ASSIST A CHILD projects
Petra Swiegers is part of our team and will be mainly responsible for the wellbeing and needs of underprivileged children, especially the children of the Coronation Park Tent Village in Krugersdorp.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Caring involves more than just providing material items. These underprivileged children long for love, hugs, recognition and caring. 90% of these children are in "special" classes due to the fact that they did not have the luxury of pre-school education and are therefore already at a disadvantage as soon as they begin Grade 1. There is also a total lack of discipline, self-control, hygiene and acceptable language amongst most of these children. As a result of this early setback, a number of these children have to repeat Grade 1 and the likelihood of ever reaching high school is very remote and for some only a dream. It is imperative that this vicious circle be stopped as a matter of urgency.
The first step would be to provide a pre-school facility. A wooden hut was donated for this purpose and has been renovated.
The following immediate problems amongst these underprivileged children have been identified :
1. Learning/reading
2. Speech/language
3. Hearing
4. Oral hygiene and regular dental checkups
5. Vision/spectacles
6. Remedial classes
7. Very few children participate in extramural activities and should be encouraged to do so. There could be hidden talent waiting to be identified and developed.
Donations are always welcome, but at this stage financial assistance is of greater importance in order that we can get this project off the ground.
The banking details for the "ASSIST-A-CHILD" projects are provided below should you wish to contribute :
| LOCAL : | INTERNATIONAL : |
| Bank : First National Bank, Key West |
Bank : First National Bank, Key West |
| Branch Code : 256 955 | Branch Code : 256 955 |
| Acc. No. : 6219 699 4498 | Swift Code : FIRNZAJJ |
| Acc. Name : The
Cradle of Hope No. 2 Account |
Acc. No. : 6219 699 4498 |
Please fax the deposit slip with your details to +27 865-289-914. Should you require a Tax Certificate please note this on the deposit slip.
TSHEPANG PROGRAMME FOR ORPHANED AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN :
During May 2008, THE CRADLE OF HOPE distributed 120 new blankets to the TSHEPANG Programme for orphaned and vulnerable children. This centre takes care of approximately 120 orphaned and vulnerable children residing in the Princess Crossing squatter camp in Roodepoort. Thank you for your generous donations, which made it possible for us to assist these children.
VERUSHKA
During the early hours of Wednesday morning, 11 June 2008 a fire started in the Coronation Park tent village. During this unfortunate incident, Verushka, 10, was badly burnt. She spent three months recuperating in the Baragwanath hospital and was discharged on Thursday 11 September 2008. THE CRADLE OF HOPE held a huge "welcome back" party for her on Saturday, 13 September 2008.
THE CRADLE OF HOPE assisted Verushka and her family with transport costs, medical bills, trauma counselling and other general expenses. Without your generous contributions this would not have been possible. Verushka is back at school and her recovery has been remarkable.
CONNIE
Connie,
1 year old, is a beautiful little baby girl who we have been assisting
since birth. Here she is being held by Alicia, from THE CRADLE OF HOPE.
Her daddy and mommy used to reside in the Coronation Park Tent village,
but moved out during November 2008. They now live in
Carletonville where her daddy is employed. We are still
supporting this family, as they have proven that they want to excel in
life. We are extremely proud of them. We will
continue
supporting this family, as well as little Connie, of whom we are very
fond.
VANESSA (9) AND FAMILY
On Saturday, 14 February 2009 at 20h10 a huge tree fell over in the Coronation Park tent village, and Emmie 27, was killed. It took the emergency services two and a half hours to free her from under the tree and rubble. Thankfully no one else was injured. Her funeral was held on Thursday morning, 19 February 2009. Due to your generous donations THE CRADLE OF HOPE could assist with the contribution of R 8,000.00 towards the funeral costs as well as the curry and rice and other refreshments after the funeral, for approximately 400 persons. Thank you to all our sponsors.
THE CRADLE OF HOPE could also purchase a new winter school uniform for Vanessa, Emmie's 9 year old daughter and we could also assist with other general costs. Vanessa is now living with her grandparents. They have moved out of the tent village and are now residing on a plot in Tarlton. THE CRADLE OF HOPE will continue to support Vanessa.
BABY CARMEN
On Friday morning, 1 May 2009, baby Carmen (3 months old) passed away in the Coronation Park Tent village. THE CRADLE OF HOPE assisted the family at the Yusuf Dadoo hospital following her passing, and also arranged for the necessary counselling, etc. We washed, cleaned and repaired 200 teddy bears of all shapes and sizes, and tied new ribbons around their necks. The teddy bears were distributed at the graveside.
THE CRADLE OF HOPE assisted the family with the funeral arrangements as well as arranging for sandwiches, etc. following the funeral service which was held on Friday, 8 May 2009. We would like to thank all the sponsors who willingly assisted us with the arrangements and donation of sandwiches, etc.
SCHOOL CLOTHES
We would like to thank the Women's Agricultural Union of Monument Park in Pretoria, for their generous donation of R 15,000.00 towards the purchasing of summer as well as winter uniforms for the children of the Coronation Park tent village, as well as other needy children on the West Rand as identified by THE CRADLE OF HOPE. We could buy these children the required school uniforms, school shoes as well as stationery. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Pomfret Village
This village is situated in the North West Province about 600 kilometres from Johannesburg. This forgotten settlement has a population of about 4,000 souls. They live under appalling conditions of poverty and neglect. Many children have been orphaned and it is estimated that there are about 300 orphans in the area in and around the village. The nearest town of any significance to earn money is about 200 kilometres away.
There are no job
opportunities and fathers have left for the bigger towns and cities to
earn money, but have never returned. This left the mothers
with
families to feed, but with no income. Many of them sold their
bodies to earn money to feed their children and have so contracted HIV
AIDS. Many have died since, and are still dying, leaving
their
children behind without any support.
A devoted Christian,
Juan van Tonder, visited Pomfret on a once-off outreach and was so
traumatised with the plight of the children that he returned to Pomfret
on a permanent basis and started an orphanage. As the only
white
person in Pomfret he has become the "Father Theresa" pillar of strength
for the black population. He is their pastor, sick-comforter,
teacher, social worker and a lot of other things for the residents of
Pomfret. On Sundays he leads a Sunday School for 240 children.
JUAN VAN TONDER CONDUCTING A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR THE ORPHANS OF POMFRET
THE ENTIRE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THIS CHURCH WAS VANDALISED BY VAGRANTS. EVERYTHING INSIDE WAS STOLEN
Pomfret is very close to the Botswana border and he has already penetrated about 60 kilometres across the border into Botswana, carrying out the Gospel to the people who have never heard of Jesus.
The Cradle of Hope
has now adopted Juan and his orphanage, in partnership with the Dutch
Reformed Church Congregation of Muldersdrift on a permanent basis and
will visit them on a regular basis supplying food, educational
equipment, bibles and any other form of help they might need.
THE CRADLE OF HOPE / DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH OFFLOADING ONE OF SEVERAL BAKKIES WITH LIFE NECESSITIES
THE OUTREACH TEAM WITH SOME OF THE ORPHANS