Avuxeni,
I just wanted to drop you a quick line this week to let you know about the Little by Little Campaign GlobalGiving is currently running!
The work we do is very incremental, we have children come in to the program and Little by Little, we see changes in their behaviour. Little by Little we see the young adult emerge and take responsibility for their lives. They start to dream! As they start in the program and progress through all the different programs and levels, they start to become the young adults they dreamed of being!
Your support in this process is crucial. So much of what we do is just not funded by traditional donors, that is why I am speaking about the Little by Little campaign below. Together we can help the children realise their dreams, but only together.
During September 18-22nd the Little by Little campaign will take place! All eligible donations up to $50 per unique donor per organization will be matched at 50% during the campaign, and funds will not run out!
Here is your chance to maximise your gift to KTD196.
We will use the money raised to take the children to camp, to learn new skills, experience new opportunities and to make lasting friends. It is wonderful to see the faces on the children as they master new skills, become more confident as young people, and lead their peers and young leaders of the future.
Village life can be very insular and isolating, with little opportunities to learn about the outside world, just going to camp and hearing others experiences excites them for more. Some of these children have never seen a traffic light, or an escalator, not that they will experience these things at camp, but they will on the way to camp. Simple things we take for granted are grand new adventures for some of these children.
Help us make a difference. Have your gift added to by 50% up to $50. Funds will not be exhausted.
THANK YOU in advance
Blessings
Louise and the Dream Team
Links:
As I was thinking about Joy this week, and all the issues she has overcome and continues to overcome, I started thinking again about stigma and discrimination. I believe these two words are synonymous with bullying. People are scared about what they don’t understand, often it is fear covered up by bravado and aggression which is the root of this plague. Also, it is so much easier to pick on someone who is weaker than you, then at least you are not being picked on!
Have you ever been a victim of bullying? How did it feel?
Bullies are everywhere. You don’t just find bullies on the playground - they’re in the workplace, in relationships and in schools where they wreak havoc with the Mental Health of their victims. South Africa has a high rate of bullying in many environments, and most victims of bullying don’t ask for help or are too ashamed to speak up. The rise of cyberbullying has given bullies a much wider range of tools to use to abuse their targets.
Sadly, I have been bullied as a child! Also through institutional bullying as an adult, being a foreigner in a foreign land is not for the faint hearted. I have not been bullied to the point of being suicidal, however I can sympathise with those who feel suicide is an acceptable escape from the attacks.
South Africa’s (successful) suicide rate for 2019 (prior to covid) was 23.5 per 100,000 this equates to 1,383,220 people lost their lives at their own hands. Unfortunately, the data is not disaggregated by age.
According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), adolescents aged 10-19yrs represent 17.4% of the population and contribute to 2.1% of the total mortality in South Africa. The leading causes of adolescent deaths are accidents happening at home (34.5%) however, self-harm is at 21.5%. This percentage is based on actual deaths and not on those who suicided unsuccessfully. Boys were 2-3:1 times more likely to suicide thank girls.
When KTD196 completed the Children’s Rights Situational Assessment (CRSA) at the end of 2022, the amount of bullying the children experienced at home, school and in their communities we were staggered at the bullying experienced by children in our program. A large part of our program is about teaching the children to work in small teams, to support each other, protect each other and be an emotional resource for each other. I personally think this program is part of why our teenage suicide rate is 0 over the past 20years.
Over the next 5yrs we are intentionally focussing on reducing abuse experienced by the children in our program initially, then towards other children, not in our program will also benefit. We will be doing trainings with adults which causes them to reassess their heart attitudes towards children and to change. It draws on their past experiences of abuse and how it felt, then transposes those feelings, emotions, memories on to the children they care for, work with and know. Journey of Life is very powerful to bring effective change in the power dynamics between adults and children.
You have helped us save countless number of children’s lives literally. By supporting KTD196 and enabling us to support the children, we are creating hope. HOPE for a new world, a new future, a new life. If KTD196 was not here, doing what we do, I really wonder what would happen to the Joy’s of this world? You make the difference!
Thank you so much.
