Greetings from sunny and stormy Limpopo!
I love hearing from people who have supported us, especially when questions are asked because I am sure others have the same question but just haven't gotten around to asking. This is as much my community as it is yours! This is where you get to ask questions and find out details that perhaps are not in the project information. This is where you and I build trust and relationships whereby you can rest assured in the work we are doing, the impact we are achieving the quality and cost-effectiveness of the services we are providing.
Having said that, you can leave a message for me simply by rating and completing the reports you receive below at the end of this letter. I will try to be as responsive as possible. Or, you can email me at director@keepthedream196.com I hope to hear from you soon!
I want to thank you for your support of Keep The Dream196. In that time, together, we reached over 16,000 orphaned and vulnerable children in dire need of various forms of help. Help, that because of your support, we have been able to give.
Our Children are not just finding their dreams but achieving them! Many of our children go on to University or College and are successful graduates because of the foundations we are able to lay in their lives. Dreams such as becoming a doctor, lawyer, mechanic, nurse, physio, child psychologist, plumber, or teacher to name a few postgraduates we have. Major achievements in the light of their peers who often fall pregnant before they are 18yrs of age (13%); or involved in teenage crime (70%); suicide (12.7%) to name a few activities that children outside of the project succumb to in the villages.
We have been able to reduce the teenage pregnancy rate to 0.07% or 12 girls in 20yrs with over 9,000 girls in the program. That is astonishing. We have helped these girls choose their dreams over immediate pleasure and to work hard to achieve their life’s goals. It is so exciting.
To break it down for your R2.19 RSA or $0.18c USD or $0.22c AUD supports one child per day in our program.
R67 per month is $4.40USD or $6.70 AUD. This is phenomenal I am sure you agree
We are able to achieve this by utilizing our funds efficiently and effectively because of the committed staff providing a smart, well-put-together professional program that brings the desired behavior change to enable these once impoverished, hopeless, failing students to become what they desire, not what their peers and friends are doing but what will ensure their success. All of this because of you! All of this is because of your support! It’s that simple.
Thank you just does not convey the look on these kids faces of joy at the weekly meetings we have with them. I wish you could see them for yourselves.
The following is a story about one of our original girls, but I have updated the story to 2023 now for those who recognise Nozi from previous posts.
Many Blessings
Louise
My name is Nosiswe and I am 32yrs of age. I was raised by my grandparents while my mother was in Gauteng for work. A lot could have gone wrong. I could have done a lot of partying, could have been disrespectful towards my elders, neglect my school work, and consequently ruined my future.
I had so much freedom to do whatever I wanted to do. I mean my grandparents were old, they didn't have the energy to watch my every move but thankfully Keep The Dream196 introduced the scout's program to help me be a better person and make the best choices.
As a scout, there were laws that I had to live by, scout laws, and I just couldn't afford to misrepresent scouts. Laws such as a scout obeying orders; a scout honor is to be trusted impacted my life greatly. I did everything and followed every instruction given to me by my elders because I knew that they wouldn't mislead me or lead me astray in any way.
By being obedient to them I was upholding a scout law. My grandparents and everyone else trusted me and I did my best to ensure that I didn't lose their trust because that was very important to me as scout law #1 stated that a scout’s honor is to be trusted. In all honesty, it was more about scouts than about me. It actually felt like I was doing it for them, like it was never really about me but I was wrong.
Keep The Dream196 shaped my future because through their scout's program. I was able to pass my matric and pursue the career of my dreams. I was able to make informed decisions about my life. The camps I attended taught me to be independent which has also helped me a lot because when I got to university, being away from home, can be really tough sometimes. The temptation to be a part of the crowd and join in the parties and drinking was intense.
I'm now a Bachelor of Laws graduate because of Keep The Dream196. I was headhunted to join the Department of Justice where I have worked for the last few years. It is true that you reap what you sow, some of my peers found the scout's program boring but if they knew the benefits I'm certain they would have joined too. I know they too had dreamed of careers that could have been turned into a reality if they worked on them. Getting the right advice from the right people can be very helpful because if you have sufficient and accurate information you're able to make informed choices.
Some of my peers never finished high school education, some did but obtained lower grades which resulted in them not pursuing the careers they have always wanted to pursue and some just settled for so much less. I consider myself lucky and I'm grateful to have been a beneficiary of Keep The Dream196.
I remain engaged with KTD196, I am proud to say I am the Provincial Rover (18-30yrs age group) Program Co-ordinator for Limpopo. I mentor other young adults coming up behind me. I love what I do, you gave me this chance!
Thank you for supporting us!
