GAGAzette Autumn 2024
September marks the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and the feeling of new beginnings
In South Africa it’s been a cold but eventful winter with a new government taking hold and feelings of hope and positive change in the air Our Sangobeg students and healthcare projects continue to thrive and we have some wonderful updates to share with you.
In Tanzania, the students of KYGN are back to their normal schedule of classes and exams after the disruption of the April/May rains and flooding. The new classroom block has been built and they’re enjoying spreading out in their new space, more physical room and smaller class sizes allow for more individualized attention from their teachers. The Clean Water Plumbing Project is also now fully operational and we ’ re already starting to see improved attendance and improved marks in school thanks to this major infrastructure project
As for a bit of personal news, September brings the start of my maternity leave. I’ll be on leave until the end of January 2025 and so I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a most wonderful end of the year and holiday season. I look forward to catching up when I’m back at work, and will provide a combined Winter/Spring GAGAzette in February 2025 with all the new developments and updates from our amazing project partners.
Thank you once again for your interest and support of our work, and the profoundly positive impact it brings to marginalized and vulnerable communities in Southern Africa.
With warmest wishes
Olivia Van Rensburg GAGA UK Director
Kilimanjaro Young Girls in Need
The school is back to its regular schedule after the devastating rains and flooding of April and May. The new classroom block funded by the Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust and the Jephcott Charitable Trust is complete and in use The goal of the new classroom block at KYGN was to alleviate the classroom sizes, allowing teachers to give more individual attention to students and thus improving students’ grades, exam scores and general wellbeing at school, giving them a better quality education and opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty.
It has now been nearly 9 months since the work started on the new classroom block, and we ’ re delighted with the progress of the project so far. Luckily the flooding impact to the build was minimal with only minor damage caused to the new classroom block A UKbased donor was able to visit the school in late July and reported that the building itself was complete and in use when he visited, with just the windows and doors to install This work was then completed at the end of July.
Classes P5, P6 and P7 which each have two classes (i e P5A, P5B etc) are all in the new building. This has increased capacity elsewhere, with less overcrowding of classes in the main building Teachers have reported easier and more productive classroom experiences throughout the school, and the children are overjoyed to be receiving more individualised care and attention As a reminder, the school already had enough teachers to cover the new classes, so the classroom block has simply allowed space for smaller classes and more physical room.
Thank you once again to our wonderful Trust and Foundation partners for making this positive change possible to the students of KYGN!
(Pictured: Class P5 in the new classroom block before windows were installed )
1000 Hills Community Helpers
The Baby Wellness Clinic at 1000 Hills Community Helpers has been overjoyred to receive donations of blankets, baby beanies, jerseys and clothing from local sponsors. The Baby Wellness Clinic remains a great need for vulnerable mothers out in the community.
The team have also received positive feedback on their family planning efforts. More mothers have become open to the family planning programme, taking control of their future by attending workshops and talks, and taking birth control The educational health talks and support groups amongst other mothers are making a positive impact within the Inchanga community
The nursing team have reported that they continue to see cases of abandonment, and this is where the community care givers play a vital role It is through these home visits out in the community that the team are able to identify such cases Through the efforts of the nursing team in the clinic, 1000 Hills Community Helpers have been able to decrease the number of these cases by getting ahead of suspected neglect, malnourishment or abuse of children in the home. They have also been focusing attention on the postpartum period by providing new mothers with the support that they need including counselling and emotional support
Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust
The winter months have been a busy time at the HACT Respite & Palliative Care inpatient unit Over June and July, the unit participated in a five week visit programme with Nation Changers, a South African community development and empowerment NPO. These visits were more than just moments of encouragement and prayer; they brought hands and words of comfort and support for the unit’s patients. Each week, a small group of volunteers brought their heartfelt prayers but also thoughtful gifts including beanies, socks, biscuits, and adult coloring books
These kinds of visits matter deeply to the patients in the respite unit in so many ways, including emotional and spiritual support and personal connection. The visits and quality time spent help break the isolation and stigma that can often accompany illness Additionally, the provision of practical gifts such as craft supplies and adult colouring books offer a creative outlet, providing therapeutic benefits and a pleasant distraction from daily struggles.
Nation Changers' dedication to visiting the respite Unit as part of their annual July campaign has had a profound impact on the patients Their consistent support reinforces the message to both the nursing care team as well as to the patients that they belong to a wider, caring community.
Thank you, Nation Changers (and others who visit patients), for your unwavering support and compassion. Your visits have brought joy and comfort, and may the kindness shown continue to have a ripple effect in the lives of others
Sangobeg Scholarships
Goodness is one of our Sangobeg Scholars who is completing her teaching course this year. Despite facing numerous challenges due to an injury last year, she has completed her practical portion of her studies which is a compulsory part of the course and has equipped her with real life experience which will be extremely valuable when she graduates and is looking for work.
She says:”During my teaching practice with grades 1 and 2, I learned how to teach and manage young learners, arrange learning areas and create engaging lesson plans For grade 1, I taught life skills, weather, and reading by putting together different sounds In grade 2, I taught English language using flashcards to assist with reading and sentence building. There are some challenges of course in managing students in a classroom setting but I learned from my mentor how to overcome daily struggles and I’m so happy I got to experience this as a part of my course I feel it has equipped me with tools for the future.”
Well done Goodness, and thank you once again to our amazing programme sponsor, Sangobeg Investments Ltd!
What else?
Are you interested in leaving a gift in your will?
Need
Whatever the size, when you include a gift to GAGA UK in your will, you are giving our future generations the opportunity to create a brighter future Leaving a legacy is a way to ensure that your values of equality and opportunity can carry on To learn more about how to leave a gift in your will, contact olivia@gaga-uk.org.
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