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NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2006

We think its time you were brought you up to date with SOA.  So much is happening, it’s difficult to know where to start.  For those who have not been kept up to date, a one page summary is appended which should fill you in.  These are the projects which are already well on the way, partially started or in the pipeline.  The number of children is approximate.  Every time we visit a centre, there are more children than we recorded previously.

Summary:

No of projects                       36

No of Children:                      1350

No of D9270 Clubs               12

No of International clubs        10 located in Canada, England and USA.

No of SSACT* projects        7

*SSACT = Shoes South Africa Charitable Trust.

Looking at the above statistics, one can see that most of the club’s projects are Phase 1, i.e. helping pre-school children.  We are moving into Phase 2 now with a few projects aimed at helping children without proper families to cope with their personal tragedies by providing a base in their community that they can turn to for support.  Many of the projects include food production and we are confident as these become successful that the communities will see this as one way easing the hunger in their community.

We can also report on very successful cooperation between “Feedback” and SOA and those facilities in the greater Durban and Pietermaritzburg areas, designated for food support, will have food delivered to them twice weekly.  “Feedback” specialises in recycling excess food to disadvantaged children and is supported by Rotary.

We are also exploring cooperation between SOA and NOAH (Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity).  NOAH has 42 care centres in many parts of KwaZulu-Natal and a number in Gauteng.  The benefit to NOAH is that Rotary clubs can help kickstart projects by providing start-up resources and NOAH will continue with the projects into the future.

In addition, we are exploring a cooperative project with “Hope Worldwide” who are partnered with RFFA (Rotarians for Fighting AIDS) implementing ANCHOR projects in Africa.

SOA is attracting international attention.  We were privileged to have a team of reporters, videographers and photographers from The Rotarian and The Rotary Video Magazine visit us in June.  Soul of Africa will be featured in the November issue of The Rotarian.  D9270 PDG Nick Phillips was invited to talk at a RIBI conference in Belfast.

Soul of Africa was honoured at D9270 District Conference by receiving the award for the best Rotary Foundation Project in the District.

We were honoured to have a group of Rotarians from San Diego, USA visit us to discuss how best they could help our District with AIDS orphans’ projects.  We will also be welcoming a visit, in March, of Rotarians from District 7080 in Canada.  District 7080 has been very supportive of Soul of Africa.

Well, we have made a start.  In the context of the 200 000 – 300 000 vulnerable children in our District, 1300 might not seem a lot.  Remember though, without Rotary’s help, those 1300 children’s plight would be even worse.  Remember too, with more money and resources, we can do a lot more than we are doing now.

SOUL OF AFRICA IN ONE PAGE

Many Rotarians want more information on Soul of Africa.  What follows are the essentials in a condensed form.  If your club is interested, a speaker can be arranged for a club evening.

OBJECT:              To help children disadvantaged by the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa, while assisting them to remain in their communities.

PURPOSE:           To give specific care, counselling and support and provide, as far as possible, the equivalent of parental support.

FUNDING:            There are two sources –

Firstly:                  Rotary funding is available, through Matching Grants, to fund facilities, equipment and training.  District 9270 will help clubs access these funds or they can do so through their own contacts.  The SOA committee can help with this if required.  To date, through generous cooperation from Canadian clubs in District 7080, more than R500 000 has been sourced and clubs will soon be starting on their projects.  There will be more funding from this source in the new Rotary year. 

Secondly:               The Shoes South Africa Charitable Trust makes funds available for renovating old or constructing new buildings. 

This funding combination makes an excellent and synergistic partnership.  Clubs are required to provide $1 000 towards the funding for a large project and will get back R50 000 to R70 000 through Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and up to        R250 000 from Soul of Africa, if buildings are required

METHOD:

Phase 1:                Seek out existing, or create new, facilities that care for pre-school children on a non-residential daily basis. 

Establish whether any or all of the children are cared for at little or no charge and the reasons why.  If this is so, decide whether the facilities are in need of upgrading and work out a budget for this.  We can assist with model budgets if required. 

Establish whether any NGO’s are active in the area and the community dynamics.  It is essential that the community as a whole buy into the scheme.  Without this, it will be doomed to failure. 

Completion of Phase 1 will have an immediate benefit for all the children directly in the care of the pre-school because of better facilities, equipment, training and food security.

Phase 2:                Invariably it will be established in Phase 1 that there are children unable to pay for their care in the pre-school.  Most of them will have older or younger siblings who may also be in need of help.  This is where the program really comes into it’s own. 

Ideally these children should be kept off the streets. With the assistance of community involvement, homework clubs can be started and sports facilities set up (pool tables, table tennis, volleyball, netball or basket ball are all possible.) Computer equipment is often essential for older children.  Literacy projects may be necessary.  Some children may not be attending school and need school fees, uniforms and encouragement to do so.  The children may also need life skills and vocational training. Primary school children usually get a meal at school but high school kids don’t. There may be hungry children out there. 

Phase 3:                If there are children in need of help, it means that the community is not functioning properly.  Sensitive investigation will reveal what is needed.  Influencing factors may be unemployment, scarcity of food, lack of education and training, conflict or a host of other things that will reduce community functionality. 

This opens up opportunities for Rotarians to do what they do best.  Literacy, skills training, food lots or tunnels, health projects, clean water and job creation to name a few, are waiting for your help. 

Talk with the community and enjoy the cooperation and success of projects because they are wanted and needed.

Get involved with Soul of Africa.  Help reduce crime now and in the future.  Help uplift people less fortunate than us.  Most of all, know that you have made a difference in the lives of the innocent children who have been made vulnerable by the scourge of HIV/AIDS that is sweeping our country, Africa and the world.

Contact Pat Draper if you want more information on 27 (0)82 570 1482 or 27 (0)31 767 3325 or padrap@dpaconsult.co.za