Nosiswe
Links:
Avuxeni, Minjani? Umfekile minjani! (Greetings, how are you? I am well!)
Welcome to 2023! Whew, we made it! And it's all started again!
What an exciting GivingTuesday, December period, and January we had through your support on GlobalGiving! We have a whole lot of new supporters as well as the return of a number of old hands. Welcome all to 2023 and to Keep The Dream196.
I received a number of really REALLY encouraging notes from people who donated which I have placed below. Sometimes when you are in battle, up to your eyeballs, you can lose sight of the horizon and the future. It was a great encouragement to hear other people's stories and the impact of the support they have received in the past and continued to pass on today because the value they place on the support received.
You are such an integral part of our success, seeing young lives changed through care, support and skills is so exciting. Have you ever seen a child faced with a difficult task and then suddenly SEE the light bulb literally go on in their face? The Ah Ha! Moment. I love it, I see it through this program, and we see the success and the determination in their faces. It’s exhilarating.
Through your support, we reached last year's target of raising $70,000USD. You have enabled us to be secure and make confident financial decisions regarding our work, which is ENORMOUS. THANK YOU!
This means we can continue with all our programs in 2023 and expand them. YOU MADE THAT HAPPEN.
Thank you for being such a huge part of our success you really are integral to the work we do. Every cent is valued and used to its utmost effectiveness. If anyone would like our last year's Annual Financial Statements, you are welcome to request them at director@keepthedream196.com
Over the next few weeks, for the new supporters, I will share more information about who we are and what we are achieving.
Many Blessings to all and I pray that 2023 will be a year of consolidation, and expansion for each one of you as well as KTD196.
Louise
Links:
As we reach the end of 2022, I would like to thank you for being such an integral part of KEEP THE DREAM196! Without your support throughout 2022, we would not have reached the children we did; we would not have had the impact we had, and we would not see the children growing and developing into leaders of the future.
Your support did all that!
2023 will bring us all 365 days of new opportunities to change the world, to impact our nation, to see our towns become all they were destined to be, and for our families to come together in unity, peace, and joyfulness. We all get to start a new season, fresh and clean, no matter what has happened in 2022.
I just want to encourage you, YOU were born, for NOW, it is no mistake that you are alive at this point in time in the nation where you are! We all have 365 days of opportunity to realize that destiny. It may not take a major decision like mine, to move nations and to start a nonprofit organization, it may be in the fine details of your life that your destiny unfolds, but make no mistake, you were born for such a time as this. You have fresh opportunities to make a difference where you are planted. I know you have made a difference in my life and in the lives of the children we serve.
Blessings to you and your family
Louise
As so much of the world winds down for the Christmas holidays, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done for the children. You have been essential to the services and activities we have been able to provide for the children. Your donations have made a direct impact on the lives of our children. Thank you!
I trust and pray that you and your family enjoy the break and have the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful impact you have made in the lives of so many children in Greater Tzaneen. Celebrate life, especially after 2 really hard years of fear and uncertainty.
GOD Bless you!
Louise
Links:
Thank you for making such a difference in the lives of not just the children we serve but also their parents! Through your support, we have created 28 Self Help Groups, with approximately 20 ladies in each group. So that is 560 Families, who are the poorest of the poor, are now able to feed their families properly, no longer once a day, no longer carbohydrate-loaded foods, but nutritious, healthy food which will build healthy bodies.
We held a celebration day on the 9th of December, they dressed up in their finest traditional clothes and the day was wonderful. They were all so proud of having saved up and attended this Christmas Party, their first one ever. Trophies were handed out to the best groups according to their book-writing skills, and the monies that were saved. This spurred all the groups to perform even better in 2023.
The groups that were formed in 2021 were seen as the big sisters by the new 22 groups of 2022 and of course the ones to beat in 2023. This competitiveness will assist all the groups to perform and excel in the years to come.
I wish you could have seen the joy on their faces and experienced the excitement of the day. The ladies all contributed money to buy lunch, Kentucky Fried Chicken, this is a huge thing. In South Africa, KFC is the chicken of choice, these ladies had never had the money to afford to even try KFC. I know, it would not be my choice, but trying KFC is something they aspired to and for the first time, they were able to afford two pieces with the usual Pap (maize corn porridge with the consistency of mashed potatoes). It truly was a celebration of note.
Your support has made this happen.
Over 70% of the ladies now have Income Generating businesses, which are growing. They are becoming more and more independent financially, it is wonderful to observe the confidence and pride they have now.
Next year, we have a target of 25 more groups which will mean another 500 families will be influenced by this project. It is truly wonderful.
THANK YOU AGAIN for making such a big difference
Blessings to you and your family
Louise
Links:
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