Projects

Through Wil Groot's stay in South Africa we have gained an extensive network of projects. Based on our experiences in South Africa we have decided to financially support a number of projects. We have defined the following three focus points that we will devote our support to in 2009:

1. Ons Plek (Our Place)
As in previous years we will support the running of 'Ons Plek' in Bloemfontein in the Transkei and contribute to the expansion of the housing and care capacity.

2. De Transkei
We want to contribute to reducing malnutrician in the area around Coffee Bay (located in the Transkei). These activities are coordinated with staff from Ons Plek however it is intended that the benefits will extend beyond Ons Plek.

3. De Ciskes around Cape Town
"Ciskes" is the collective name that Wil gave to homeless youths in his weblog from townships around Cape Town, in reference to an endearing street kid from the Dutch movie 'Ciske the Rat'. For this type of smaller projects we have allocated 10% of our budget. We are working together with Homestead, an organization that provides shelter for these youths at the Selesian Institute and educates them through their 'learn to live' program.

Ons Plek Transkei

The surroundings of the coastal town of Coffeebay in the Transkei are beautiful, in particular during the wet season when everything is green. The hills roll out to the ocean where rocky cliffs break the waves. This beauty is in shrill contrast to the hardships of existence in this region. AIDS is so big a taboo that official statistics are not released, and in addition poverty, underfeeding and TBC are widespread.

Charity projects around the big cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg often have better access to funding. In the remote, rural, regions fewer projects are initiated and we are very happy that we can provide support in this region through Deon Mulder's project.

Khaya Lethu
Deon Mulder has lived in this region for years and has worked with leprosy patients, amongst others. He has very good contacts in the local population. These contacts are very necessary as it is impossible to undertake projects without the consent of the chiefs and tribal authorities. In 2007 Deon was asked if he could set up a care facility here. One Longdavel and three rondavel (round huts) were renovated with money that Wil managed to raise from one of his contacts.

The project here is called Khaya Lethu - Our Place in Xhosa - and is located 10 minutes from Coffeebay. In Kahya Lethu 20 orphans can be housed. The daily operations are the responsibility of Lulama, a lady from the Xhosa community. The project is coordinated by Gerry and Christene, a white South African couple. They assess whether a child should be cared for at Khaya Lethu or whether there are possibilities to provide care within the community.

The children aged 6 years and over attend school located opposite the project. For the younger children a pre-school is housed in one of the rondavels. The pre-school is open to children outside the project, who can also enjoy a hearty hot meal 3 times a week, made from home grown produce. It is important that the children will attain the entry level for primary school at the right age, otherwise they may fall outside the education system.

The project in the Transkei is strongly anchored in the local community, and this in the only way a project here can be successful. Ladies from the region have planted an excellent vegetable garden, and we want to encourage people to plant vegetable gardens at their own houses. Through this project they have access to tools, seeds and fertilizer to get started.

Coffeebay
Land has been purchased in the town of Coffeebay. A second care facility will be build here to provide care to babies and the youngest children. Construction is due to start in 2009. Funds for the building were raised through a gala night that the Zaans Offensief organised for Willen & Doen in 2008.

Further activities in the region
The boundaries of the project in the Transkei are not as clear cut as in Bloemfontein. We want to make a positive contribution to the development of this region as a whole. We are providing support to other pre-schools in the region, which has reached around 90 children. The rebuilding of two of those schools has been made possible through the Valentine's fundraising activities on the Zeedijk in Amsterdam.

In addition we provide support to some families, like one lady looking after 9 children. Her own children have passed away; these are children of "family" which includes more than just relatives in this region. This type of home based care prevents the children having to be housed and cared for elsewhere.