Achieving a goal is a great feeling but achieving a goal when the odds are stacked against you is a blessing and a feeling like no other. They wear their colours of achievement with pride and the smiles on their faces, knowing they accomplished something, is priceless. Through fundraising, monthly and once-off contributions, visits and time spent with these shining stars, YOU’ve unlocked a world of potential. Here’s how you’ve made a difference:

Maria Kloppers Campus        Satellite Homes     Langlaagte Campus

Johanna Malan ECDC:

The annual school play shone a spotlight on one of the girls, and shine she did! Thuto (pseudonym), was one of the narrators for the “The Bible” themed school play and has been at JMECDC since 2015. For the first year and a half at the pre-school, she struggled to talk, would mumble and nobody could understand her. She was three at the time and could not even speak her native language. Her parents were advised to take her for speech therapy, which worked wonders. It took a lot of hard work and patience but she did it. “It was quite an achievement for her to stand on stage, memorise and speak all her lines with confidence and clarity. She will be graduating from Grade R this year and is one of our top academic pupils”, says Betsie Momsen – Principal at JMECDC.

Westbury

Taking a taxi or bus to town is normal for many but for the children of Westbury, it is an experience. This year, our beneficiaries were able to visit an art gallery, attend a theatre show and visit the zoo. Our teens are looking forward to their annual youth camp in December. The Westbury campus has also started a reading club that helps beneficiaries who struggle with reading, writing and spelling.

AKB Extended Family programme in Zola

Mabel and Xena from our home-based care programme in Soweto are doing well and are working towards a better future for themselves. Mabel’s grandmother is diabetic and does not receive a pension grant, which has put a strain in the family’s finances. But that hasn’t deterred Mabel from wanting to do well in her studies. She was in the Top 10 top learners for the Grade 8 class at her school and was awarded with a certificate.

Xena is a Math whiz! She received an award for Mathematics from Hard Workers SA and was invited to appear on SABC 1’s kids’ current affairs programme, Kids News Room. This young writer and avid story book reader has written a selection test at the Curtis Nkondlo School of Specialisation in hopes of being placed in 2020.

*All names have been changed

Ons blink sterre

Dit is wonderlik om ‘n doel te bereik, maar om ‘n doel te bereik teen alle verwagtinge is ‘n seën en ‘n ongelooflike  gevoel.  Die kinders dra hul prestasies soos ‘n kleed, en die groot glimlagte en trotse houding oor wat hulle bereik het, is net “price-less”.

Fondswerwing, maandelikse en eenmalige en enige ander donasies, uitstappies en besoeke aan ons blink sterre, ontsluit  ‘n wêreld van potensiaal.  JY, liewe donateur, bied hierdie wêreld.  Hier is ‘n ander voorbeeld van hoe JY die wêreld verbeter:

Maria Kloppers Kampus    Satelliethuise   Langlaagte Kampus

Johanna Malan ECDC

Die jaarlikse konsert van die Vroeë Kinderontwikkelingsentrum het die kollig op Thuto laat skyn.  Thuto het geskitter!  Thuto was een van die vertellers tydends die skoolkonsert:  Die Bybel.  Sy is sedert 2015 by die skool en tydens die eerste 18 maande kon sy beswaarlik praat, sy het gemompel en niemand kon haar verstaan nie.  Op 3-jarige ouderdom kon Thuto nie haar eie taal praat nie.  Spraakterapie en baie harde werk en hope geduld het ‘n wonderwerk tot gevolg gehad.

“Dit is ‘n puik prestasie vir Thuto om op die verhoog te staan, al die woorde te kon leer en memoriseer en al haar woorde met selfvertroue en klokhelder uitspraak te lewer.  Thuto het Graad R geslaag en is een van die top akademiese leerlinge.” Sê Betsie Momsen – Prinsipaal van die Johanna Malan Vroeë Kinderontwikkelingsentrum.

Westbury

‘n Taxi- of busrit stad toe, is so alledaags, maar nie vir die kinders in ons Westbury program nie.  Net so uitsonderlik was die besoek aan die UJ Kunsgalery, Teater en die Dieretuin.  Daar is groot opgewondenheid vir ‘n groepie tieners wat eersdaags ‘n jeugkamp gaan bywoon.  Die Westbury program het ‘n leesklub begin vir al ons kinders, veral vir die wat so sukkel met lees, spel en skryf.

AKB Extended Family Programme in Zola

Mabel en Xena is deel van ons tuissorgprogram in Soweto.  Dié twee dogters werk regtig hard om hul toekoms te verbeter.  Mabel se ouma is diabeties en sy ontvang nie ‘n  pensioen wat die familie kan versorg nie.  Midde van hierdie moeilike omstandighede het Mabel vanjaar ‘n akademiese sertifikaat ontvang as een van die Top 10 Leerlinge in Graad 8.

Xena is die Wyse Wiskundige!  Xena ontvang ‘n sertifikaat vir Wiskunde prestasie vanaf Hard Workers SA en is genooi na SABC 1 se aktualiteitsprogram;  Kids News Room.  Hierdie boekwurmpie en jong skrywer het die keuringstoets van Curtis Nkondo School of Specialization geskryf, met die hoop dat sy ‘n plek in die gesogte skool sal hê in 2020.

*Alle name is verander