September is International Suiciding Prevention month with a special focus on the 10th of September 2023. If you are in a situation where you need help, someone to talk to, reach out, there are many national organizations whose purpose is to provide comfort and a listening ear. No one is immune!
God bless you so much
Louise
Links:
Thank you for all of your support, your financial gift is working hard on behalf of the children, thank you, you are awesome.
Recently I sent out a story about Joy, well not that recently, however it touched people’s hearts and I was messaged by people all around the world to send encouragement, practical advice and love. Something that Joy was sure she would never receive because of her HIV status.
I can’t tell you the impact that those messages had on Joy, she was so amazed that people she didn’t know, from different nations, cared enough to send her messages of love and not rejecting her because of her status, which is the norm.
Every month Joy goes to the local clinic to collect her Anti Retro Viral medication (ART’s), sadly her peers have noticed that she goes to the clinic and are harassing her as to why? Because of stigma and ridicule, it was easier to tell her peers that she was going for family planning treatment meaning, implying she is sexually active, which because of scouts, she is not. There was less shame associated with that excuse than having HIV.
Through your support, last week Elizabeth went to the clinic with Joy and she found a very sympathetic nurse who has agreed to accept her older brother or sister to collect her ARV’s on Joys behalf. The nurse even said she could deliver on the way home, which is exceptional service. It was discovered that Joy had never received counselling or advice on practical issues related to being HIV positive, she had some knowledge from our Children’s Program, but that was all very general. The nurse has agreed to make herself available to counsel and mainly listen to all of Joys concerns, whenever she needs someone to talk to!
Since Joy told us the truth of her situation back in May 2023, with your support including: food parcels; plus, her sister joining Self Help Groups (SHG) meaning there is now money in the family; plus, the Food4Life Project - meaning there is now sustainable food source; Joy has now grown a whopping 4inches in height, put on some healthy weight, her skin is glowing, her hair is now shiny and full (before it was thin, brittle and very dull and patchy). She has developed breasts, as 14yr old because her body was so underweight and unwell, normal puberty had not occurred but now she is looking young, healthy and as a normal teenager should.
The transformation of this child is truly wonderful, from a shy, painfully thin, neglected looking child to a vibrant, happy excited teenager is just amazing to experience. This sort of personal care is only possible because of your support. Your support enables us to go the extra mile. Your support enables us to have a holistic approach to the support we can offer.
I have posted Joy's story below to remind you of Joy's story, if you would like to send a message please go to our website so that I can give your messages to Joy.
THANK YOU!
Blessings
Louise
PS for privacy sake I will not display a photo of Joy for obvious reasons but if you would like to leave a message of encouragement for her on our website I will make sure she receives it.
My name is Joy, I am 14years old and have been in KTD196 as a scout since Feb 2021.
I want to share my story, but I asked Louise to write it for me because it is hard for me.
My mum and dad died of Aids 4years ago. I was born with HIV. I was scared that people would reject me because of being HIV positive. I didn’t tell KTD196 or anyone except my sister who goes with me to the clinic to get treatment.
I live with my older sister. We survive on the Child Support Grant R480 ($27USD) for the month.
One day Nkulu (social worker for KTD196) saw that I was not feeling well, she organized for Louise (a nurse from KTD196) to visit me. She asked me all sorts of questions and I was too afraid to tell her that I was HIV positive. I didn’t tell her the medication I was on, but later that day I sent a message to her. She realised I was positive. Instead of rejecting me like I thought she would, the next day, she came all the way to my village, and hugged me. I was so scared she would stop me from coming to Scouts. I started crying with relief.
After a big discussion about my health, Louise and Nkulu realised that I was not eating enough and the medication I was on was making me unwell. From then, KTD196 has encouraged my sister to participate in the Self Help Groups (SHG) to increase our income and start a small business. KTD196 also have been bringing us food parcels to help with eating properly.
This week I went to camp. Since receiving the food parcels, I have grown about 4inches in 6months. I have put on some weight; no one will know that I am sick now. I loved going camping and your donations sponsored me to camp and also provides the food parcels each month until my sister and I can start a small business. I am also doing better in school, I can concentrate. I do not feel sick or scared any more. I am HAPPY!
