Help Educate 22 Children in Zandspruit, S.Africa

Dear Thandanani Supporter

We receive a portion of our funding by means of a grant from the state which covers about 45% of our costs, with the balance being raised by fundraising. However, this year the government decided to overhaul the grant mechanism and made a hash of it in the process. Instead of receiving the money in early April as is the norm, we were still without funding by end-May, leaving our reserves at their lowest level ever, in fact we wouldn’t have survived the month of June. (We weren’t unique in this regard, with some facilities having to close their doors.) We were then blessed to have received 2 large personal donations which carried us through the month.

At about the same time a group of concerned Children’s Homes decided to get together and force the government’s hand (through the courts) with respect to the outstanding payments and won their challenge, resulting in the first tranche of payments being made shortly thereafter, so we have a bit of stability in our lives again, albeit we’re not completely out of the woods yet.

The children are all doing well and enjoying their mid-year winter holidays, and have had the opportunity of attending a Holiday Club run by a local church. Jerry was picked to play in the school cricket team and had the privilege on going on a successful tour with them.

If you'd like to buy something for us please click on the link below and follow the guidelines.

Thank you again for your continued support, and if you know anyone that might be interested in partnering with us in terms of support please forward them a copy of this newsletter.

Best Regards

Paul

Links:

• Would you like to shop for us? Visit the "Thandanani Shop"

Dear Thandanani Friend

I have been reporting for the past year that we have a new house for our children and each time I wrote I told you that we hadn't been able to move in due to bureaucracy. Well I am pleased to let you know that we finally moved into our new home just before Christmas, and what a joyous occasion it was.

One of our supporters decided to mark the occasion with a Christmas party for the children, and we spent the day celebrating with the children by having a karaoke contest, biscuit decorating competition, slip 'n slide, decorating of the Christmas tree, opening of presents and ended the day off with a braaivleis (barbeque). 

But then it was back to the real world in January and getting everyone ready for the new school year. We also had 3 girls who concluded their schooling in 2023 and had aspirations to study further so it meant finding bursaries for tertiary education. Two of them will be studying for a degree in marketing and we were fortunate to find a bursary for both of them, and the third girl wanted to study hospitality. We haven't been able to find her a bursary yet, but we've given her the go-ahead to start the course and we'll have to source some funding in the next few months.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you that has supported us loyally on this project over the years, and would love it if you would share the good news of what we are achieving with your friends.

Best Regards

Paul 

Links:

• Thandanani House of Refuge