Education South Africa Project #37806

Nemato Change a Life

by The Mike Thomson Change a Life Trust

Summary

Nemato Change a Life focuses on the sporting and extr-mural development of school going children from the impoverished Nelson Mandela Township at Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa. In addition to sports coaching in disciplines such as swimming, rowing and gymnastics, Nemato Change a Life also provides these under privileged children with early childhood development guidance, homework assistance and a feeding scheme and in finding study and employment opportunities for school leavers.

$20,000
total goal

$0
remaining

8
donors

0
monthly donors

3
years

Challenge

South Africa is plagued by a vast disparity in income between the relatively small affluent sector, which for historical reasons is dominated by those of European descent, and the underpriviledged sector comprising the vast majority of the population most of whom are black. This latter group face enormous challenges in advancing through primary, secondary and tertiary education phases and in finding a productive place in society, often turning to crime as their only alternative.

Solution

Nemato Change a Life seeks to fill in the educational and recreational gaps that a small section of the underpriviledged kids in a particularly impoverished area face. Through assisting with feeding, homework and providing sporting facilities, Nemato Change a Life provides a nurturing environment for these children and youths who otherwise face a very bleak future. Nemato Change a Life's facilities expose the children to new opportunities through which they can realise their innnate potential.

Long-Term Impact

The long term impact of the Nemato Change a Life programme is to improve South African society in general by showing that it is possible to elevate ones self into a self sufficient, responsible and successful member of the community if given suitable guidance and appropriate facilities. This will assist in gradually changing the perception of many underpriviledged youth from seeing no future for themselves to aspiring to achieve success through their own efforts.