Category Archives: Community projects

Thanks to all who supported The Waterberg Trust Cycle Challenge 2024

May 13, 2024Charity fundraising event, Community projects, Nonprofit, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorizedbicycle, bike, bikes, biking, charity cycle ride, Charity fundraising, charity fundraising bike ride, Charity fundraising event, Cycle challenge Cambridgeshire Hertfordshire Befdfordshire, cycling, Long distance riding, Travel, Waterberg Charity RideSophie Neville

A massive thank you to all who have donated to The Waterberg Trust so generously this year. It really is most appreciated. The Waterberg a small part of Africa where we really can make a big difference.

For anyone who hasn’t quite got around to making their donation yet, it’s easiest on the JustGiving site where +25% GiftAid is easy to add:

https://www.justgiving.com/waterbergtrust/donate

It was a beautiful May morning when around 60 riders gathered in Fen Ditton to take part in this year’s amazing 80-mile TWT charity cycle ride around Cambs, Herts and Beds. Riders made a sterling effort to overcome the dreaded Rail Replacement Bus service by staying locally or joining us from Royston.

After greetings and reunions of TWT ride old-timers over coffee and pastries, the cyclists set of in their groups heading south along the cycle ways of Cambridge, past Addenbrokes’ biomedical campus and out through the Shelfords in the cool of the early morning. Turning west at Duxford, we wound our way up the hills (yes there are some!) of South Cambridgeshire, past Chrishall and Chishill.

Barry acting as sweeper, collecting TWT ride signs, lost his group who had taken a scenic detour via Newton and Thriplow. But all was well as teams arrived for the now world-renown Franklin’s hand-made scotch eggs and flapjacks, heartily consumed with much needed drinks at Reed village hall.

From here we crossed the rolling North Hertfordshire countryside, with spectacular views dotted with chromium yellow rape fields, before heading north where all made it safely back over the A505 to Ashwell. Here we overlapped with a seemingly never ending stream of classic MG cars on a rally as we wound our way through the more pastoral Bedfordshire with a notable uptick in village greens hosting cricket matches, an idyllic English summer’s day!

And indeed the temperature was rising fast, it was baking by the time we made it to our amazing lunch stop and the welcoming hospitality of the Whitbread’s at Southill Park and much needed drinks and sustenance.

Boerewors in rolls with sautéed onions and Mrs Balls chutney gave a very Waterberg, South African touch to a delicious lunch with quiches, salads and lemon drizzle cake from Elaine Franklin.

Such was the enthusiasm of the riders that all but about a dozen decided to continue on the full 80-mile course. We had such an incredible range of cyclist from first comers, who had never cycled more than a couple of miles, to those using the day as a training for upcoming 300km rides. The way home was shorter but somehow didn’t feel it and a rest and tea & cake was enjoyed by many at Wimpole Hall NT cafe.

Coming back in to Cambridge along Grantchester meadows was somewhat tricky for us as half of Cambridge had decided that it was a beautiful warm sunny evening for a stroll! Many of the faster cyclists decided this would be a good time to stop for a beer, and bit by bit everyone made it back home, most to Fen Ditton where, after hot showers and cold beers, vast quantities of rice and chilli-con-carne and bean chilli were consumed to restore tired bodies: a perfect end to a very enjoyable day. Thanks also to Charles and John for great support. Thankfully, and surprisingly for so many riders, they were never called on!

For all those that sadly couldn’t make it this year, there’s always 2025!

Please do save the date: 10th May 2025, the Saturday after the May Day Bank Holiday.

All funds raised go direct to The Waterberg Trust who detail various ways you can make a donation on their website here.

Addiction Support in the Waterberg, Soth Africa

April 9, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Waterberg, Youthaddiction recovery programme, Africa, art, Charity, Limpopo Province, photography, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, Travel, WaterbergSophie Neville

An Addiction Recovery Course takes place in Vaalwater every Thursday. Held at the Farmers Hall, it will last for 15 weeks. Nursing Sister Grace, who prepares sandwiches and snacks for the beneficiaries, reported that it is going well.

