December 2013 – Clouds Update
As you know, I am a local town councillor, and this time of the year calls for lots of final/ urgent decisions. Also the sad passing of our beloved Nelson Mandela has meant having to attend memorial services held in the district. I just hope and pray that the leaders of our wonderful country take his lessons seriously – the struggle is certainly not over and the long walk to freedom for all not there yet. The children, he so dearly loved, are really not getting the life they deserve. My work in the townships with the poorest of the poor continues endlessly. We relied pretty heavily on the Lotto funding – in hindsight not a good idea to rely on anything connected to government funding. Something you and I have discussed over the years. The payment of mothers and for the salary of our Manager Steve and Zesizwe our Social development officer is not covered with the small social grant we get for the children. Most funders want to fund specific projects such as buildings and are not really interested in ongoing costs. We have been going over 10 years and the costs of refurbishment, maintenance of the cottages etc is now coming to the fore. Do you know most of the cottages still have the furnishings you sent out in the container from Canada from the Hotel groups? The move of the junior children to Reichenau school has proved to be a huge success. The children have settled well and the Christian environment in which they learn is really encouraging. We are thrilled with their results. The 4 students at Underberg Academy (Jenny Grinwiss’ School) have all passed and will go onto the next grade- praise the Lord- They do however have challenges with Maths as a result of the basics not having been learned. Personally I think when Pierre and Jackie left as teachers of Faithway they took the sound basic education instilled in the children with them! We have indeed been blessed, that an anonymous sponsor has agreed to continue funding their fees so they can continue at this fine academy. The 3 girls at Lawhill Maritime School have done well and settled very well a long way from home. They are at home for the school Christmas holidays and hopefully will share their good experience and encourage the other children. The move to Enhlanhleni did not go as well as we had hoped- and we are going to rather send the other high school children to Dlangani School- just outside Bulwer. It is a church school albeit government and the school is achieving very good high school results. Tsidie and Lucky just did not do well.- both failed their grade. Dlangani ,known for their focus on Mathematics and Science , is highly recommended. They are also happy to take on Tsidie and Lucky so they can at least get to a level where they can go to a trade school. The headmistress is a very competent person and I , in my investigations, have only heard excellent comments about her as head of the school. Cynthia has been to the school to discuss us sending Clouds of Hope High School children there. We will have to re- introduce Saturday and Holiday school for the children as they all need to the extra lessons in all subjects to ensure that they do not lag behind the average student results. Our problem right now is transport as well and we had hope to raise funds through Lotto for this too. Our little babies, Michael, Bandile and...
Read MoreJanuary 2013 – Clouds Update
We have managed to secure a bursary for Thato Jama- to study to be a Human Rights Lawyer. Tsepo Jama to be a Teacher- awaiting confirmation from Premiers office for his bursary, and Pumla who as I said in previous mail has funding. However the budget for feeder bursary is a contingency budget and to cover stationery, books and education equipment needed. At the moment the parents are only paid R3000 per month as house parents . Sisizwe is house mother and the Social development officer for the children’s home and because funding has not been secured for her position through lottery the HWH, is paying the extra R5000 per month hence budget shows R8000. However, next year 2014, when there are more young adults, the HWH parents responsibilities will be greater and will be paid...
Read MoreDecember 2012 – Clouds Update
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff, and all the children of Clouds of Hope, we would like to thank you very much for your generosity to us over this past year. We have had a good year of achievement at Clouds. We have always believed that a sound education is our very best gift to our children. They are generally doing well, and wonderful opportunities have been offered to some of the older ones for bursaries for tertiary study, and scholarships to complete their schooling. Programs for those who are not so academically-inclined are also in place. With the assistance of the German group Be Your Own Hero, and the USA charity Children’s Chance for Life, we have made our dream of a Halfway House a reality. However, with a large group of our children going to “Big School” for the first time in 2013, (oh my, the excitement!) we have a long way to go. Our biggest challenge continues to be covering our running costs. Our useful premises and added developments allow us to provide the services that we know our children need, but without running costs to cover such essentials as Caregivers, food, clothing, education, transport, electricity and water, maintenance etc, we would not be able to keep going. So we are particularly grateful to you for your contribution. Without your help, we would not be able to keep the home-fires burning. Every good wish from all of us, to you and your family for a joyful, peaceful and blessed Christmas, and health and happiness in 2013. Cynthia Pitt On behalf of the Board of Directors Clouds of Hope Children’s Christian Care Centre “Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one more thing – a grateful heart.” ~ George...
Read MoreOctober 2012 – Clouds Update
Thanks so much for your continued support- it has now been over 10 years since we first Sat at the Polo restaurant and went through my stratplan for the children’s home. So much has been achieved- it is really a blessing and dream realised in particular now that the next stage- the Halfway House/SAARHOME has been developed and is up and running. The young adults who have moved in are so excited about their future. We await in anticipation the matric results of Tsepo and Thato Jama. Pumla has passed her 2nd year at Rhodes where she is studying journalism. She has grown into a lovely, responsible young lady and has been such a pleasure to have in the HWH this holiday. She has managed to obtain a bursary for her last year. In her words to me “Mom Trish- my fees are sorted for next year. You don’t have to worry.” To my knowledge the HWH is the first of its kind in the country and hopefully can become a benchmark for other children’s homes. Thank you so much for the payment toward the school fees for the children. School fees are a huge, but so necessary, burden on our budget. It has been proved over and over again that the saviour of our country will be education and we just cannot afford to not give our children the best education that is backed with a Christian ethos. Also there is still no other high school alternative in our area, so we have to rely on the Faithway School to take our children through to matric (grade 12). I have been advised that the Dept of Education will not be putting in a FET ( further education training) college in Kwa Sani- they have allocated a large amount of funding for this into Umzimkulu- over 120kms from here. Hence we will need to introduce formal skills training for our young adults who will not go onto university into the HWH/ Clouds property. I am working with the Farmers Association and other organisations on this. Under His guidance and with prayer I know this will be achieved. Will keep you posted. Think we need Chris Lear (or someone he has now trained) here again for a couple of months to help with the building skills...
Read More