Sister Grace continues to identify those in need in the Waterberg, and writes to say:

“Thank you for the ongoing support towards the Acts of Mercy project, which has made a huge impact to less privileged families in Vaalwater community.”

• The needy are able to receive food parcels financed by The Waterberg Trust.
• Vulnerable families receive items donated by St Johns Church and others.
• Children continue to enjoy meals provided by school feeding schemes.
• Schoolgirls no longer miss lessons as they receive free sanitary pads.
• The youth participate in sporting activities, which keep them off the streets
• Youth get free computer lessons and gain skills in poultry farming, agriculture.
• Locals have gained short-term and permanent jobs on surrounding farms, at lodges and with the local municipality.

There are challenges:

• Prices have increased dramatically.
• Irresponsible people spend money on alcohol and gambling instead of food.
• Orphaned children’s grant money can be abused by caregivers. Such issues are handled by social workers.
• Community theft has increased in our township. Those involved are youth under substance abuse, school dropouts and the unemployed.
• Damaged roads with potholes.

Sister Grace assisted a homeless young man who was sleeping on a dump without a blanket or proper clothing. “I noticed he had mental illness. He had arrived in Vaalwater from KZN by foot.”  

“I went with him to the supermarket to buy food.” He was offered a vacant room, bathed and provided with clean clothes. Well-wishers donated a foam mattress for him to sleep on. “I bought him a blanket and took him to the local government clinic to seek medical help but he was not assisted due to not having a mental illness history and not having a passport.” After spending a month in Vaalwater, a cousin managed to buy him a bus ticket and he was successfully put on bus heading for Mozambique where he was welcomed home.

Winter nights have been very cold in the Waterberg this year and children often lack warm clothing.

Donated clothes have been distributed to those in need

Toys were donated to a creche and drawing pencils to a Grade 11 student passionate about art

THE KNITTING CLUB has been active

“We knitted blankets and beanies which were donated to the needy during winter season.”

Thank you for the ongoing support, which has made a huge impact in the Vaalwater community. The sanitary pads benefit many girls who are now able to attend classes.

Your donations are highly appreciated. TWT has Justgiving page here

and can accept donations in all the conventional ways – please see our page here