Child sponsorship letter from Cape Town
25/09/2008
Update sent April 2008 to people who have sponsored a child or village in Cape Town
One stands in disbelief in reflecting back on another five months (December 2007 to April 2008) and realising how our children have grown and developed. We extend a warm greeting from all the children, youth, management and staff at the SOS Children’s Village Cape Town to you, our sponsor abroad. We would like to take this opportunity to share and celebrate some of the SOS Children’s Village Cape Town highlights and challenges that have occurred since our last facility report (November 2007).
We focussed on the correct academic placement and the progress of the children and youth at the SOS Children’s Village Cape Town during the first quarter of the year. Extensive and sufficient time were spent with the children and youth after their December 2007 / January 2008 holiday placement with family members and / or significant others in order to ascertain and evaluate their experiences.
We care for 107 children, to date, in our 15 different family houses. We are proud to announce that we have admitted another 12 children to the Village up to the end of March. The Child and Youth Development Team was responsible for intensively focussing on these new children in assisting them in settling into the Village, and on their scholastic and emotional needs. The Village is proud to announce that we have integrated nine children back into the community. These children were successfully integrated with family members or significant others.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) had been drawn and entered into with Langa Action Community Aids Project (LACAP). This is a home base care organisation. They will be our partner organisation that we will be working with within SOS Children’s Village Cape Town Strategic Initiative 2 - Prevention of Abandonment in the Family Strengthening Programme. The Village is providing services to a further 222 children through this programme.
Preparation for new roles
The Village celebrated Woman’s Day by acknowledging SOS Mothers as well as women in the community for their contributions and the roles they fulfil, sometimes under very difficult circumstances, in their respective communities, through the Women of Courage Event. The SOS Children’s Village Cape Town held a very successful event on Saturday, 29 March. We were privileged to have Dr. Basil Leonard as the keynote speaker. The SOS Children’s Villages South Africa was represented by Lawrence Saville, Chairperson SOS Board of Governors, and Eugene Absolom, National Director SOS Children South Africa. A new Village Financial Administrator, Avril Williams, started on 3 March. She received intensive orientation on a wide range of financial aspects over an extended period of time. The new Child and Youth Development Coordinator, Vernon Endley, started on 1 April.
The youth girls were preparing for the two new intakes into the Girls Youth House since the beginning of January. Sandra, previously of Family House 7 and Christelene, previously of Family House 12 entered the Girls Youth House on 1 March. The Boys Youth House will receive a new intake from Family House 13 at the end of the June school holidays. Both the Boys Youth House and Girls Youth House will then be filled to capacity.
The six young ladies in the Girls Youth House and five young men in the Boys Youth House have settled and are progressing well in their “new environment” after initial adjustment challenges. Sondezwa is in grade 12 at the Pinelands High School. She participates in Judo and is striving to be part of the Western Province Team again. Nolubabalo passed her finals, grade 10, at the end of 2007. She has been integrated with family members and is in the process of being enrolled at a College to do a course in Hospitality. Phatiswa is repeating grade 10 at the Goodwood College. She is working much harder this year and has committed herself to extra study time. Carmelitia is registered at the College of Cape Town and is busy with her second module in Hospitality. Elaine finished her final IB Level 2 grade at the Waterford College in Swaziland at the end of 2007. She is enrolled at Varsity College and is doing a course in Marketing Management. She will be semi-integrated during the course of 2008 and is currently seeking accommodation within the community. Zukiswa has progressed well at the Luther College in Iowa, USA. Arasaad is studying towards a computer qualification and is progressing well. Bonga passed his first year at the University of the Western Cape studying towards a Bachelor of Arts qualification.
We are in deed very proud of these semi - integrated children (residing off the Village) who study at tertiary level. Both Bongani and Thabo passed grade 10 and are currently in grade 11. Isak is at present working at the Animal Anti Cruelty League on a volunteer basis. He will be integrated at the end of this year. Songezo is at Batavia Skills School and enrolled in grade 8. The Boys Youth Leader is training him on how to budget properly. Simon is working at Chris Steytler Industries (protective labour environment) in Belville. He is very excited about and dedicated to his work.
Yearly activities
There are 77 children accommodated at the SOS Nursery School. Sixty four children are from the immediate community. Ten SOS Children’s Village Cape Town children attend this education facility on the Village premises. Three children are from our Family Strengthening Programme. Fifty seven children attend our aftercare services. A successful Village Education Programme was held on 28 February and it took the form of a creative activities programme. A number of our children excelled in different sport codes and / or extra mural activities.
Christelene Witbooi, who moved to the Girls Youth House during the first quarter, was selected to represent the Western Province Championship for athletes with physical disabilities during 24 to 29 March in Stellenbosch. Shiraz Williams, from Family House 5, has been selected to tour Malaysia with his school rugby team in July. The legal requirements and fundraising for the trip are in progress.
We are also proud of our children who, after completing their beginners swimming lessons, can now swim. Children who were, through their exemplary behaviour and consistent good performances, elected as prefects at their school; reading the Quran; and children who, in spite of their medical condition, showed progress at their level by completing a small task. Loretta Kirsten, Mother of House 6, passed her first year Social Work studies at the end of 2007. She is enrolled for her second year at the University of Cape Town.
On behalf of the children, youth, management and staff we would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our valued sponsors, for your loyal support and contributions to our children and facility. Please be assured that without your help and support we would not have been able to provide the quality of care to the children at the Village.
We once again thank you and wish you all that is good for the remainder of 2008.
Yours sincerely
Dawie Marais
Village Director
Relevant Countries: South Africa.