Some of you might have noticed from our FB Posts and fundraisers last year that we are investing in the repairs and fixing up of an orphanage / safety house in Khayelitsha township located on the outskirts of Cape Town in the Western Cape. Our goal is to make it a more sound and safe structure and to create a safer and happier home for the children. A safe structure is the main requirement from government, Social Development Department in order for them to qualify for financial assistance. We have been so lucky with sponsorships to help us create a new reality for them. It is still a work in progress as the many needs are ongoing.

Sharing with you some BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES of some of the wall painting work done. We manage to also give Lesley the artist and painter an opportunity to generate an income. We just love the new life he brought into their space.

Here are also some WORDS DIRECTLY FROM MA VIOLET - PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDER OF SINOTHANDO

“Sinothando is a Xhosa word meaning “we have love”. I started this centre because of a small baby who was abandoned by her mother on the streets. I picked up this baby and took her home. I have not seen her mother since that day and I have raised her as one of my children. She is now doing her 3rd year in university. This motivated me to think of building a centre and safe house for babies and children like the one I picked up on the street. In February 2009, I then sacrificed my home to make a home for these children. We have taken in children from 0 - 14 years. Some brought to us by police officers and some by social workers. These children come from different situations, some rape victims, some have TB and others are HIV positive.”

Last week on the 22nd of April we celebrated EARTH DAY. With the help of the lovely Jade at Sprightly Seed who donated and helped us plant lemon, apple and peach trees in our vegetable food garden in the township.

This day is a little reminder to help us change our habits. Let’s together INVEST IN OUR PLANET, because a green future is a prosperous future. This is a good time to plant a tree, start recycling, learn composting or just simply go for a walk in nature. We need grounding as much as we need the air and the sun. Stop and smell the roses :)

This week we also came across this amazing Exhibition by Precious Okoyomon, an installation view of To See The Earth Before the End of the World, 2022, at the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, “The Milk of Dreams,” 2022. The installation uses a variety of organic materials—including butterflies, invasive plant species, raw wool, dirt, and blood—to create and animate life-size sculptures of unknown beings. Deliberately abstract in their representation, these dirt- and blood-encrusted molded forms could be deities, ancestors, or even more ambitious, our future selves. The ambiguity as to what they are allows audiences to become storytellers alongside the work and the artist. I’m including some pics here.

As we approach a colder season in Cape Town, our Soup Kitchen stands by to serve those in need.

Serving the hungry patients visiting the clinic in Scottsdene, a very poor community whose basic livelihood is being threatened due to loss of jobs and lack of food. The ladies serving are our true heroes. They live in conditions of extreme poverty yet still give selflessly of their time to cook and serve soup weekly at the community clinic for the sick and vulnerable as well as deliver soup to the homes of the elderly in the community.

Our Soup KItchen at the community clinic helps feed people living with HIV/AIDS & Tuberculosis, who need to take medication with food in their stomachs.

Life in the poor communities of Cape Town is not easy. Many households are deeply affected by HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and persistent unemployment.

Our Nutrition Programme at the clinic alone, feeds over 2000 mouths every month.

HELP US DO MORE.

https://www.areachinghand.com/donate

The children were super excited to receive these knitted items from Annette in Denmark. Hand delivered to us by her brother Hans Svensson. A suitcase full of handmade jerseys, scarves and caps. Thank you Annette for your labour of LOVE and helping us keep the little ones warm for our upcoming winter. You took our breath away with all the uniquely made pieces! We appreciate you so much and know that so much time have gone into this!!! Bless the hands that made it 💙

To Hans, thank you for always having the kids best interest at heart 💙💙💙

This week we delivered a donation of clothes and toys. Visiting the kindergarten is always heartwarming. There is something about being in the presence of children. So much care and emotion shared when we connect. It is so important for the children to see us, and visa versa. They need us as much as we need them.

It is only February and there are already so many children. Much more than previous years during February. Families have no income. with so many still looking for work since the pandemic. The kindergarten provides a safe place while they go out to try to find work and they know the children get nutritious meals to keep them healthy. It is because of your donations we can do the work and give hope. Thank you!

STAY SAFE EVERYBODY.

New seedlings for a healthy new year for the children at the kindergarten. This garden feeds up to 80 children per day. Children need the right fuel for growing, learning and developing.

We have big dreams this year to expand growth within our garden programme. Watch this space :)

Thank you to our donor who help us make this happen!!!

#areachinghandfoodgarden