October 18th, 2009 | Published in Feedback
There has been been a lot of activity at Kuyasa the last three months. Read in the latest Kuyasa newsletter how Kuyasa football teams is making a splash, about the first safe house out of a planned sixth that was launched and much more.
See the attached newsletter and catch up with all the latest new from Kuyasa.
March 28th, 2009 | Published in Experience, Feedback, Visit
In October 2008 two sponsors visited the child they are sponsoring in Khayamandi, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Read more about their experience, which gave them a real insight into Kuyasa’s work. Here’s their story.
While being on holiday in South Africa we contacted Kuyasa, after getting the contact details from the Hopefeedr organisers in London. We spoke to Pumla who is responsible for the Child Sponsorship Program and asked her what specific needs the boy had that we are sponsoring have. After speaking to his mom and teacher, she told us that he needed school shoes, a school jersey, a school bag and trainers. Pumla said we shouldn’t give too much to ensure that it not disproportionate to what the other children receive. However, whatever we give will be greatly appreciated. We decided to buy school shoes, a jersey and a school bag that we filled with bubble gum (chappies) and marshmallows.
When we arrived at Kuyasa he was already waiting for us in the office with his mother. He was much smaller than we imagined. Although we were told that he wears size two shoes, the new pair were way too big for him. This, however, didn’t stop him from immediately kicking of his old shoes and putting on the shoes we brought him. He couldn’t speak English, only Xhosa, so Pumla translated. This little guy really touched our hearts. The need is so big and visible everywhere throughout Kayamandi. We also had a glimpse of how the sponsorship programme works, he showed us his ‘Pick ‘n Pay’ (supermarket) card. Kuyasa tops up this store card with money each month – so his mother can buy food for him and his family. They can only buy essential items such as milk, flour, bread etc.
We will never forget how pleased he was with his new shoes, bag and jersey. When he left he must have looked back at least five times. In his eyes was a sense of excitement and disbelieve that someone cares enough for him to bless him with these gifts.
It was great to see how things are working at Kuyasa and we were happy to see that our money is well spent by investing in a little boy’s life.
March 16th, 2009 | Published in Background
Since the start of the hopefeedr website almost a year ago, more than 50 children’s lives have been transformed by the sponsorship they receive through the site. To date, more than £6,000 has been paid in sponsorships to Kuyasa’s Child Sponsorship Program (CSR) in Kayamandi near Stellenbosch, South Africa.
A sponsorship is so much more than just a monthly payment, it’s an investment into a community heavily burdened by unemployment, poverty and HIV/AIDS. For every sponsored child one mum, dad, grandmother or caregiver is supported in their effort to raise a child with dignity. A sponsorship provides basic necessities like food and clothing, but above all peace of mind that the child will be looked after even if their carer passes away - this stands at the heart Kuyasa’s home-based care programme (CSR). Its holistic focus ensures that a child’s physical needs are met, and their community uplifted through skills development and employment programmes.
You can be sure that your sponsorship is hard at work in Kayamandi, transforming and empowering the lives of various people. If you are thinking about sponsoring a child, we want to encourage you to take the plunge. It will be the best £20 you spend every month. Alternatively, you can sponsor a child together as a group of friends.
We would like to improve communication between the sponsors and the children. Some of our sponsors have already written letters to the children they are sponsoring and a few children have sent cards and letters in return. In future we will be sharing the experiences of sponsors who have visited their sponsored child in Kayamandi.
What does the next few months hold for hopefeedr? A few exciting initiatives are in the pipeline. Keep an eye out for more information soon. Please feel free to make any suggestions on how we can improve your experience of sponsoring a child by posting a comment below.