Addiction Recovery Course currently being held in the Waterberg, South Africa

Sister Grace continues to supply food parcels and donated clothes to the needy in the Waterberg in South Africa. “I use different supermarkets to get fair deals on essential products and food stuffs.” Those meeting the criteria for support from the Social Development were referred to access the required intervention.

Food purchased this month for donating to those in need

The Waterberg Trust would like to thank all those who donated money to buy food parcels back in the year 2020. Those funds are still being used to buy essential supplies. Many families have been impacted. Local people and guests who visit lodges continue to donate various items for school children and the community, which is hugely appreciated.

Food parcels are collected by beneficiaries or their relatives

The Waterberg Trust accepts donations in eight different currencies on Justgiving.com and in more traditional ways as detailed on our How to Donate page on this website.

Kind donations of clothes and sanitary produced being distributed by Sister Grace in Vaalwater.

Providing on-going support for the needy in the Waterberg, South Africa

March 11, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Ending period poverty, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Education, Limpopo Province, news, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

Sister Grace is sponsored by The Waterberg Trust, a UK Registered Charity that is able to accept donations in eight different currencies via Justgiving and benefit from the UK Gift Aid scheme.

An experienced nursing sister, Grace continues to reach out to those who need support such as the elderly and the orphaned by carefully distributing food parcels, clothes, school uniform and medication much of which is provided by members of Church of St John the Baptist at 24 Rivers via their incredible Acts of Mercy project.

People come to Sister Grace with their problems — Community members come to Sister Grace with various problems

As the South African elections get closer, many political parties are helping community members with food parcels, temporary employment and learnerships in different sectors i.e. schools, creches, local clinic, road maintenance and municipal offices.

Items of clothing donated by Church of St John the Baptist being distributed to hose in need. — Items of clothing donated by Church of St John the Baptist being distributed to those in need.

The Social Relief Grant has been extended and grants such old age pensions, child support and disability allowances have been increased but some people fail to qualify or need specific help such as an elderly man who is losing his eyesight.

Homebased care nursing in the Waterberg — Homebased nursing in the Waterberg

There is a real need for home based care in the community.

“I have continued to shop from different supermarkets for essential supplies. Food parcels for beneficiaries living on the farms are collected by those closer to them or sent through lodge drivers.”

Food parcels purchased for those in need in the Waterberg

If you would like to contribute to Sister Grace’s office expenses, or make a donation towards specific items such as sanitary pads for schoolgirls or school shoes, The Waterberg Trust has a Justgiving page here. Other ways of giving are detailed on the Donate page on this website.

Small amounts of money go a long way. These hard-wearing school shoes cost £6.25.

Fourteen known beneficiaries, some of whom fall through the net of Social Services, receive food parcels and home based care, but many people in the Waterberg community have been benefiting and are truly grateful. Please give what you can.

Items of school uniform distributed carefully

Thank you for your gifts, kind donations and voluntary work

ACTS OF MERCY HAVE MADE A HUGE IMPACT IN LESEDING TOWNSHIP PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT FOR MANY FAMILIES

Acts of Mercy - helping the needy in the Waterberg — Acts of Mercy – helping the needy in the Waterberg

2024 – Talks on Addiction, Food Parcel Distribution and Home Based Care in the Waterberg, South Africa

February 6, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, Youthaddiction, Africa, Charity, food parcels for the needy in the Waterberg, health, lectures on addiction to school children in South Africa, Limpopo Province, mental-health, news, Providing school shoes for African pupils, recovery, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

The addiction counsellor Chris West-Russell speaking about the sleeping tiger of drug and alcohol abuse

The Waterberg Trust partners with St John’s Church and the Tshepo Trust to help the needy in the Waterberg, providing homebased care, food parcels and talks on addiction.

ST JOHN’S ACTS OF MERCY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2024

Sister Grace continues to distribute food parcels and clothes. ”As we began the new year I managed to buy school items for needy children. The food parcels are bought from different supermarkets to get lower prices.”

