Nurturing home-grown development in South Africa

www.thatu.org

Visiting Thatu projects

In March I went to South Africa on a family visit, and took the opportunity to visit Thatu projects. The welcome and the gratitude for Thatu funding was exhilarating. Seeing the projects in action was exciting and inspiring. If you are planning a visit to South Africa, please let me know and we'll tell you how to get to see the projects – you won't regret it! Here are some of my impressions.

Yours ubuntu'fully
Margery Povall and Thatu Trustees
info@thatu.org

Cape Flats where the wind blows

Mr Ridwan Samodien enthuses about the future to Ramon and Margery.

Thatu's four starter gardens on the Cape Flats, just outside Cape Town, are making good progress under the gentle guidance of Ramon. They form part of the SEED programme, which we have partnered, and we are funding Ramon who spends one day a week with each of the schools. Everyone is delighted with his work.

The land is almost inhospitable – the wind blows and the soil looks like beach sand. They are building windbreaks, laying out the design and starting to plant seeds and seedlings. But most importantly, the gardens are being used to support teaching and learning.

As the Principal of Kannemeyer School, Mr Ridwan Samodien told me "The teachers are busy in the class. Their heart may be in the garden, but they don’t have the time or the expertise to come into the garden and work with the children. So we have a great man like Ramon who really puts them at a different level, the level we need to be at. We are here to save the earth. We would like the children to believe that this is a place that we need to look after, to break away from crime, see positive and make a contribution to society".

In one of the poorest areas, Heinz Park, Ramon is working with community members, teachers and learners alongside cramped prefab, school buildings. Construction of new school buildings has at last started so the school garden can soon progress further! The enthusiasm is humbling and moving the whole project forward.

Lotus Gardens outside Pretoria

Local Thatu Board with Mrs Maseneke and Mrs Madiba and a volunteer, Oupa.

A thousand miles north is Lotus Gardens school outside Pretoria (now called Tshwane). Here I was greeted by the Thatu Board, a press photographer and great enthusiasm. I saw the second cropping of spinach, just six weeks after the first was planted, and the first crop of beetroot. Others have seen the first crops too and, as a result, community volunteer numbers have soared. A second large plot has been cleared and is about to be planted. John Nzira, his team and the school staff have made a really impressive start with the community volunteers.

The future

The achievements, pride and enthusiasm made my visit unforgettable. Seeing at first hand the unmet needs and volunteers working against the odds, has made me even more determined to find ways to raise more funds. Thatu funding really does make a difference.

A satisfied customer.

Thatu is now 18 months old, and we are proud of what we have achieved together so far. Recently Thatu received a gift of £10,000 specifically for core funding of administrative expenses. So, every contribution of yours goes direct to projects in South Africa. The core funding has also meant that we can pay for some part-time work. Ali Knapp of Farley Heath Designs, who gives us our website and its frequent updates free, is now helping us with fund-raising. Her administrative skills and creativity are making a big impact in Thatu's progress.

But it is your support that is key to making things happen. You can help in any way you choose. Here are some suggestions:

Support our Charity Runner Catherine McGarey, one of our Trustees, has bravely entered the British 10km run in London on 2 July 2006. See our website www.thatu.org next week for details of how to sponsor her via online payment.

Collect used postage stamps and old and foreign currency see Saving Stamps for details.

Invite friends around for a party or Jabula

Last year our supporters held four very different Jabulas or garden party events and raised hundreds of pounds for Thatu! The one thing they had in common was that they all had a lot of fun. Why not hold a Jabula this year yourself? All you need is a garden, and to invite some friends, it can be as simple as a cream tea or as elaborate as a Boules championship. See our Host a Jabula section.

eBay with Thatu

Please support our eBay charity shop. We can accept a percentage of anyone's eBay auctions, in association with MissionFish. You can visit our eBay shop and browse the items to buy by clicking Thatu Charity Shop. More items are being added all the time! You can sell for Thatu, too! We are happy to list your donated high-value low-weight items — please email info@thatu.org Or if you are already an eBayer, you can now donate a percentage of the final sale value of listed items to Thatu. See website for full details.

Buy books from Amazon.co.uk by linking through the Thatu website.

Just go to www.thatu.org, click the Amazon link and carry on ordering as usual. Thatu will receive a commission from every order!

Book holidays through AfricaGuide.com

Just go to www.thatu.org, click the AfricaGuide.com link and carry on booking. Thatu will receive a commission every time you book!

Pile up small change

Shortly we'll tell you shortly about our Penny Pinchers campaign, but you can start now by piling up your loose change, and ask your family and friends to join in. Do you know any pubs or shops who might 'Penny Pinch' and save their copper coins for Thatu?  Let us know!

Introduce us to your contacts

We need help from businesses. But we are one of thousands of charities approaching businesses. A personal introduction to a business manager may open that first important door for us. Can you give us one? Thatu is also starting to identify suitable celebrities and notaries to approach as Patrons of Thatu. Can you suggest someone who might be interested and introduce us to them?

Keep contributing

You have already been generous. But we always need more, especially small and regular standing orders. You can now also donate to Thatu online instantly by credit card via PayPal. Simply click on the button below (also available via the website) to donate. Legacies: your will can support Thatu, see Legacy for details.

If you would prefer to receive a hard copy of our newsletter, or no longer wish to receive one, please email us at info@thatu.org

Thatu is a UK Registered Charity No. 1108655