Lifeskills for 8 children in South Africa - Pilot

WELCOME to all our new supporters who have joined us in the last week or so! Thank you for your support, we really appreciate you and your support. Also, to those who have been supporting us since KTD196 started, WOW thank you! You are all awesome and I appreciate you very much.

Thank you to all those who have left comments and encouragement, it really does feel like I have your support and that we share a common vision. That is amazing since most of you I do not know. I know a few who have been to visit or who know me through the work we do or those from my home land, however the majority, sadly, I do not know directly.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to come KTD196 if you’re in the neighbourhood. I know Tzaneen, Limpopo even South Africa is not in most people’s neighbourhood however, miracles do happen, one day you might be planning a trip to Africa or even up north if you live in South Africa. Just factor us in! I would love to introduce you to my kids, to the Tzaneen area’s I know, to the fabulous scenery we have around here. That would be wonderful for you to see directly what your support goes to directly rather than through my eyes.

Today I want to go deeper in to the 40% stunting rate in South Africa that I spoke about in my last report. I want to share some facts and figures.

The latest statistics say that 21.7% of South Africans live in extreme poverty, not being able to pay for basic nutritional requirements; 37% of people don’t have enough money to purchase both adequate food items and non-food items so they have to sacrifice food to pay for things like transport and airtime; 53.8% of people can afford enough food and non-food items but fall under the widest definition of poverty in South Africa, surviving on under R779 or $50US per month.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2015-02-03-south-africa-where-12-million-live-in-extreme-poverty/

The current population of South Africa is 58,155,698 as of today!

38million people in South Africa live below the poverty line!! Think about that! Re-read that number!

42% of the population are children under the age of 18yrs.

That means 16million children are living in poverty today!

16million children do not get enough food or enough nourishing food!

One of the International Millennium Development Goals include: Food Security and Food Sustainability. Scouts South Africa are using the annual challenge this year to promote both. KTD196 has been working on this goal for 16years.

Keep The Dream196, to date, have trained in excess of 700 parents and over 6,000 children on sustainable permaculture practices to end stunting and to promote healthy future adults. KTD196 have trained parents on vegetable garden development; natural fertilizers such as composting, manure teas, natural pest control, cash-book skills, marketing skills and working together as teams to maximize the returns for each parent. Through this project parents who have limited resources are able to use those resources to purchase other things rather than vegetables. This process assists in making the Children’s Life skills project more sustainable as parents can contribute towards some costs for their children.

The lack of food security and nourishment particularly for the 66% of South Africans (particularly women and children) who live below the poverty line and in extreme poverty means growth stunting of children has reached 40% nationally.

However the biggest impact is in reducing stunting in children in Limpopo and you are a part of that impact. Your support has enabled us to continue with this project. Your vision and support of KTD196 is enabling us to have this sort of impact. Thank you all

Your co-worker

Louise and the Dream Team.

Because of Keep The Dream I can grow my own food. I dont have to buy vegetables anymore. That means I can spend more money on parafin for cooking and lighting my home instead of just candles. KTD196 has done such a good job for us. We are able to also sell our vegetables to our neighbours for soap, bread or what we need. I am so very happy. My tummy no longer growls at night because I was very hungry. My children and grandchildren are doing better in school. They can pay attention and learn.

I am so very happy. Thank you to everyone from KTD196 who helped us. God Bless you

Mabel Nkambacko Village.

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Welcome everyone to feedback from Keep The Dream196, I trust you are enjoying these reports and are being inspired by the work we are achieving together. Welcome especially to our new members of the KTD196 Community of Supporters, I trust you will enjoy these reports, if you have any questions please just drop me a line on keepthedream196@gmail.com

While this work is demanding and tiring, I know that we are making a huge difference. It’s like a stone thrown into a pond, the ripple effect the work we are doing is travelling throughout the communities. For example, we had done work in the past throughout the province regarding sustainable permaculture food gardens, 66% of the people (particularly women and children) live below the poverty line and in extreme poverty. Growth stunting of children has reached 40% nationally. Stunting means they are not getting the quality food intake to grow developmentally. This means that in 20yrs time these children will have probably failed at school, failed at accessing meaningful employment, failed at relationships, have a high incidence of aggression and violence towards people and probably end up in high risk relationships, jail or deceased. All because of the lack of food security and nourishment.

At KTD196 we are teaching children how to grow organic vegetables and fruit which are GMO free, with natural fertilizers and how to harvest, cook and prepare these foods to maximise nourishment. We are also working with their parents to create a culture of whole foods, food security and nourishing staples. Parents and children are talking to their peers outside of the program. They are educating their peers. It feels good that we can not only give them “a fish” but also teach them “how to fish” so that they can continue to feed themselves and their familes. The truth is, if we do not…there is no one else here to help them.

If we help one child to eat better, they then perform well at school and are able to pay attention to learn. They are receiving the nourishment their growing bodies require to develop cognitively, intellectually, emotionally and physically. KTD196 with your support is changing lives. Families overall health is improving. Chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes are improving with whole foods. This is what we are achieving together. In reality, we are helping over 2,500 families throughout the Province to eat better.

A price cannot be put on health. Your support enables us to make such a difference in people’s lives but particularly in children's lives. Thank you so much for your love, care and support. You really are making a difference in our lives. You really are having long lasting impact into children's lives. You really are saving them from a lifetime of difficultly.

Your co-worker

Louise

After attending Journey of Life training the parents of the children are asked to form Parent Committee’s to support their child's participation in cub packs and scout troops. These committees have evolved to become self help groups through the support of the Field Officers and Project Manager. Keep The Dream196 have implemented a Food Security Project aimed at small garden vegetable production. The Parent Committees (17 in total approximately 232 parents) have also agreed to developing larger community based gardens.

KTD196 have trained parents on vegetable garden development; natural fertilizers such as composting, manure teas, pest control, cash book skills, marketing skills and working together as teams to maximize the returns for each parent. Through this project parents who have limited resources are able to use those resources to purchase other things rather than vegetables. This process assists in making the Children’s Life skills project more sustainable as parents can contribute towards some costs for their children.

However the biggest impact is in reducing stunting in children in Limpopo!

"I am so happy, I now know how to feed my children properly and make sure they grow up big and strong. Not just that but I earn money selling my vegetables to my neighbours so they are feeding the children good healthy food. I grew up hungry, I dont want that for my kids. Keep The Dream has helped me stop that from happening. THANK YOU KEEP THE DREAM196." - Margaret from Thalane.

Links:

• Why not follow us on Facebook?
• Or check out our website