Thank you for helping me and my sister. I promise I will be a good girl and do my homework and study hard. You have made such a difference to my life. I cannot thank you enough. I think KTD196 saved my life. I think you saved my life.
Joy
Links:
Today, I want to tell you about the often interesting, and laughable situations my staff find themselves in on the odd occasion!
Since Monday 28th August 23, Elizabeth has been training 20 parents on Journey of Life, Children’s Rights and Child Participation. The training goes for 3days. We recruit participants through the Scouts, we ask for their parents to come to training. This is the usual approach.
Last week, we did the same, a different area. We have funding for 20parents to attend, the first day 20 mums came for the training, they enjoyed it so much, the next day we had 24participants, the final day 28 participants. Thanks to your support we could supplement the training budget from an institutional donor and the other participants to join.
Well last week the message was sent out by a very keen Field Officer to have the training in her village, this was a shock to Elizabeth when she found out because although Elizabeth had planned, she had not instructed the Field Officer to send out word yet because a venue had not been secured.
So fast forward to Monday, 20 participants, including the local Induna (community leader) arrive at the Field Officers home at 0900! Elizabeth arrives to find the Induna had made a plan and requested a local church to host the training. Under the direction of the Field Officer, off they go to the church only to find it is locked up. No one is available. Elizabeth rings the Induna to tell them that the church is locked and no one is around to open! The Induna informs Elizabeth she is at the wrong church; it is just as well all these places are within walking distance. So off everyone goes once again to the new church.
The story doesn’t end there! After settling in to her training rhythm, 4 men burst into the church and scare everyone, they demand to know where the pastor is. The story goes that the men put up the corrugated iron roofing and had not yet been paid. They demanded the pastor, who, of course, was not there. Then they literally proceeded to remove the iron from the roof, a whole lot of banging, noise and commotion later, the roof was removed, the iron destroyed so that the pastor could not use it and hire someone else to do the job. The training continued, despite the noise and interruptions.
Once finished, the men came back in to the church and thanked Elizabeth!
What a way to start a training. The joys of working in the rural areas. The ladies were very startled yesterday and a bit fearful, however 18 attended todays training. From the photo you can see the alleged corrugated iron!
The training has had the result already of parents realising that they are the problem when it comes to their children, they are often rude, name calling, spiteful and abusive. The training is very powerful as the adults link with their past experiences growing up with the difficult situations they endured and applied those past experiences to their children. Often the revelation produces such conviction that the parents change immediately.
Elizabeth has done this training in excess of 150 times over 20yrs and she never gets bored, “There are always new parents and the groups are always different with different dynamics however similar outcomes, the adults change their relationships with the children for the better, I LOVE THIS TRAINING!”
After 6months we go back to the parents with their children, to hold a focus group to hear about the transformation which takes place and if it is sustained. It always produces positive, lasting change. It is a wonderful training which causes wonderful positive changes in children, parents, and families.
I hope you enjoyed Elizabeth’s tale. Just one day in the life of a community worker!
Blessings to you
Louise
Links:
Greetings Avuxeni!
Today I am writing to you about something a bit different. I try and make my letters uplifting, impactual and exiting. Which is a good thing to do but I also want you to understand the context in which we work. I have given statistics in the past about poverty, crime, HIV etc, today I am not going to do that. Today I want to talk about some very real attitudes which every day we have to battle and push through.
These attitudes affect our work, the way we work, how we work, the impact we have, the outcomes we try and achieve and part of what we are addressing through the work we do. I want to speak about a cultural matter which is so debilitating to the individual, to the families, the communities and the nation as a whole.
I remember reading a socio-cultural research book a few years ago which spoke about luck. According to this in depth analysis of the South African psyche, there is the belief that a majority of people hold is that everyone is born with 100% luck. Any advancement in life is considered “Luck”. So what?
Well, consider a child who studies hard at school, matriculates, goes to university, gets a well-paying job, a partner, a home, a car, all the usual achievements associated with working hard, self-discipline, personal conviction, wise administration of finances etc.
According to the cultural perspective the effort expended is not considered at all, what is however considered is that you have STOLEN my “Luck” I had a 100% but every time you got something I didn’t it was because you STOLE my good luck!! This practice does not acknowledge the hard work, the determination, the dedication required to achieve success.
