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 | Sep 18, 2024
Hope, the source of real change!

By Louise and the Dream Team | Director

Nkhensani - a new team member!

Avuxeni, Minjane, Umfekile minjane!

Greetings and welcome to another report from Keep The Dream196.

Yesterday I was asked the question, “What exactly does KTD196 do?”

This person new what activities we implemented, but she wanted to know what exactly was the impact, in a few words. This got me thinking! We do so much, we impact so many, but in a nutshell what do we actually achieve.

I think the biggest thing is, we bring hope! We show people a different way. A different way to think, to believe, to be, we bring hope in the ordinary. What do I mean? Everyday life is such a challenge for many people in this country. From not having enough food, to not having a sense of purpose, a sense that things could change and for the better. Relationships could improve, particularly between parents and children. The people we work with don’t have to settle for just same old same old.

I think the programs we bring to the communities primarily brings opportunity for change. Hope for a better life.

When we first started KTD196, Elizabeth and I held a focus group for kids, to hear what they wanted if we started “something”, I still remember after almost 20yrs the answers. They wanted new experiences, new information, meet new people, have a bigger world view than their village and to have fun. We have fulfilled that. They wanted hope to have a bigger, broader future than what they were presented with at village level.

Fast forward to 2024 and we are bringing financial hope to families who have a survivalist mentality and now we are watching have hope and plan for their futures, without having to just survive from day to day.

I want to introduce you to one of our new team members Nkhensani, who has become a Community Facilitator and who loves the kids program so much she has volunteered (not a common activity in South Africa because of the survivalist mentality). I want her to share in her words her experiences.

I hope you enjoy and understand that your gift brings HOPE in such a tangible way that individual lives are being positively changed, families are being changed, and finally we are influencing communities. That is the power of your gift.

Blessings

Louise

My name is Nkhensani. I live in a village called Burgersdorp. Burgersdorp is a village in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is located 32 km south east of Tzaneen on the R36 road to Lydenburg.

I got involved with Keep The Dream196 (KTD196) in 2023 when someone from my village introduced me to a Self Help Group (SHG) program, offered by KTD196. I joined the Self Help Group in my village and started saving money with my fellow group members.

During that period the SHG Community Facilitator told us that there will be a Journey of Life training in our village near where I live. I decided to join the three days training. The training was very informative and interesting, it made me more interested in what KTD196 had to offer. I found out that the organization offers even more trainings. I decided to join one of their annual trainings at camp. I found out that KTD196 teaches kids life skills through a program called Scouts. My dream had always been to become a teacher but due to lack of financial means, I was not able to get a teacher’s qualification. Through KTD196’s various trainings, I have learned and acquired different valuable skills that enables me to work with parents and their kids – which is a dream come true for me – I now teach through KTD196’s Scouts program.

Through KTD196’s Self Help Group Program, I have learned that R10.00 can make a big difference when you save every week with other like-minded women. The loan process through SHG is affordable and the interest rate of 10% is much cheaper and better than that of loan sharks!

Through KTD196, I have attended various valuable courses such as Introduction to Adult Learning (IAL) training, Tutor Course, Skills Course, Warrant Course and Patrol Leader Training Course (PLTC), to name a few.

What I personally like about KTD196 is the principle of Learning by Doing. They help participants practice during the training. I was able to apply the knowledge and skills that I learned immediately at the training, which helped me a lot to be able to run the Self Help Groups and the Scouts Groups that I started in my village.

I am now one of the Community Facilitators at KTD196 and I feel blessed to serve the children and women in my community through this fantastic organization. Thank you for your donations, it has not only transformed my life but the lives of my children, the women and children in my community. I am grateful.

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Sep 10, 2024
The power of Journey of Life Training!

By Louise and the Dream Team | Director

Training makes the difference!

Each week I share good news stories about the work we do, this week is no different.

One of the activities we run is Journey of Life, a parent training for adults in the Self Help Groups who have children in Scouts. Last week, Elizabeth went to her Scout Troop and one of her children who was aged 13yrs, a young boy, came racing up to Elizabeth, hugged her, and thanked her profusely for the training his mum had attended that week!

