By Louise Batty | Managing Director
Welcome to all our new supporters to the KTD196 Community of Supporters! Thank you for choosing us as your sponsored program, I trust you will enjoy the updates that I send out and that you will be even more encouraged to support KTD196.
Firstly, congratulations to those of you who supported KTD196 through Project Appeal I sent out to specific people. We were able to raise $4,000US plus a bonus $2,000US which is a wonderful achievement. Thank you so much to those who supported us.
Secondly, we together, have reached a real milestone. In 7yrs, since joining Global Giving, we have now touched 1,000 different people's lives with our program. 1,000 people have engaged with KTD196 and decided to support the work we are doing. Thank you so much. This is so awesome, I am touched and excited about the future because of your support, encouragement and ongoing interest.
It is only through your support we can achieve the outstanding success that we are having. I love seeing the smiles on the faces of the children we serve when we arrive. I love seeing their dedication and commitment despite their difficult backgrounds. Coming to the program gives them the respite desperately needed from often serious home situations such as: caring for a sick or dying parent; caring for younger brother and sisters and abuse at home for example.
KTD196, is a light in their often dark week, whereby they get to be children and forget what they have to contend with at home and to have fun, be children and work together as teams making their communities just that little bit brighter.
Last week I went to Fobeni Village and was met by 14kids who formed part of the executive committee for this group. I was there with our International Donor Kindernothilfe, following up on Journey of Life Training we do with their parents. When I asked how many of the children's parents had attended this training 4 put up their hands. When asked what changes they had seen at home all 4 children stated their parents were no longer shouting at them, hitting them, calling them names or swearing at them. Their parents were talking to them in a positive manner, asking about their day at school or their sleep overnight, something these kids had never experienced.
What made me so sad was I then asked the remaining 10children how many of their parents hit them, 4 responded positively. How many of their parents swore at them and called them names, 9 responded positively. How many parents shouted at them, all but one child put up his hand.
The work we are doing together is changing lives, families and communities but there is still so much work to be done. To run a Journey of Life Training costs $496US. For this sum we will change 20 families and impact generations to come. Breaking the cycle of abuse is very difficult however because of our program, we are achieving this for the now generation and the generations to come.
You are enabling this to happen. Your support is creating loving environments for children to be nurtured and cared for and to pass these parenting skills on to the next generation.
Thank you so much to you all,
Louise
My name is Vusi and I am 15yrs old from Fobeni Village. I have been with Keep The Dream196 now for nearly 4years. I am so grateful for their support. I have changed so much from being a difficult child to my mother and to the community to being some one who people want to be around and want to be my friend.
In the beginning I was always in trouble, I was a theif, I was failing at school, my home life was not good. My father used to beat me, my mother would just scream at me all the time. When ever there was a problem I was always to blame, even if it wasnt me. I was always the one. So KTD196 helped me realise that I started being naughty because it didnt matter, I was always blamed any way.
They helped me see that if I change my behaviour other people would change towards me. I tried my best. By then my dad had left the home to go to JHB to work. My mum started to see the difference but still always called me names and blamed me. Then one day she went to training with Keep The Dream196. It was a Journey of Life training. That night she was different. That night I could see she was really trying to be nice to me.
Since then she has stopped swearing at me, calling me names, shouting at me. She even tells my dad off when he comes home and starts being cruel to me. It has made such a difference. I enjoy going home after school now. I dont stay out late a night getting in to trouble any more. The community are also suprised at the change. I am doing well in school now. I have a bright future because of KTD196.
I am now seen positively in the community. I work hard in Scouts. I work hard in school. I have a lot of work I have to make up but I will. I will succeed in life. Those things people said about me are not true! I know I am a good person. I know I will get some where in this life.
Thank you for supporting me Keep The Dream196. Thank you to everyone who supports KTD196.
Vusi
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By Louise Batty | Managing Director
By Louise Batty | Managing Director
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