It doesn’t stop there, because you have stolen from me, I have a right to go to the witch doctor and have a curse put on you! Not just a curse, if I feel I have been robbed from so significantly, I can have you poisoned or killed. Physical harm is one of many outcomes but it will also include gossip and slander, trying to undermine for example the relationship between the couple through spreading lies about infidelities. I have also known Molotov cocktails to be thrown into homes because of jealousy.
This attitude infects the rural areas where we live and work. People cannot celebrate their achievements; it is difficult for people to share what they have attained because of fear of the reactions from others. To give you an example, our kids when they go on to university or work, often don’t keep in touch, so we can celebrate their success, but instead they are secretive and have to keep quiet about what they have achieved. It is so sad to see people having to move away from their villages to be safely successful.
Another example is Netaly, whom you have met before, who is passionate about helping others, she has been working as a volunteer with Nali Bali an early reading NGO we have partnered with, but also as a beneficiary with the Self Help Group (SHG) program. Netaly has supported other groups in their book keeping skills as a volunteer just because that is the sort of person she is, helpful and wanting to see others advance.
I am proud to share that we brought Netaly formally on to the Children’s Program in the afternoons and in the mornings she will continue helping with the SHG Program. I asked Elizabeth (Program Manager) if we should go to her old SHG group and formally introduce her back as a Field Officer, this comment was met with an immediate “NO”, the reason being, the loss of “Luck” the others will experience.
It is so sad. I know every culture has something similar ie in Australia and New Zealand it is the Tall Poppy Syndrome, is a term that refers to successful people being criticised. This occurs when their peers believe they are too successful, or are bragging about their success. Intense scrutiny and criticism of such a person is termed as "Cutting down the tall poppy". "Cutting down the tall poppy" is sometimes used by business entrepreneurs to describe those who deliberately criticise other people for their success and achievements.
In Japan, a similar common expression is "the nail that sticks up gets hammered down". In the Netherlands, this expression is "don't put your head above ground level" . In Chile, this expression is known as "chaquetear" ('pull the jacket'). In Scandinavia, this expression is known as Law of Jante, it contains rules and stipulations such as "you're not to think you are anything special" and "Perhaps you don't think we know a few things about you?".
We want to see people’s achievements celebrated, and to change slowly bit by bit this attitude.
I would like you to celebrate with Netaly the fact that she has earned her first full time employment with KTD196. Made possible through support of people like yourself. Together we are changing lives, families and communities.
Thank you for always having our backs and for being part of the solution.
Blessings
Louise
Ps if you would like to leave Netaly a message of encouragement, please go to our website and leave a message.
My name is Netaly, I am 38 years old. I have a two children, my son is 20yrs old and at University, my daughter is 5yrs old. I live with my mum in Myakayaka a very poor village. We don't have running water, electricity, we have a pit toilet. We survive on my youngest child's Child Support Grant of R500 a month ($27USD). My mother is too young for the pension yet. We some times have piece jobs where we do farming work to earn more money, but that is seasonal and not lasting.
I am involved in Nali Bali on Mondays and Thursdays with reading groups. And then on Tuesdays and Wednesdays I go to SHG groups. Nali Bali is a reading project to help get kids involved in reading and to learn to love reading to help them at school. SHG is for me! To help me. SHG opened the door to Nali Bali, I was recommended through KTD196 to Nali Bali to work with the children, I love it. I participate in both projects because I love it. I love to help people. I love to work and I love to help people. I love helping anybody’s.
SHG, I love it better today because it changed my life in this manner. I didn’t know how to plan my things, I didn’t know how to budget, I didn’t know how to plan, it made a big difference to me and my family, it just opened my mind and it helps me emotionally. I can feel that no no no sometimes people have been through the same problems as me, so I learn the best ways to help myself in situations when I thought there was no answer. So it helps me so much and with the SHG everybody’s starting to run a business and myself, I am selling eggs and yes, I am SUCCEEDING!
I am having a dream now thanks to KTD196. I like to volunteer. I want to help others; I feel so good about my life now.
Thank you for helping KTD196 help me!
Netaly
Links:
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