HIGHLIGHTS FROM HANDS ON - MARCH 2010

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ACTIVITIES

LINKS WITH LIMPOPO GOVERNMENT

Phedišang is thrilled to inform our donors that the Limpopo Provincial Government is really coming forward to fund Phedišang. There've been discussions with Government since December 2003, and intensive applications for support since January 2009. At last, Government recognises both the good that we are doing for the children, and the need of support for those efforts.

Phedišang has received direct Government support for the months of April to December 2009 to date, and intends to keep Government happy while enjoying the ongoing support!

See our PEOPLE OF PHEDIŠANG page to learn about our new Project Manager, Judy Bassingthwaighte!

ON THE GROUND IN LIMPOPO

NEW OFFICE LOCATION FOUND

Charity, our untiring manager in Limpopo, has secured the perfect plot of land to build our new office. It is located in Turkey village on the main road, across from the clinic on one side and the secondary school on the other. It is already fenced and has pit latrine facilities in place. All we need now is a generous donor to help us break ground on the building.

PHEDIŠANG LEADERS VISIT JOHANNESBURG!

On December 13th-15th, 11 of the hardest working children from the 2009 Phedišang leaders program journeyed to Johannesburg for a field trip as a reward for all of their efforts over the past year. They visited O.R. Tambo Airport, the Johannesburg Zoo, CIDA City Campus, Constitution Hill, Soweto and the Oppenheimer Tower, Sandton City and Carlton Centre.

TABLE TENNIS AT MOLALANE

The Merison staff are passionate about table-tennis, and play in their breaks as well as before and after work. When approached by Phedišang, they offered to hold a tournament in the Netherlands, the total playing fee of which went to buy a table-tennis table for the Phedišang Merison Molalane centre.

HOEDSPRUIT AIRBASE TRIP

Twelve ambitious secondary school students from Phedišang had the great fortune of touring the local military airbase in Hoedspruit. Their tour-leader was a Sepedi-speaking Major who is a helicopter pilot, which meant that the children could ask questions and understand easily.. Trips like this make all the difference in expanding the minds of these promising children.

CAMERA IN LIMPOPO

We have purchased a small digital camera for Phedišang Limpopo, and have put Suzan in charge of taking pictures and e-mailing thanks (under the direction of Charity) to donors. Donors! : expect to see e-mails of thanks, with relevant pictures, in your in-box directly from Limpopo.

TIGER BRANDS

We have been bowled over by the most generous donation of Ace Mealie-Meal, Jungle Oats, Tastic Rice, Koo tinned goods and many other wonderful dry grocery goods from Tiger Brands each month for the past four months. All these nutritious goods are delivered right to Phedišang. To show our appreciation, Phedišang will be hosting Tiger Brands in Limpopo for a grand re-opening ceremony where we will be renaming the Butswana centre the Tiger Brands centre.

STUDENT FEEDBACK

LAURENCE MOAKAMELA

Laurence is Phedišang's first university graduate - he obtained his B.Sc from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2009, and is looking forward to climbing further up the ladder towards becoming a medical doctor. Phedišang has been over-blessed in this, by having loyal donors and supporters Kgosi and Mpho Letlape, who have supported Laurence since 2003 at Phedišang, taking an even more direct role during his under-graduate years: counseling, mentoring, guiding, helping with bursaries and taking Laurence into their own home. Laurence has not been accepted into a medical school yet, so is likely to spend 2010 registered for study by correspondence for Physics, Chemistry and Zoology, readying himself for University next year. He is also going to volunteer to help at the SciBono Science Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg, a dynamic centre focused on science and maths for school-children.

TEBATSO MAUWANE

Tebatso has just completed her bridging or foundation year at CIDA University in Johannesburg. We asked her to write her impressions, and this is what she produced:

• Life is full of great moments and challenges that a human being has to encounter to be successful in life. The great moment that I've experienced is to be the first girl from Phedišang to be at tertiary (educational institute).
• Living life without my family and friends was quite difficult. I never thought that in my life I will be able to stay without my family and to meet new friends, but it has taught me to realize that I'm no longer a child.
• The most challenging part is that I'm learning new subjects, that I never did at school, it shows me that I have the potential and ability to make things work for me. I have built a friendship with people from different provinces and countries.
• I’m hoping to be a motivational speaker at Phedišang and in my community this year. The other thing that I keep telling myself is that I don't want to disappoint anyone by failing or supplementing my first year.