Help Educate 22 Children in Zandspruit, S.Africa

Dear Thandanani Supporter

It’s that time of the year when everyone wants to be with family, but at Thandanani that’s not always possible due to a variety of circumstances, so no effort is spared to create a genuine family atmosphere at the home so that everyone feels loved and cared for. I hope you enjoy the attached photos which depict the spirit of happiness that we’ve created at Thandanani, the children certainly enjoyed creating them.

Your generous 2018 donation allows our Thandanani family to continue to celebrate the holidays together.

From Our House to Yours … Happy Holidays!

Best Wishes

Paul

Links:

• Thandanani House of Refuge

“Going to school means to learn so that I can build my own life,” says Cynthia (14) who has been at Thandanani House of Refuge in Zandspruit, an informal settlement just outside Johannesburg, since 2011.

Cynthia lost both of her parents and was living with an unemployed aunt, who couldn’t provide food most of the time, so going to school was not an option. But since she has been placed in Thandanani Cynthia has started to excel academically.  From hardly being able to read and write when she joined our family, she received a bronze award when she took part in an academic Olympiad for high achievers. And as if that wasn’t good enough her overall school marks for this year have increased by 9%. Her motto is “never give up”.

Cynthia is not the only achiever in Thandanani. Five children’s third term marks were above 60% and 8 were above 70%. They were all awarded with Thandanani Certificates for Academic Excellence – an award Thandanani instituted themselves to recognize individual performance. A wonderful evidence of the difference Thandanani made in these children’s lives.

But it is not just hard work and no play for these children. They also participate in cultural and sports activities, which are all part of the educational process.

• Maureen and Elizabeth are part of a chess club and play every Wednesday.
• Elizabeth also likes to sing and was recently selected to take part in an Eisteddfod.
• Connie and Annie participate in a speech and drama club every Wednesday.
• Lena is very athletic and participates in swimming, netball and athletics at school, coming 3^rd in the sprints at a recent sports day.
• Koketso is a keen rugby player with aspirations to play for his country one day.

But the school year is now winding up and they are looking forward to a well-earned summer holiday over the Christmas period, and then the academic year will start all over again mid-January 2019.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our children's education.

ONE child MATTERS

Links:

• Learn more about us on our website