We have
just completed the first quarter of our 7th year at Mamelani Projects. In
agriculture, the 7th year represents the year of harvest. Our year has begun
with a fresh air of possibility and the first signs of new buds blossoming. We
have just planted our very own vegetable garden at our office. We will
hopefully be able to eat fresh organic lunches and share the surplus with our
projects. Our thanks go out to Jolene Cartmill for her creativity and support
of our little garden.
2009 closed with reflection on each of
the programmes, highlighting areas that needed improvement as well as
celebrating successes. These learnings were used as the basis of our planning
at the start of this year.
Community-based
Health Education Programme:
In this last cycle we reached 60
individuals from HIV support groups, home-based care groups and community
groups. The information was well received and participants have shown
commitment and enthusiasm over the 7 weeks that our facilitators have spent
with them. One participant had this to say about the workshops:
“I learnt a lot because now I
am well informed about different things that can help a person to stay healthy.
I learnt about the practical steps I can take to stay healthy like the
importance of exercising”
We are excited that UCT Dietetics
students will be placed with Mamelani this year. They will be assisting us in
developing our health education programme. In this first quarter their students
have been assessing the nutritional component of our training manual.
Nonoza
Education Fund – Supporting Children and Families:
The counsellors have been back at the
schools for one term now. Many new cases have been referred by teachers and the
counsellors continue to work with learners and their parents. In this last
term, grade 1’s and 2’s at Zerilda Park attended workshops with Living Hope in
order to deal with the issues of bullying that had been identified as a
problem. Parents of identified learners completed their skills training courses
recently.
One of the parents gave us this
feedback:
“I want to thank you for all
you have done for me. I am someone because of you. When I have a problem, I
know what to do and where to go. I want to say thank you very much for the gift
that God has given you to help people. Please continue to do so”
Project Lungisela – from youth at risk to youth at work:
The youth from Project Lungisela have
really started to shine. Of the 25 individuals who have left the Children’s Home
over the last 2 years, 23 of them are now busy with positive activities – they
are either in school, in a learnership/internship or they are working. This is
a good indication of the success of the programme, as prior to the programme,
majority were sitting at home. Just this month, 3 of the young men have started
learnerships with Knead Bakery, where they will further their skills. This is
what Lukanyo had to say about starting his learnership:
“I’m so grateful that I have
this opportunity to prove myself I want to make the best of it and I know that
I have a responsibility toward myself and the other guys in the programme”
This is what their manager had to say
about them: “You will be pleased to know that Lukhanyo and Gcobani are doing
fantastically. I have only been getting positive feedback about their time at
work and their eagerness to learn and be part of the team. They are really
doing a great job representing Mamelani and Knead alike. We really want to keep
them on because of their fantastic attitudes and hard work” – HR Manager at
Knead Bakery.
The Department of Social Development has asked Mamelani to pilot the model we
have developed through Project Lungisela, with foster care children, preparing
these young people for independent living. We will be working closely with our
partners, The Homestead and Amandla KuLutsha in impmelemtning the pilot
programme over the next 18 months. This is an exciting opportunity for us and
we will be sharing progress with you in the coming months.
Income Generation:
Mamelani has embarked on two income generating initiatives, both using recycled
materials to develop beautiful products. “Lucky Spaji” is making funky wallets
from recycled boxes and “Global Crafters” is making woven handbags from T-shirt
offcuts. Both are available from local retail outlets and directly from
us. Please email us if you would like to know more.
We would like to thank the Inspirational Breathwork Foundation for their
support and for facilitating stress releasing breathing sessions with our
staff. A big thanks to Katie Shalk from the USA who was an intern with Mamelani
for the last 3 months. We are grateful for the time and energy she put into the
organisation – and we wish her well in all her future endeavours! We are
also grateful to Kimberley Lombard and Colleen Aber from Regis University who
visited the organisation as part of a NPO management exchange organized by
EDUCO. We are grateful for their enthusiasm and flexibility – and look forward
to hosting more students in the future.
Lastly, we are grateful to you for your
interest in our work. Together, we can continue to build healthier communities.
