Education South Africa Project #15130

Lifeskills for 8 children in South Africa - Pilot

A microproject by Keep The Dream196

Lifeskills for 8 children in South Africa - Pilot

Project Report | Apr 29, 2026
Finally, the COLOUR RUN has happened!

By Louise | Managing Director

Oh the fun!

Avuxeni, Minjhani? Ni pfukile, minjani!

What a relief it is to finally see the sun! Now that the weather is clearing up, our villages are becoming accessible again. While the repairs haven’t quite started yet, we can at least see the potholes and dangers now that they aren't hidden under floodwaters.

After having to postpone our Annual Colour Run three times—and seeing the disappointment on the kids' faces in January and February—we finally did it! This April, even with threatening clouds overhead, the vibrant colors finally flew.

Empowerment Through Play

We didn’t just run; we spent the morning diving deep into Children’s Rights and Child Participation. It was inspiring to see children and adults alike sharing their knowledge and expanding their understanding of what it means to be a "duty bearer" in a child’s life.

We had originally planned for 100 children, but the love for this program is so big that over 190 kids showed up! That is the kind of passion that keeps us going at KTD196.

Sheer, Unbridled Joy

The effort these families make is incredible. Kids and caregivers from all over the district started walking at dawn to be at the venue by 07:00 AM. While registration for nearly 200 children takes some time, our amazing Rovers kept the energy high with games, dancing, and mini dance-off competitions!

Why This Matters

To put this into perspective: for many of these children, there is very little to look forward to on the weekends. When we had to cancel previously due to the floods, the kids actually told us: "We don't care about the rain—we are going to be there, and KTD196 had better be there too!" That level of commitment from the youth is exactly why we do what we do. Even after the worst floods we’ve seen in over 20 years, the spirit of these children remains unshakeable. They didn't just want a run; they wanted to be together, to be seen, and to celebrate.

Can you leave a message for our kids? After surviving the floods and waiting months for their big day, our children showed such incredible resilience. We would love to read them some messages of support from our global family! Please leave a comment or a word of encouragement below—I’ll be sure to share your "virtual high-fives" with the kids at our next meeting.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your support ensures that even when the rain falls, the "colour" in these children’s lives doesn't fade!

Just clean fun!!

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Apr 22, 2026
The Rise of the Federation!

By Louise | Managing Director

SHG Group I love the hope in her eyes!

Avuxeni, Minjhani? Ni pfukile, minjani!

Man, it feels like I blinked and we are a third of the way through the year!!

There have been so many moving parts so far, trying to keep all the plates in the air is a real challenge.

Nkulu is back from Zambia having been there on a fact-finding mission trying to understand the nature of a Federation from the people’s perspective and organizational perspective. The Federation creates a collective voice that gives these families political, and economic bargaining power. This new adventure we are embarking on later in the year is a scary behemoth that doesn’t seem to have a head or a tail but continues on for life.

What is exciting is that in forming a Federation, KTD196 will be able to leverage the Peoples Movement we are creating to realise our third goal, that of advocacy and real, tangible change for 1,000’s of families. It is transitioning from “helping” families to families changing the system themselves. We are achieving our goals as KTD196. Over the next few months are about laying the groundwork for this advocacy movement.

While the recent floods were devastating, the resilience of our Self-Help Groups (SHGs) was truly remarkable. Because of the community support and financial safety nets built into the SHG model, members were able to literally weather the storms and bounce back with only a fraction of loss of income that non-members experienced.

Just to remind you, our vision and mission is as follows:

Keep The Dream 196’s Vision

Keep The Dream196’s vision is to create a world where children, women and families have the resilience, and have access to the knowledge, skills and support they need to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Keep The Dream 196’s Mission

Our mission is to use a rights-based approach to holistically empower children, women and families by providing life skills training, and self-employment opportunities to break the cycle of poverty, dependency, and by empowering individuals to become active contributors to their own prosperity and to the well-being of society.

I am so grateful for your support, you have meant the difference between success and the closing of KTD196. I am not trying to solicit more funds; I am telling you the truth. Your support through GlobalGiving has been able to support us through very VERY lean times, especially the last 6yrs. Although we have grown as an organization, most projects have funding for salaries, but it is all the extra’s that we struggle to meet, such as camps, visits to the groups, organizational and institutional costs. Your donations aren't just going into a pot; they are paying for the petrol to get to these remote villages for the adults and children’s groups, they are providing the maintenance and repairs for the tents for the next youth camp. That’s where you have made a huge difference. Thank you is such a pathetic expression of all that I feel towards you and your choice to support us.

If our vision for a resilient South Africa resonates with you, please share this report with one friend, a personal recommendation always goes further than an anonymous referral. Visibility on GlobalGivings platform is our lifeblood, and your voice helps us reach our Vision.

Thank you and God Bless you!

Louise

The 3 Pillars of KTD196

Zambia's version of SHG!

Federation

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Apr 15, 2026
Child Protection and Participation update!

By Louise | Managing Director

Avuxeni, Minjhani? Ni pfukile, minjani!

I trust you are well and that you are enjoying life. Today I want to share about what we are doing to address issues identified during our CRSA (Children's Rights Situational Analysis) from 2022, after a risk assessment we performed we identified that the lack of child participation directly related to the lack of child protection experienced by the children. From there, over last 3yrs we have been working particularly at addressing the issues the children identified from their lived experiences. I hope you enjoy the update.

Empowering Voices: Strengthening Child Protection and Participation

At the heart of our mission lies a dual commitment: ensuring every child is protected and ensuring every child is heard. This year has marked a significant leap forward in how we turn these principles into practice.

Professional Excellence & Policy Review

To ensure our safeguarding standards remain world-class, we recently hosted a Child Protection Expert from KNH Eswatini. This visit wasn't just a routine audit; it was an intensive review of our internal policies and procedures. By aligning our frameworks with international best practices, we ensure that our foundation for safety is as robust as possible.

Building a Culture of Listening

We believe child protection is a community-wide responsibility. Our approach goes beyond the "academic" to engage stakeholders at every level of society:

The Community: We use high-energy events like our annual Color Run and six district-wide events to keep child welfare at the forefront of public consciousness.
The Home: We work directly with parents to bridge cultural gaps, empowering them to listen to their children in ways that may challenge traditional norms.
The School: Through Learners Representative Councils, we equip teachers and student leaders to foster safer educational environments.
Traditional Leadership: We engage Indunas (traditional leaders) through junior community meetings, ensuring that child participation is respected within the local governance structure.

Closing the Gap: The "Listening Ears" Initiative

While our internal Child Protection Committee continues to manage formal reports and ensure no case "slips through the cracks," we recognized a need for a more accessible entry point for children.

Born from a suggestion by our senior scouts during our Strategic Planning session, we are thrilled to launch the "Listening Ears" program.

The Concept: Each scout group identifies one boy and one girl—chosen by their peers—to serve as "Listening Ears."

These young leaders are trained in active listening, communication, and confidentiality. They serve as a vital bridge for scouts who may feel intimidated by approaching an adult leader. By providing a peer-to-peer pathway, we ensure that concerns are captured early in a space where children feel most comfortable.

To support these young advocates, we provide continuous mentorship to ensure they are never overwhelmed and that every concern is funnelled to the appropriate supportive channels.

Thank you for your continued support as we move from policy to peer-led protection!

We could not achieve this without your continued support. Thank you for being a part of the solution for 1,500 kids we directly serve and the over 3,500 families we indirectly serve.

Blessings

Louise

Creating levels of support for younger children!

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