Give the Gift of Dignity to A South African Child

How do you choose to spend your birthday?  Would you spend it the same way if you were in your 80's?

Rosemary (known affectionately as Gogo Rose by thousands of children and young adults throughout the beautiful but impoverished area of the Valley of 1000 Hills outside Hillcrest, KZN, South Africa), chose to spend her birthday packing up uniforms, driving into a deeply rural area and helping primary children try on their new uniforms.  

What a pleasure!

Rosemary has been doing this work for over 22 years now and is supposed to have passed over the baton to her grand-daughter Caitlyn... but ... the joy of giving way outweighs the placing of orders, managing the books and packing up the uniforms and underwear in named bags for each child. 

And it way outweighs the effort of packing, carrying and delivering food parcels every month. 

Rosemary spent her birthday morning helping 25 children at uMphumela Primary School with their new uniforms.  Caitlyn provided a surprise treat for everyone in the form of cupcakes which were enjoyed with gusto after the children sang happy birthday to a deeply touched Gogo Rose.

(Food parcels are provided on a temporary measure to families with no income while our Advice Bureau paralegals assist the family in obtaining their first issue birth certificates and/or their ID documents and/or child, foster, disability or old age grants.)

The Schools Fund has been able to fund, deliver and fit uniforms and underwear in 3 schools over the last couple of weeks. Which has made for a VERY happy Rosemary and 75 children who no longer need to bow their heads in shame at not having underwear (particularly awful for the little girls in skirts) or suitable uniform. 

Caitlyn's message to you:

'We remain incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the children and families of the Valley of 1000 Hills. Every year reminds us just how great the need is within our community, and we remain committed to ensuring that vulnerable children are given the support they need to remain in school and thrive.  

Over the past year, we have continued to build relationships with the schools we serve and have witnessed first-hand the difference that practical support can make in the lives of learners. Access to school uniforms often determines whether a child is able to attend school consistently and we were reminded of this last week when one of our uniform drop off days was delayed as the learners were said to be unlikely to attend school due to not owning jerseys and it being so cold.'

Links:

• Happy Birthday Gogo Rose! From the children of uMphemela
• Uniforms at Dadedwa Primary