfortable living environment for the family. Before the renovations the cottage consisted of 3 bedrooms, a huge bathroom, a small kitchen and a living room. The bath room were twice the size of the kitchen taking up about 15m² of the cottage. After the renovations the 72m² cottage has 3 bedrooms, a pantry/storeroom, an open plan kitchen-living area and two small bath rooms. Please see pictures below. The living conditions indeed are much improved which lead to easier working and study conditions for the family.

Please see attachment for more information.

Attachments:

Update and Pictures (PDF)

up date

Brian La Trobe — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:00:54 GMT

globalgiving sign in Tanau Jewellery display

One of our donors, SA Gems, has recently patented a new method of marketing diamonds. The company has graciously included Globalgiving into its marketing campaign, as can be seen in the first photograph of a Cape Town jeweller in South Africa. The second picture shows the little girls of Shalom House,Tshepi,Kgatliso,Naledi and Thembi inspecting the the nearly completed Ester Hannah House, where the final installation of electrical and gas equipment is being installed in the open plan kitchen/ dining and living area. My wife, Peggy, has been busy knitting winter beanie hats for the girls of Rerfilwe. THe final picture shows Peggy witrh the girls of Shalom House together with their house mother, Maureen, all wearing their new winter hats. Sis Annatjie Cillier, the new house mother of Ester Hannah house is on the right of the picture.

Inspecting the Ester Hannah House

The girls of Shalom House

Report on renovations of Esther-Hannah

Brian La Trobe — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:23:15 GMT

Our latest donor check from Globalgiving is a magfnificent record ! By far the largest amount received since the inception of the Foundation. We are deeply grateful for the generous amount of $ 2,248.07 received. This will go a long way towards the completion of a new home for abused and AIDS related child victims.

Below you'll find an excerpt from a report detailing the building reconstruction of our latest renovation, which my Foundation is funding at Refilwe. The full report is attached to this update.

"La Trobe Foundation has decided to support the God Parent Family Unit of Annatjie Cilliers and her foster children. Annatjie serves in the administration of Refilwe Community Project and has become a God Parent in February 2009. Her house is a home for teenage girls. The family calls their home: Esther-Hannah

"The renovations started on 15 January 2010 by a team of international volunteers who wanted to serve for two weeks at Refilwe Community Project. They were from various countries but all received missions training for 3 months in Davos, Swiss, before coming to South Africa for the practical part of their training. They will be working at various projects in South Africa for 3 months. The Refilwe Site Team continued with the renovations after the YWAM team had left."

Attachments:

EstherHannah_Picture__Progress_Report.pdf (PDF)

Letters from Beneficiaries

Annatjie Cilliers — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:44:18 GMT

Yonela

Dear Refilwe Partner

Below is a letter of Abel, one of the persons on our skills development program, to Claire who is the Refilwe Health and Welfare program manager. I asked his permission to send it to you.

Abel has been involved with Refilwe for 4 years. Presently he is completing our adult literacy program level 4, had completed the ACAT training (basic life skills and entrepreneurial skill training) in 2008 and this year he is doing a learnership program to become a construction machine operator. Before Abel became literate he was regarded as "dumb/stupid" by the members in his community and by some of his equals. During the literacy training we discovered he is highly intelligent and is able to converse in any of 8 languages. Abel took over the peanut business last year from Refilwe. It is now his business and with dedication he is becoming more successful. He is selling his peanut butter at R15/250g - for orders please contact him directly at 0764542082 or place an order with Hope at 0824091758.

Abel is one of the 120 adults of who are part of our ACAT and Skills building programs. He embraces all opportunities given to him, is becoming more self-reliant and is taking responsibility for his own development.

Thank you for the investment and part you / your organization is playing in the development of people who are affected by the social problems we experience in South Africa. Thank you for supporting our work at Refilwe!

Warm regards,

Annatjie Cilliers

Since the beginning of the learnership Refilwe had been supporting me and I thank you for being my manager in the Home Basic Care. Also about the business, you’ve been helpful, encouraging and thank you. I decided to be partners with Hope, soon she’ll be signing up being a share holder in Peanut Butter Africa. She’ll be Marketing Director.

Protech decided taking 4 people from the learnership and I am one of them. These people will be assessed on sight as operators. They will be assessed if they are fit enough to be on sight.

So Clare, today I’m gonna be signing a new contract, but I am willing to have a new partner to help me with Peanut Butter Africa. Clare, you always said, we should not cling or rely much on Refilwe and Refilwe was just a stepping stone or rather pushing us ahead, I agree. Please understand, I still hope for your encouragement in the business.

Abel (Peanut Butter Africa) 16.9.09

Dear Friends,

My name is Yonela and I am a 17 year old girl. I'm from Refilwe and that's been my home for the past 8 years. I was abused by someone I loved and trusted and I had to move away from home. There was no where I could go because my mother had no stable place to stay. I had to come to Refilwe because it was the only safe place for me to stay. My first few weeks were hard but then I met people like my dad (Jaco) who were ready to listen and care for me.