The 24 beneficaries include an elderly widow from Mozambique with no source of income, a chronically ill single Mum, a victim of sexual abuse, a teenage mum without support and other child-headed families.

If you could help by making a donation, however small, please click here for The Waterberg Trust’s Justgiving site or visit our How to Donate page.

Some of the food parcels purchased this month

PROGRESS:

Acts of Mercy has made a huge impact on many families in Vaalwater community by providing food parcels, clothes and sanitary pads for girls.
Local organizations such as the Tshepo Trust and Noko Transformation Forum are being well supported.
Some beneficiaries find jobs, others continue to receive Government Social Relief grants.
Grants for child support and the elderly were increased.
Opportunities for the youth to gain skills in gardening, poultry rearing and security work while receiving a monthly stipend are available.

School items purchased and distributed this month

CHALLENGES:

Increase in food prices
Improper spending of social grants on alcohol and gambling
Overcrowding due to migration leading to poor living conditions and sanitation
Unemployed youth get involved in substance and alcohol abuse, community theft and gender-based violence. Community members feel unsafe walking in certain areas for fear of being attacked or robbed.
Increase in the number of teenage pregnancy despite information about reproduction & health, preventative measures and access to contraceptives.

Sister Grace compiled a power point presentation to summarize work achieved with Acts of Mercy from MAY 2020 – Dec 2023. The presentation also published on this website, specifies the number of food parcels distributed, including clothes and reusable sanitary pads. “Many families benefited from the donations.”

TSHEPO HBC REPORT JANUARY 2024

Tshepo Homebased Care continues daily routine work in the community.

“We checkup on patients, provide adherence support, collect patient medication from the clinic and identify new patients for admission. All the patients on our program have chronic conditions and are assisted according to their needs i.e. wound dressing, passive exercises, bathing and weekly pill box packing. Some patients are stable and take medication while others need proper adherence counseling and regular home visits to ensure they are well informed about the importance of adherence.”

The number of patients on the program stands at 22. “There has been a great improvement in mobility after our caregivers intervened.”

PROGRESS:

Tshepo Homebased Care is recognized in the community and by the local Government clinic who refer patients and help with basic dressing materials, specimen bottles for sputum collection and TB screening tools.
Chronic medication is collected on behalf of elderly patients who can not walk to the clinic.
A speaker from the Western Cape addressed the increased number of young addicts in our community and provided caregivers with training on addiction and recovery, along with stakeholders from Noko Transformation & Anti-corruption Forum and local schools.
Tshepo Trust assisted the Noko Forum with a letter to enable them to fundraise for their organization and ask local business owners for financial donations or food stuffs.

The addiction counsellor Chris West-Russell speaking about the dangers of drug abuse

CHALLENGES:

Very sick patients, including those who need surgery or specialist intervention, wait a long time before they can be transferred to the provincial hospital. Appointments are extended to further dates, making it difficult for families to cope with caring for their loved ones.
Increase in youth-related deaths due to substance abuse, drugs and alcohol, defaulting on chronic medication
Poor family support and abandonment of sick or elderly patients left alone at home.
Tshepo Trust is short of homebased care kits, stationery, and cleaning products.

FUTURE PLANS:

To continue providing required homebased care services
To bring in those who need day care services and close monitoring
To intensify patient screening for TB and reach out in other areas
To continue liaising with stakeholders to ensure we provide the necessary services for patients and their families

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Many thanks to St John the Baptist Church at 24 Rivers who support Tshepo Trust through their Acts of Mercy initiative, providing food for patients, clothes and assistance in the office.

Highlights of 2023

January 31, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, HIV awareness, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, Orphans, Peer Education, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Trustees, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education in rural South Africa, Limpopo Province, Matric results in the Waterberg Region of South Africa, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, Sponsored ride, WaterbergSophie Neville

Sister Grace distributing packs of Dignity Dreams eco-sanitary pads in secondary schools of the Waterberg, in the Limpopo Province South Africa

School nurse Sister Grace reports “The last quarter of the year was quite hectic for learners and teachers as they had to prepare for their final exams. Grade 12’s went to educational camps and other grades were assessed before promoting them to the next grade. Teachers attended various workshops about examination invigilating, moderating of learner files and team building.“

Sister Grace also got involved in providing learners with pre-examination counseling to ensure they felt less anxious during exams. “Those who performed well progressed to the next grade.”