The change was so dramatic; the boy was ecstatic! The boy, who doesn’t want to be named because all of the kids read the blogs on our website, so he doesn’t want to expose himself or his mum to any backlash, but he wanted his story to be told.

The boy said that his mum had been smiling since Tuesday last week. He had never seen her smile in his 13yrs, she was always so serious and so angry/sad. He said his mum came home after the first day of training and actually asked him about his day and sat and talked to him. He was shocked. He wasn’t sure what he should do? He said he felt very nervous about this sudden change. This was new territory for him, he hadn’t ever seen his mum smile or ask him about his day.

After the second day, it happened again, he wasn’t quite sure if he should trust the changes.

Then the third day of training was over, and his mum came home and started asking his opinion on different issues at home. The third day of training is about Child Participation, Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. So his mum came home afterwards having been trained and understanding that kids need to start expressing their opinions in the home and be heard in order to prepare them for decision making as adults.

The boy was gobsmacked. He had never been asked simple questions regarding what food to eat, what decisions he would like to be a part of regarding the home. The boy was amazed at the changes he was seeing in his mum.

It is now a week later, things at home are continuing to improve, mum is asking the boy his opinion on various topics, and actually seeking his input, the boy is becoming more confident and feels listened to. The mum is smiling, they are joking and having fun at home where as before everything was so serious and the boy never knew what was going to happen, as his mum never communicated with him in any other way than to give orders.

This is the power of the Journey of Life Training. You are supporting this training. You are making this difference.

Thank you from a 13yr old boy and his mum. You have changed his life and his future and that of his mum’s.

The photo is about how parenting can be the blind leading the blind, but with training the blindfolds come off, they are no longer in the dark without the skills required to parent effectively and deliberately.

Blessings

Louise

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Sep 4, 2024
Introducing Thabo, our newest staff member!

By Louise and the Dream Team | Director

Thabo

Thank you so much for being such a valuable part of the team. You are just as important as the staff because without you, there would be no staff, there would be no activities, there would be no outcomes. You make this all worthwhile because we are able to make a huge difference in the lives of the people we serve.

For example, Thabo has been with us for 15yrs, growing, learning, changing, and becoming an integral part of our team as a volunteer over the last 18months and more recently as a staff member. Thabo is a humble young man, who is proud of who he is, I know that sounds like an oxymoron however, he is confident, self-assured and has found a home with us. This Saturday past, the 31^st August I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel for Thabo, he had completed all the work required to receive a BP (Baden Powell) Award and a Rover Cord, both awards for a lot of hard work.

Please read Thabo’s story and know that he is where he is today because of your support.

Blessings

Louise

My name is Thabo, and I come from Gavaza Village a small village in Greater Tzaneen sub-district. I live my grandparents because I am an orphan. My parents passed away when I was around 4yrs of age. I have no brothers or sisters.

Before I joined Scouts I loved playing cricket, I was a bit naughty, I used to bully other children, I would steal other people’s property from my home, I was an angry child but I was a quiet child.

I joined scouts in 2009 when you I was 14yrs old. Mum Catty (Catherine) started the group, I started straight away as a Troop Leader. I joined because I loved the different activities such as: camping, hiking, playing different games, skills such as first aid, pioneering and other scouting skills.

I am still in scouting now as a development officer, I work with KTD196 as they implement the project in my area. KTD196 has built me, it has shown me how to choose the good things in life and not the bad. The Promise and Law have guided me as a young adult.

With Keep The Dream196 I have learnt computer skills, communication, how to work with adults, how to plan effectively for my area, how to monitor and evaluate my plans. It has made me very happy, to the fullest to be a part of KTD196 and Scouts. KTD196 has become my new family. I have been apart of this organization since I was 14yrs old, I feel and know the love and caring.

The future for me, the children I work with can see the role model I am and work towards being like me. My dream was to serve my country as a soldier, but I love KTD196, it is my home.

Thabo at Scouts

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