As time went on I saw that there was no other place that's safer than Refilwe because it's not only a home but it's the only place that you can stay in and not have to watch your back or be worried about what you going to eat. What is really special about Refilwe for me is that even though they have helped so many people they never get tired of anyone coming to say "I need help".

For this is my home - there is no other place I'd rather be, my needs are cared for and my future comes first to me and my family at Refilwe.

– Yonela

Attachments:

Abel's Letter (PDF)

Visit by jewellers from the usa

brian la trobe — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:15:37 GMT

The arrival of the group with Rusty taking a picture

This group was lead by Karin & Rusty. They came laden with welcome gifts of warm clothing, games and personal toiletries. The children were thrilled. The Refilwe choir welcomed the visitors with African songs.

To comemmorate the visit our guests planted about a thousand trees in the newly constructed nursery. They were then given a conducted tour of the earthworm farm and the novel waterless sanitation system. The latter supplies non hazardous fertilizer to the adjacent fruit orchard.

The donated games are an added attraction to the children's library from where they may be "borrowed" then later returned for use by other groups. A new and valuable additional asset to the library service which is enjoyed by all.

Our us visitors tree planting

The bags of gifts from a group of very generous people

Christmas at refilwe

brian la trobe — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:20:42 GMT

Maureen & Jaco help open presents

On Christmas morning some pictures were taken of the children in the Refilwe house, sponsored by Globalgiving and the US Jewellers Association in the Chicago area. The House Mother, Maureen, and the Refilwe CEO, Jaco, help the childeren open their presents. Thank you to all the Globalgiving donors who made this possible. The happy faces of the children says it all. Thank you.

Maureen witrh her Happy family

Christmas at Refilwe

Brian La Trobe — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:09:13 GMT

Christmas at Refilwe

On Christmas day presents from Globalgiving were handed to the children. The pictures show our 4 little orphans with their toys. The House Mother, Maureen and Jaco the CEO of Refilwe are seen with the children Other presents included balloons coloring in books and crayons. The children and Maureen wish to thank GG and all its donors who gave so much during 2008.

Christmas at Refilwe

A Visit to Refile

Brian La Trobe — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:45:21 GMT

Missy and Mike Young and family

We were very happy to have some visitors from the USA at Refilwe. Chris La Trobe and his partner Gundula Moldenhawer came from Chicago to view the almost completed Global Giving House. The first picture is of the Missy & Mike Young, Refilwe visitors who hail from Washington DC, USA. The house Mother and Father Maureen and Harry are pictured with Chris and Gundula with the first young orphaned children to live in the house (second picture). The last picture is of the children in their new bedroom.

Thanks for your generous support and enjoy the photos!

Chris LaTrobe, Harry, Maureen, Gundula

The 3 orphans and Maureen’ daughter in their new bedroom

Refilwe Project

Brian La Trobe — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:20:50 GMT

Maureen,Harry and children

This project approaches completion. The housemother, Maureen, has been appointed. The rooms have been furnished and the first of the children have arrived in the chalet. Refilwe is deeply grateful to all the donors, to date. We still have to reach our funding target.

visitors from WHT-DC to refilweMissy,mike &family

Main bedroom in the chalet

"Rehab" of the first chalet for 6 Orphans

Brian La Trobe — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:24:49 GMT

This renovation has begun. THe delay has been unfortunate but unavoidable. The builders are on site and the new House Mother will be appointed by the end of May. By July we will be purchasing the final furnishings just prior to being ready for the new little family. We still require about $4500.00 to complete this first phase. Progress photos will follow shortly.

refilwe progress report

brian latrobe — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:25:29 GMT

On a recent visit to the USA met globalgiving staff in WHT-DC and Dana at the Tech awards dinner. Visited Chicago for an SA gems fund raising event. SA Gems have donated a $10,000 diamond pendant to be auctioned to raise Globalgiving funds John Hecklinger from GG attended the function. SA Gems has about another $3000.00 coming to Refilwe.

Refilwe. Create a home for 12 orphans

brian la Trobe — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:38:33 GMT

US jewellers assoc with SA gems & Brian Latrobe

SA Gems recently brought a group of US Association Jewellers to South Africa. Part of the trip was a visit to Refilwe to inspect the first project namely the restrooms and laundry with the unique solar powered hot water system.

Some of the group had the opportunity to see the start of the renovation program and to meet the new house mother with 2 of her young charges and James who is incharge of reconstruction

house mother , Gloria with kgatliso & Jacob

Cathy& John Hayes with James Kilene

A home for 12 orphans at Relilwe

brian latrobe — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:14:50 GMT

Photo-- Residents of the House Genesis

We require donations to renovate 2 houses for 12 orphans from abused homes or who are victims of HIV/ AIDS deaths of parents.

The project named "The God parents project", aims to provide a home environment for 6 children per house with a house mother in charge of the group. They live together in a separate house as opposed to the institutional living of the usual orphanage. They cook their own food under the guidance of the house mother. The family controls their own monthly budget. They are encouraged to grow their own vegetables in an allotted area of a communal garden provided and to care for the domestic animals and chickens of the Refilwe farming projects

Progress pictures are provided below and additional photos are in the photo gallery.

Photo-- House mother working in garden

Photo-- Family from St Michaels