SCHOOL REPORT FROM NOVEMBER 2023- JANUARY 2024

The Matric results for the Vaalwater Circuit released on 19th January 2024 were lower than the previous year:

Leseding High School – 84.3%

Meetsetshehla High School – 57.8%

Mohlakamotala High School – 77.3%

Moshia High School – 17.5%

Waterberg pupils who did well in their 2023 Matriculation exams winning prizes and awards

HOWEVER, THERE WAS PROGRESS:

All schools managed to write their final exams without interruptions
Educational camps helped some learners to catch up
Average Matric learners will have access to financial support to start their dream careers, enabling them to gain skills at vocational institutions
Buses continue to transport learners to school free of charge
Sister Grace continues to distribute donated sanitary pads to girls, clothes to disadvantaged learners and the elderly in the community

ON-GOING CHALLENGES:

Lack of learning resources in some schools
Under performed results for matriculants in 2023
Leaners affected by the relocation of teachers to other schools
Poverty and lack of parental support
Teenage pregnancy and substance abuse
Learners repeating the same classes

STATISTICS:

TOTAL NUMBER OF LEARNERS SEEN INDIVIDUALLY BY THE SCHOOL NURSE FROM NOVEMBER TO JANUARY: 145

SOCIAL PROBLEMS – 55

MEDICAL ISSUES – 25

MINOR COMPLAINTS – 30

PREGNANT – 5

REFERRED FOR CONTRACEPTIVES – 30

Sister Grace donating nappies for a baby born to a teenager mother

Sister Grace conducted home visits to address various issues faced by learners by involving their parents and guardians and to check the wellbeing of new born babies and their moms. “My involvement in schools has yielded a strong and positive impact among learners, teachers and the community.“

However, we look back on 2023 with gratitude:

Keeping girls in school: As the year opened, TWT was able to give every girl entering secondary school a pack of washable eco-sanitary pads that should last them until they leave school and help them to avoid missing lessons.

A letter thinking The Waterberg Trust — A letter from a schoolgirl thanking donors for her washable eco-sanitary pads

Keeping four school vegetable gardens: Amazing supplies were delivered to the Waterberg by Andrew Smith of Environmental Impact Services who also sponsored the school vegetable gardens with seedlings, compost, shade netting and tools. This was a huge encouragement to pupils and staff.

The Environmental Club, supervised by Sister Grace, grows food for school feeding schemes.

Sister Grace gathering butternuts grown in a TWT School Vegetable Garden sponsored by EIMS — A TWT School Vegetable Garden sponsored by EIMS

Save the Waterberg Rhino has been supported by funds donated in the UK

Sponsoring a promising student Elton Chitanda, enabling him to take a degree in computer studies at Eduvos University in Gauteng – read more on this website here.

School nurse, Sister Grace continued her duties, checking newborn babies and helping the mothers with advice and practical aid.

Sister Grace monitoring the wellbeing of a newborn baby

Pupils Health Education has continued with talks for school children

Learners attending the TB Awareness Campaign in the Waterberg

Sister Grace has also been helping the homeless, including vagrants in need of psychiatric help, and families who lost their homes to fire.

200 TWT Food parcels have been distributed to needy families with beneficiaries sending relatives to collect their groceries put together by volunteers.

In partnership with St John’s Church ‘Acts of Mercy’ initiative, Sister Grace has distributed items of clothing and household essentials donated locally.

Clothes being donated to grandmothers in the Waterberg

Donated items benefit the elderly, teenage mothers and neglected children

The Knitting Club in Vaalwater have provided endless homemade woolens and blankets.

Baby clothes — Warm baby clothes donated to teenage mothers in school

The charity fundraising event of the year was the Cambridge and Bedfordshire sponsored bike ride held in May. Another is planned for the second week of Saturday 11th May 2024. Please let us know in the comments below if you are interested in joining us.

