Lesedi la Batho Social Relief Fund, South Africa

With the aim of empowering our beneficiaries through skills development and promoting financial freedom, we also offer social relief by providing food parcels and clothing donations. Through one-on-one sessions and support groups with Man2Man, Gender Based Violence (GBV) group leaders, young mothers, Ikemele - women empowerment programme, and the community of Mabopane, we identified a critical need for this support. Many of our beneficiaries are unemployed, some come from child-headed households,while others are victims and survivors of GBV who depend on partners or child support grants.

2. Activities

2.1 Mandela Day drive (July 2024)

In July we received x48 Mandela Blankets, x15 jerseys, x86 beanies, 61 gloves, 14 scarves, and clothing from Brooklyn Methodist Church and individual donors for the Mandel Day Drive . These donations were distributed to our various support group participants as follows:

GBV Survivors and Leaders:

amongst the the receipients was Matome, a GBV support group leader who through the support of Lesedi La Batho has opened a Day Care Centre at her home. Matome received clothes, blankets, and toys for the children at her day Care Centre.

2.2 Women’s Day Event

In collaboration with Helping Hands, we hosted an event for young mothers, focusing on career guidance, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and social development to empower our beneficiaries to strive to make their lives better for themselves and their little ones. The event hosted 50 women, and each participant received food hampers, clothing donations, and lunch.

3. Distribution of Food Hampers

In the month of August a food distribution drive was conducted, distributing a total of 70 food hampers that contains essential food supplies and toiletry to pre-identified clients who receives psycho-social support services such as:

• GBV support sessions
• Young mothers support sessions
• Ikemele- women empowerment sessions
• Man2Man support session (Ra-ova-Net) as well as
• Emergency cases in the community

4. Meet Lucky

Lucky, a 22-year-old male without a birth certificate, has struggled to secure an ID, preventing him from completing matric and finding employment. He currently resides at a local church and sought our assistance for birth registration. During a one-one- one session it was identified that Lucky’s younger brother also doesn’t have a Birth Certificate. We are working on his and his brother’s case to register their birth and have provided food parcels to address his immediate needs. Luckys mother has also stepped in to assist make the process of birth registration easier and the family also receives continuous psycho-social support.