Together Foundation – Port St Johns Youth Project

• By: Wayne Kingwill
• Short URL: http://www.backabuddy.co.za/waynek

Personal message

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

Firstly, a massive thank-you to all of our friends and generous sponsors who helped us raise close to R150 000 last year. Your support has made a huge difference to Bikana Junior Secondary School. The transformation in the school and the children is phenomenal.  This year we will continue to provide ongoing support to Bikana school including the provision of some key essentials such desks and chairs for the children.

 2009 has also brought new opportunities for us work together to expand our cause and we are in the process of registering the “TOGETHER FOUNDATION”(non-profit organisation) to assist us to mobilise support, resources and funds in the exciting journey ahead.

 OUR CAUSE:

“Making a real and sustainable difference to children growing up in the most deprived communities in South Africa.”

 Our inspiration:

3 orphaned children and their teacher who decided to defy the odds. 

Our key focus:

The most deprived and vulnerable children & communities in 9 municipal areas in the Eastern Cape. Improving children’s learning environments, resultant education and personal development quality.

 Background:

Research by the HSRC & Oxford University identified the “10 worst places to grow up as a child” in South Africa. They used 14 child-focused indicators within 5 categories of deprivation : income, employment, education, living environment and adequate care.  9 of the 10 municipal areas identified as the most deprived are along the Eastern Cape Coast from the “Great Kei River (Kei Mouth) in the South West to the Mtamvuna River in the North East (Port Edward) and this is where we will focus our efforts.

The connection between poverty and lack of education is self-evident, yet real progress in overcoming the

obstacles to education and poverty reduction continues to elude us across the world. In SA less than 25% of children entering grade 1 reach grade 12 and less than 3% complete a tertiary degree. The links between education and social development, educational infrastructure and learner performance is clear. Poverty continues to be a pitiless backdrop to our AIDS epidemic and needs to be at the heart of our strategies to address the needs of our most vulnerable children, including the rising number ‘child-only households’.

Challenging yes, but the ‘possibilities’ we can create TOGETHER are endless !

Our current key project : Port St John’s Youth

Solomon Bam who was born in Gqubeni, Port St Johns, has returned to follow a deep yearning to make a real difference in peoples lives and in particular the youth.  Solomon recognised the severe lack of ‘life skills’ teaching in schools and very poor support for the youth outside the classroom. The youth project aims to reduce drug and alcohol abuse, academic failure and early sexual activities in youth. Weekly counseling sessions with students at risk and monthly visits or phone calls to parents to report progress at school are core to this initiative.

Having spent time with Solomon and other committed community members we were confronted with the huge community need for support for Port St John children, as well as their development and their futures. We also witnessed the great work Solomon and others doing and want to leverage their dedication and amplify the difference they are making, by raising funds to upgrade the Youth Centre as well as the key feeder schools where the children are based.

TOGETHER, we have a great opportunity to make a big difference in the lives of many children and their community. We have fantastic commitment from community members and with your support we can make a significant contribution to their endeavors to improve the futures of the children in the Port St John’s community.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate. Your contribution to this page will benefit the charity listed on the left.

Please donate generously.

Many thanks for your support.