TWT Cycle Ride 2023 — A great team of cyclists gathered on Saturday 15th May to raise funds for The Waterberg Trust

TWT are planning a bike ride in the Waterberg from 1st to 8th February 2025 that will enable donors to visit the projects.

On 20th April 2024 – one of the South Africa trustees is running the 25 kilometer Oxpecker Ultra Run near Spioenkop in the northern Drakensberg.

You can support this valuable work by donating on Justgiving here and we detail other ways of donating on The Waterberg Trust website here.

The Waterberg Trust is governed by a team of trustees in the UK who meet four times a year and raise funds to finance the projects in the Waterberg.

2023 Annual Report from Sister Grace on her work for The Waterberg Trust in South Africa

December 12, 2023Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, Peer Education, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, donate for Christmas, Limpopo Province, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

School nurse Sister Grace working with Waterberg school in South Africa

In the last three years 1500 FOOD PARCELS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED, ALONG WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, TO 1000 INDIVIDUALS IN NEED .

You can make a donation on Justgiving to keep this amazing project going.

or visit our How to DONATE page

Food purchased by TWT and distributed to the needy in January 2023

ROUTINE TASKS AND INTERVENTIONS – REACHING OUT TO THE NEEDY THROUGH:

HOME VISITS TO IDENTIFY THOSE IN NEED

PRE NATAL AND POST NATAL VISITS

Monitoring a baby born to a teenage schoolgirl

FOOD PARCEL DISTRIBUTION

DONATING CLOTHES, BEDDING AND SANITARY PADS

TREATMENT SUPPORT AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES AND THE ELDERLY

TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS

WE MANAGED TO HELP A SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL MAN TO GET MEDICAL HELP AND TREATMENT. AT FIRST, HE WAS UNAPPROACHABLE AND SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME BESIDE THE ROAD WITHOUT EATING. HE’S NOW STABLE, ON TREATMENT AND BACK AT WORK

Donations of clothes support those in need in the Waterberg, South Africa

SUPPORTING LEARNERS – IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR SCHOOL LIFE – BY ADDRESSING:

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Matric students being motivated to study hard for their exams

LEARNING PROBLEMS

The Vaalwater based facilitator for Masifunde Learner Development

TEENAGE PREGNANCY

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

COUNSELING

NUTRITION – WITH A SHOOL MEALS SCHEME

Produce grown in a school vegetable garden

SCHOOL VEGETABLE GARDENS & RECYCLING PROJECT

CHALLENGES

POVERTY

ORPHANED CHILDREN

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES

INCREASED TEENAGE PREGNANCIES

SUBSTANCE & ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONGST THE YOUTH

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE RESULTING IN PHYSICAL INJURY

PROGRESS:

HELP FOR THE VULNERABLE

HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY

INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTIVES FOR TEENAGE GIRLS

SCHOOL GIRLS HAVE ACCESS TO FREE ECO-SANITARY PADS

SPONSORSHIP FOR ORPHANS AND OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS

INVOLVING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY

Sister Grace with 2023 Matric students in new uniforms

Support for the needy in the Waterberg, South Africa

September 7, 2023Africa, Charity, Community projects, Ending period poverty, HIV awareness, Limpopo Province, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthCharity, Leseding Vaalwater, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Vaalwater, Waterberg, youth opportunitiesSophie Neville

Can you imagine what it is like to be in your final term at school when you have no parents to support you?

Nursing Sister Grace has been encouraging pupils preparing for their final exams by providing them with new Matrix polo shirts.

The Waterberg Trust finds sponsorship for Sister Grace to be employed as a school nurse and equips all schoolgirls in the area with washable eco-sanitary pads so they do not miss lessons.

“I attend to various problems in the community ranging from gender-based violence and child neglect to youth who are abusing drugs but are willing to quit.” She is helping a fourteen year-old schoolgirl who fell pregnant after being raped and traumatised.

If you would like to support this amazing work, The Waterberg Trust can receive donations in a number of different ways specified on this website here and via Justgiving. You can specify how you would like your money to be spent.

