Help Educate 22 Children in Zandspruit, S.Africa

Dear Thandanani Supporter

As a result of a number of our older children moving out at the end of last year, we had some empty beds to fill, but it didn’t take long for the welfare authorities to identify new candidates who needed a place of safety due to their rather sad circumstances, resulting in them having to be removed from their respective families. As a result we have welcomed 6 new children (3 sets of siblings) all under the age of 10, in the past 2 months. We have had our hands full settling them in, dealing with the emotional turmoil of having been removed from their families, finding schools for them, etc., but what a joy to see happiness light up their faces as they start to feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

The unemployment rate in South Africa (30%) certainly doesn’t make it easy for our school leavers to find a job, and so Esther has still to find a teaching post at a nursery school, after completing her training in ECD (Early Childhood Development). She’s got her CV out and hopefully something will materialize before the end of this year.  

Evelyn is in her final year of school and she recently celebrated her farewell party. A big thanks to those who sponsored her dress, she looked radiant on the occasion – see photo attached.

Well, all the renovations are finished at our new house, and it’s ready for us to take occupation, but unfortunately bureaucracy has denied us the possibility of moving in yet. We are required to apply to the local Council for permission to establish a children’s home in a residential suburb (which includes the canvassing of our new neighbours-to-be), and knowing this we applied at the beginning of the year, however, we are now in July and we are yet to receive our formal approval. On the positive side the new neighbours say they will welcome us, but we’re caught up in red tape at the Council. Hopefully my next report I’ll have some good news to bring you.

Warm regards

Paul

Links:

• Thandanani House of Refuge

As reported the last time, we're preparing to move into a new home that was donated to us, but contrary to my expectations in the last report we were not able to move in by end-February. As is always the case with renovations the work moves slower that anticipated, and there are always unexpected snags. But we're making good progress (as you'll see from the attached photos) and we now have a target of moving in during April.

Apart from hiring contractors to carry out the construction part of the work, we have a team of willing volunteers who will be doing a host of smaller tasks from painting walls, to hanging curtains, to fixing cupboards, and the list is endless. And in case you think this is a job for the young volunteers, our oldest helper is John who turned 87 last month and has been working tirelessly on the kitchen cupboards and doors for the past 2 weeks.(Photo attached.)

As education is one of our key focuses this move will open up a host of opportunities to help our children due to the location of the new home. Many who were prepared to help in the past (e.g. retired school teachers) were reluctant to visit us at our current home due to safety reasons, but now they are queuing up to give extra lessons and help with homework in the new house. Plus we have educational psychologists who are prepared to donate some of their time to help the kids work through many of the traumas they have experienced before being placed with us.

So the excitement is rising as the children (and house parents) look forward to the big move, and we look forward to sharing our excitement with you in subsequent reports.

Best regards

Paul 

Links:

• Thandanani House of Refuge