Lockdown was difficult for everyone, but for the poor and vulnerable families living in Alexandra, it was almost unbearable. Food was in short supply, unemployment levels higher than before, children not at school but also not learning, gender-based violence at staggering levels, fear running high and loved ones dying from the virus and other illnesses.
While Rays of Hope's team did what they could in lockdown to support the families who are part of the programme, many, many adults and children have been left feeling depressed, traumatised, suicidal and damaged.
As soon as we could, when lockdown levels were reduced, we opened our new Counselling Centre. It provides a safe space for people to meet with qualified social workers to talk, receive support and slowly, slowly move towards feeling stronger and better able to cope with life. It is because of the support from people like you, that we can offer this service to the community and partner with them to a place of healing and restoration.
For the children, we have a play therapy room that allows them to receive counselling while playing. We also have our after-school programme, which provides a safe space to receive unconditional love and support, while being encouraged to talk through what they see, hear and feel - most of which children should never have to experience in their young lives.
Thank you for partnering with us to enable us to restore young lives and the lives of their families, and to give them hope for a better future!
Rays of Hope would like to extend a big thank you to you on behalf of the Alexandra Township community. It is because of generous donations from people living beyond the borders of South Africa, that our work continues to grow and impact more and more people.
With the arrival of COVID-19, the people of Alex have been severely affected. When South Africa entered lock-down at the end of March 2020, thousands of people were left without an income. Immediately Rays of Hope and its network of partner organisations in Alex got to work and mobilised to be able to distrbute thousands of food and health-related hampers to the most vulnerable families in Alex.
Because of the generosity of people like you, we have been able to pack and distribute over 8,500 hampers which have provided food to more than 50,000 people living in Alex. These hampers include non-perishables food items like mealie meal, baked beans, rice and soup, as well as toiletries and health-related products.
Despite this sizeable donation, Alex residents are still facing dire circumstances, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many dependent on whatever support they can get. Although the economy is opening up again, many people in Alex are employed on a casual basis as waiters, cleaners, security, etc., so it will take a while before they are working again. We will therefore continue to support the most vulnerable but are expanding to provide more than just food.
We have entered phase two of our campaign now - the goal of which is to provide more holistic support to fewer people. This includes:
1. screening and referrals for testing,
2. educational support for the children who have not been able to attend school for the last three months,
3. counselling and support to help people to deal with the challenges of living in Alex - poverty, violence, gender-based violence, drug use, etc.
4. food parcels and masks
5. winter clothing, blankets, beanies, gloves, etc.
We really appreciate your support and hope that it will continue, as the work definitely will - either directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19. But the people of Alex need your support and are grateful for your donations.
Links:
The Ithemba Labantwana programme partners with young people and their families in Alexandra township, to move them from vulnerable to independent.What follows is a story about a partnership between Rays of Hope and a family who were in a desperate situation.
Julius, now 18 years old, and his family were introduced to the Rays of Hope in 2018, having faced many challenges along the way. Julius’s father passed away in 2013 and his mother became ill and bed-ridden soon after, compelling Julius to take control of the household and assume the role of a father to his three younger siblings. Despite having to miss school and their grades suffering as a result, Julius and his siblings took turns to care for their ailing mother until she sadly succumbed to her illnesses and passed away in 2019. This happened just as Julius needed to prepare for and write his final school-leaving exams.
However, through the help, care and support they received from dedicated Rays of Hope staff and volunteers, the young family of three was able to pick up the pieces and start to live some semblance of a normal life once again. Julius worked hard and earned a university pass in his final year of school, and his siblings passed with good results.
It's for families like this that Rays of Hope exists, and we really appreciate your support for the work that we do. Currently we have 22 families on our programme, which is over 80 young people who get unconditional love and support to help them to handle their daily challenges. In addition, we support about 60 other young people who attend the Boys and Girls Support Groups, which provide limited services.
For Julius' full story and others, please check out the attached links.
Links:
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