Thanks to kind donors in the UK, The Waterberg Trust still funds the purchase of basic food parcels for twenty-five individuals in the area. Between March 2020 and March 2023, Sister Grace distributed a total of 644 food parcels to desperate families. Many people afflicted by hunger have been fed.

Food parcels donated by TWT supporters to help needy families in the Waterberg

CHALLENGES:

Increased food prices
Dysfunctional families neglect their children and fail to enroll them at school which results in substance abuse and theft with kids roaming the streets.
Some foreigners are turned away from the local clinic without being given treatment.

Sister Grace reaches out to those in need in the Waterberg by supporting the chronically ill and collecting medication for those at risk of defaulting on their HIV/AIDS and TB treatment.

PROGRESS:

Children continue to receive balanced meals at school.
Social Relief Grants to help sustain needy South African families.
Social clubs loan money to small businesses.
Youth-friendly activities are available such as netball, drama and choir festivals.
Shambala Private Game reserve assists the community with food and shelter.

The Knitting Club continue to knit blankets for the elderly and for teenage moms. — The Vaalwater Knitting Club continue to knit blankets for the elderly and for teenage moms.

Many thanks to local donors for ongoing support, clothes, sanitary pads and stationery for the less privileged in schools and creches.

Helping those whose lives were devastated by house fires in the Waterberg, South Africa

August 15, 2023Africa, Charity, Community projects, Ending period poverty, HIV awareness, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthCharity, Limpopo Province, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

Sister Grace (centre) distributing warm clothes to those in need in the Waterberg, South Africa

Two families lost their houses and the contents to fire recently, leaving them homeless. The Dept of Social Development managed to provide them with temporary shelter and blankets, but they had no food parcels at their offices. Among the family members were school children who lost their school uniforms and stationery.

Nursing Sister Grace says: “I managed to buy and distribute food parcels. It was not easy as the local supermarket could only allow me to buy three of each item due to lack of stock.”

If you are able to help these families, The Waterberg Trust accepts donations on Justgiving. Details of how to help in other ways can be found on this website here.

Those who received gifts of clothing and sanitary products

A student who lost her school uniform in the fire receiving donated clothes

Sister Grace continues to reach out to those in need in the Waterberg District of South Africa, offering treatment support and health education despite challenges:

High cost of living affecting poor families
Poor sanitation and no water in informal settlements
Increase in teenage pregnancy
Dysfunctional families spending money on alcohol, gambling and drugs
Community theft involving the youth
Food parcels unavailable at the Department of Social Development

Food parcels purchased for needy people with funds raised by TWT

PROGRESS:

Short term and permanent employment has been available in the local community
Youth are involved in entertainments that keep them occupied during weekends and showcase their talents i.e. choir festivals, soccer & netball, cycling and drama
The Social Relief Grant continues to benefit many

Sister Grace purchasing food to donate to the needy

KNITTING CLUB:

The knitting club continues to knit blankets and beanies which are donated to children in the community so they can keep warm this winter.

Very Many thanks to all our supporters!

Thank you for helping those in need in the Waterberg, South Africa

August 1, 2023Africa, Charity, Community projects, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Leseding Vaalwater, Limpopo Province, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

Elton Chitanda, Grace Ismail and Elvis Chitanda — Sister Grace in the Waterberg

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.

A food parcel costing very little which will keep a family going through hard times. — A TWT food parcel will keep a family going through hard times.

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.

Safely arrived in Mozambique — Arriving safely in Mozambique

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

Art materials were donated to this aspiring artist.

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

A report from the School Nurse in the Waterberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa

June 22, 2023Africa, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Limpopo Province, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Limpopo Province, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

The Waterberg Trust provides the salary for Sister Grace, a school nurse working in the schools of the Waterberg with the aim of giving young people the best possible start in life, safe-guarding their health and welfare.

If you would like to support Sister Grace’s important work in schools, provide an award or sponsor a promising pupil, please let us know in the Comments below or contact TWT direct. You can find the address along with ways of how to donate in this website here.

