Support a Baby, Build a Family!

To Our Dearest Team of Supporters,

As it is for everyone, I'm sure, it is still so hard to wrap our heads around the completely surprising turn of events we've all experienced this year. We are so incredibly humbled and grateful for your love and loyalty in supporting us through these uncertain times. It really is such a testament to our community of supporters who truly value the work that we do that, for the most part, everyone's support has been unwavering. Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude that we are able to still continue our loving care and passionate championing for the little ones who call TLC home. 

Coping with Covid-19 safety protocols and lack of volunteers has certainly presented new challenges and has kept our whole team very busy. While our communications may be erratic and not as regular or punctual as we would hope, we so appreciate the grace our supporters have shown us in being patient as we figure out and make our way through these challenging times. Across the board our onsite operations team have done a sterling job in keeping things going and making sure as many bases are covered as possible through this season, and while we keep our heads down in day to day work, we are so very eager for our future. While we wait with anticipation for the finishing touches to be put on our new home, and plan our exciting future in the close-knit community of Walkerville, business as usual has to continue where we are to maintain stability in the lives of our little ones.

Not only have the obvious changes from Covid-19 been impacting us, there has also been a massive disruption in children's homes across the sector as governments push to implement "rapid placements" of many of the children-in-care as a supposed preventative, reactionary measure to the virus. It has been a significantly difficult season as we are forced to say goodbye to many of the older children in our home as they join foster families. While foster care is not our first preference for placements we have come to appreciate that there is a place for this role in the system and that there are many blessings that come with the children moving into the care of a more traditional family environment. That being said, the speed and lack of forewarning from authorities has been alarming and unsettling. All we can do is be contented that we have done our best to make each little one as resilient as possible in preparing them for this next chapter of their lives and keep them in our prayers.

Yet, as quickly as many of the children are being placed, new little ones are being welcomed into our home. The need for homes for babies who are being abandoned due to the huge surge in poverty and unemployment is overwhelming. We are being phoned every second day with desperate requests to take in more babies. Every baby we have to turn away truly breaks our hearts as we know most other homes are also already full to capacity. This situation is harrowing and yet we have to put on a brave face and continue making the difference we can within our boundaries that enable us to provide what each child needs without compromising on the quality of care each little one receives in our home. 

This situation has starkly highlighted the need for more family-support programs - to prevent little ones being given up to the system in the first place. It is our dream that once our children’s home is stable and settled, after this transitional phase to our new home, that we will be able to start expanding on what we do; using our 20+ years of experience to start offering family-strengthening / parenting programs. We hope that you will continue to walk with us on this journey as we work towards this goal. 

But, for now, thank you for every step you’ve taken with us along the way so far!
You are so appreciated.

As always, if you ever have any questions, comments or feedback please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly (faithj@tlc.org.za).

P.S. Also be sure to check out the awesome adoption book Super Stevie by Kirsty Peters, being launched on Monday 9^th of November - World Adoption Day. 50% of the proceeds will be coming to TLC to help us pay off our bond! Please share with all your adoptee friends! 

Blessings to you and your loved ones. 

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Dearest TLC Tribe, 

We hope you and your loved ones are all keeping safe and well. <3

Apologies if you are reciving this in duplication from your contributions to multiple of our projects. We accidentially sent this update to an expired project instead of our active general project "Support a Baby, Build a Family". It is important for us to send these updates out to make sure our valued supporters are all receiving up to date news and that we keep our GlobalGiving profile in good standing. Please comment or rate our projects to help us in this regard it is truly a great gift to us when you take the time to engage in this way. <3

Well, what a year it's been! One where we are continually and astoundingly blessed and provided for. Our cup runneth over with gratitude and love.

We had barely sent out our last report announcing our plans to move when the unexpected and severe effects of the international response to Covid-19 started to hit the world. It has been a crazy couple of months here at TLC while all "business as usual" ceased and we started making provisions to keep our little ones and our caregiver team as protected as possible from the risk of coronavirus infection. 

This meant that many of our staff were sent home for the first few months of lockdown, while a number of our dedicated caregivers selflessly put their hands up and offered to weather the initial lockdown onsite at TLC, away from their own homes and families. Miraculously we have been blessed to be able to survive this extended lockdown and are slowly beginning to resume more of our regular operations as the lockdown eases. However, things are certainly far from "normal". 

During this time placements all but ceased, and dispite being at full capacity we were desperately requested to take in more babies as our nation saw and increase of babies and children getting abandoned by desperate and destitute mothers. With much serious consideration we decided to answer the call and have taken in 4 newborns during this time. They came to us as tiny little wimpering bundles and we have been amazed at how quickly they have chubbed up into gurgling little cherubs. We have also found a silver-lining to the lockdown, in that our babies and children are absolutely settled and flourishing in this much more contained and predictable environment, where they have had the same set of loving caregivers for weeks on end. This is definitely a great opportunity for learning as we set in new operating procedures in our new home. 

Speaking of which, of course, this has all had a major impact on our moving plans. Whilst undoubtedly necessary, the lockdown set us back quite a bit financially. Much of the funds we had reserved for the the move were diverted to weathering the severe lockdown restrictions here in South Africa, and ensuring that our little ones maintained their consistency of care by providing for the caregivers staying onsite during this time. 

Nevertheless, we are confident and hopeful that the amount is quite manageable to fundraise for and are preparing to extend a call to action, mobilising and guiding our international family of supporters in helping us raise there funds through their own networks. The amount needed to help us start this phase of TLC's new journey debt-free will be R1.8 million (about $105000). We will be formally announcing our fundraiser for this at our up-coming virtual Mandela Day Event, so be sure to keep an eye on our social media pages for when we announce this. 

As always we are so incredibly humbled by your consistent and courageous support. 

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or feedback I'm always eager to hear from our valued supporters.

Blessings of health, security and peace to you and your loved ones during these uncertain and unsettling times. 

With Heartfelt Thanks and
Kind Regards,
Faith 

P.S. Please take the time to give your recommendation rating of TLC's project below. This is such a grate way to help us get more visibility on GlobalGiving. <3 Thank You!

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