By Louise | Managing Director
Phew we have not been back to work two weeks and already it feels like it should be March! Since returning we have planned and scheduled for the next 3months intensely and the next 6month loosely.
We have been able to employ for new staff. Three staff for the Self Help Groups (SHG) who now have a target of 50 new groups in 2025 and two more Cluster Level Associations (CLA). That brings the total to 80 SHG in total with 1,402 ladies in the project representing 1,402 families and they support 3,796 children through the small businesses and the money they loan.
Just to explain the SHG groups focus on the individuals and their families while the CLA focuses on developing the Communities in which they live. The CLA’s are constituted by 8-10 SHG representatives.
So far the CLA’s that have been formed have
In total they have saved R2,253,000 and have used this money to value of R11million which for the poorest of the poor, is absolutely astounding. What is really wonderful is that when we go in our vehicles to the villages, we get flagged down by other ladies who want to be a part of this project, they see the impact, they want the skills, they want the financial freedom being offered.
Just to reassure you, none of this money is available for KTD196, that is why your support is so important to us.
I am including a story from one of the SHG ladies to showcase the impact of this project multi-generationally.
We also, with the passing of Mum Rose, had to restructure our Children’s Project and have re-employed Angy, a staff member we had to sadly let go last year due to the contract coming to an end. So Angy will be our new team leader and we have put in place targets for the whole team which includes focussing on Children’s Rights and Child Participation. The project overlap more intensively now as parents from the SHG are volunteering in the Children’s Project, and their children can attend as well. So that is really nice synergy.
We have entered this year with such enthusiasm and excitement, new premises, new plans, new energy. This year we are determined to make up for the difficulties faced last year.
I just want to also share, one of our original 13 girls who started with us in 2003, has now returned to volunteer and will be working with 10 of our kids as a Occupational Therapist. This will add to our offering as we have many who have learning issues, or physical challenges, so this is wonderful. Multi-generational giving is so important.
Thank you for walking this journey with us, your gifts are having an amazing impact on the lives of the people we serve. You truly are a gift from God. I know I say this, but quite frankly if it weren’t for you and your donation, Keep The Dream196 would have closed 8years ago. Since then we have gone on to impact many more adults and children. My gratitude for you overwhelms me often.
Thank you for trusting us, thank you for being such a huge part of the work we do. Please if you are ever wanting to come and verify what I speak about or come and just visit, you would be very welcome to come and be hosted.
Blessings to you and your family.
Louise
Stephine is a 61-year-old member of the Khutso Self-Help Group (SHG). She joined the group in 2021 and has accomplished a lot since then. Her husband passed away in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving her to care for their four sons, all of whom have graduated from high school but are currently unemployed. Her sons have tried applying for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), but have not been successful. While they do odd jobs here and there, they have not been able to secure permanent employment.
Before joining the SHG, Stephine supported her family through various odd jobs as a domestic worker, but she lost her job during the pandemic. To make ends meet, she would often go around her community washing clothes for people in exchange for payment, using the money she earned to buy food for her struggling family. Since her children are not working and have aged out of receiving the Child Support Grant, the situation has been particularly challenging.
In 2021, when she first heard about the SHG program, she was eager to join but found that the group was already full. Despite her disappointment, she held on to hope that a spot would become available. She learned about the R10 contribution from a relative in Sekororo (over 100kms away), which further motivated her to join. When a group opened in Pharare, she was one of the first to enroll because she didn't want to miss this opportunity again.
During the admission process, Stephine expressed her concerns about her living conditions. She was staying in a three-room RDP house, which felt too small for her family. "Imagine sharing a house with three men and one boy while I am the only female," she said. "They are sharing the bedroom, and there’s no privacy. Two of my boys have children, and I feel sad when they visit because there isn't enough space for everyone. This situation troubled me a lot; I often prayed to God for a miracle."
By God's grace, her prayers have been answered. Through her participation in the Khutso SHG, Stephine has managed to build a three-room house separate from the RDP home. This new house is designated for her sons, while the RDP will be for her and her grandchildren when they visit. Remarkably, she completed the construction in less than two years.
Additionally, Stephine has started a small business selling snacks and other goods in her community, which has helped her take out loans and repay them within the designated time. She is extremely grateful for the SHG program, as it has helped her realize her dream. Next year, she plans to expand her business and furnish her new house properly, so when her sons get married, their wives will feel at home.
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By Louise | Managing Director
By Louise | Managing Director
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