Sister Grace says, “My office is still based at Meetshehla Secondary School and I visit other schools once per week as planned on my roster. These are Leseding High School, Mokolo & Mahlasedi Primary Schools.”

Schools reopened on the 12^th April and lessons continued until 22nd June 2023 with no major problems. As you can see from the photo above, the Department of Health conducted a TB awareness campaign in primary and high schools, educating learners on how TB is transmitted, the preventive measures and treatment regimens.

An out break of mumps, chickenpox and measles was noticed at the two primary schools, however, the local Government Clinic rolled out a vaccination campaign in all the surrounding schools and vaccinated children from the age of 5–15 years with a measles vaccine after getting consent from parents.

Sister Grace working in schools of the Waterberg

LEARNERS FROM MEETSETSHEHLA HIGH SCHOOL WHO RECEIVED A MEASLES VACCINE

PROGRESS:

All Learners from High Schools are kept at school for longer hours including Sundays to ensure they are well prepared for exams and kept busy. This initiative was implemented in order to improve exam pass rates in surrounding schools as most learners don’t study nor submit their work as expected.
Mid-term exams went well in all schools and matriculants were motivated and prepared on various ways of performing well in final exams.
Meetsetshehla School learners were provided with buses to transport them to and from school during this winter season to help those living far away to get to school on time.
Maintenance of classrooms are taking place at Metsetshehla School, repairing of broken doors & windows, replacing electrical bulbs, fans and flooring.
Learners were occupied with various sporting activities to keep them physically fit and able to socialize. They competed with local schools and those who did well moved to the district level competitions in soccer, netball, chess and volleyball.

CHALLENGES:

Meetsetshehla High School had no water for 3 weeks due to not paying for water.
Inadequate toilets to accommodate 568 learners who spent the whole day at school i.e. only 6 portable toilets which aren’t in good condition and can pose a health risk.
Pregnant teenage mums are easily tired and lose concentration in class.
Some learners are depressed due to social issues, relationship breakups and dysfunctional family histories. Some take antidepressants and attend counseling.
Undisciplined learners are a bad influence and abscond from classes during breaks.

Sister Grace monitors the well-being of newborn babies.

BABIES BORN TO GRADE 10 AND 12 TEENAGE MOMS IN MAY 2023

I PROVIDED DONATED BABY CLOTHES, KNITTED BLANKETS AND SANITARY PADS

FUTURE PLANS:

To support girls with free sanitary pads distribution so they don’t miss classes due to menstrual issues.
To ensure each school has a vegetable garden to supplement the feeding scheme.
To revive school debating, drama, spelling and reading clubs to help learners handle complex grammar and improve their English .
To engage learners in various sporting activities to keep them off the streets and enable them to compete with other schools in the community. A sports person has been appointed by the Department of Education to engage with learners in various activities.

STATISTICS: TOTAL NUMBER OF LEARNERS SEEN INDIVIDUALLY 175

PREGNANT – 10 (5 Meetstshehla & 5 Leseding .Four of them delivered babies and are doing well.
MEDICAL ISSUES 20 (asthma, depression, epilepsy, mumps & chicken pox, ear & dental infection, migraine)
SOCIAL PROBLEMS – 35 (Poor family support, poverty, poor living condition, gender-based violence, bullying etc.)
MINOR AILMENTS – 45 (Menstruation, sports injury, headaches, common colds, menstrual pain)
REFERRAL FOR CONTRACEPTIVES – 40 (girls between ages of 13 – 17 were referred to the Local Clinic for contraceptives )
ADHERENCE COUNSELING – 25 (To learners on chronic medication for HIV, Epilepsy, antidepressants and antipsychotics)

Other learners were seen in their classes for various learning support and health talks.

Schools will be closed from 23rd June – 18th July for the winter break but Grade 9 – 12 pupils will attend extra classes during holidays.

If you would like to support Sister Grace’s work in schools, provide an award or sponsor a promising pupil, please let us know in the Comments below or contact TWT direct. You can find the address along with ways of how to donate in this website here.

Compiled By: Grace

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