Breadline Africa visits the end of year closing of the African Renewal Foundation

“Our aim is to unite our people especially the children from different background.  We have big dreams but are desperately in need of all the help we can get.

We started our organization in 2008 with the outbreak of xenophobia.

We found that there was a need to create a platform to do something for the community. Our biggest challenge was to unite one another.  This would be the best solution to prevent community problems.  We are proud to be connected with visitors in terms of arts and culture.  The challenges we have are big and we are here to encourage everyone to work together.  Capricorn is an informal settlement situated close to Muizenberg in Cape Town. It is a place of cultural people. The people that live here are from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Congo and the local coloured and black people.  This creates a mixture of culture.

We are all facing the same problems in this community irrespective of where we come from.  Hunger is the biggest problem that we all face in this community. Children have been driven to the extreme and they have gotten themselves involved in all the wrongs of society. Hunger has taught them to steal a loaf of bread from the local shop to still their hunger. In many instances they have been killed as unemployment is rife in this area.

This is why we felt that we have to approach all the role players in the community to bring about change and to solve problems together.  One of the projects that we launched was our art project. We felt it would teach the children a skill and draw them together from all different backgrounds.  But this venture has not been easy as they struggle financially to buy the various tools such as wire, beads, scissors and all the necessary equipment.

We have a powerful artist in our midst but we do not have the resources nor sufficient finances.  We do have a soup kitchen but it only operate when we have enough food for the kitchen.  We are desperately looking for support to start a much needed vegetable garden.  Most kids have been affected by  HIV and we feel that providing a nutritious meal for the kids and to teach them to grow their own garden will add great value to their lives and to the community as a whole.”

Breadline Africa skills Development Courses at Boland College has come to an end

I left Boland College last week with a throb in my throat.  The students had been giving their full attention to the educators as they were completing the last module of their plumbing and bricklaying course.

There are twenty-five students remaining out of the original group, and this has been stable now for the past month.  Thirteen are bricklayers and twelve are plumbers.  They have been instructed in a large number of tasks, have been assessed on a weekly basis, and have become proficient in all of them. Five of the bricklayers and three of the plumbers are outstanding as they have attended all the days.

I have interviewed the educators and asked them about their experiences with the learners.  They gave me a broad smile and said that it was a very challenging and interesting time.  They got very emotionally attached to all of the students as they came from very poor and struggling backgrounds and each one’s story pulled at the heartstrings.

All the students that I then interviewed said that the course has helped them to learn and to support one another.  The entire exercise has helped them to build up their own confidence and develop their character. They have matured and have grown closer to one another within their individual groups.  Well, that is what team work is all about, isn’t it?

The graduation ceremony is being held today ( 9^th of June 2011) in the auditorium at Boland College at 11.00 a.m.   The students will be given their certificates as well as a toolbox containing a basic set of tools for either bricklaying or plumbing to help them on their way, we are so proud of all the students.

Breadline Africa’s Big Make-over for Zukolwethu Educare Centre

Here at Breadline Africa I am always called out to communities who have an urgent need for proper infrastructure.  Their desperate plea is to have better and more spacious facilities for their children.  They are anxious to have better classrooms than just a little shack which is extremely hazardous to fire.  They need proper and more hygienic toilets.  Many of the children in the educare centres are still exposed to the bucket system. The lack of proper ablution facilities is a big worry as it is extremely unhygienic and one of the major causes of diarrhoea .  Many of the educare centers also do not have a proper kitchen.  The cooks have to cook in one of the classrooms with the big gas stoves on the floor and the washing bucket on the side of a table.  The kids then have to pile into a corner to make space.

Recently, we were approached by the Principal of the  Zukolwethu Educare Centre in an informal settlement in Monwabisi, Khayelitsha.

She was at her wits end as parents kept bringing their children for enrolment at her school but her facilities were  not at all suitable. She did not have a proper classroom or a safe kitchen.  However with the help of our Irish Advisory Committee who raised funds for this project, we were able to have the most amazing make-over happening in this community.

We renovated two second hand shipping containers into a beautiful classroom and a safe kitchen for this Educare Centre.

Before The Zukolwethu Educare Centre, Monwabisi.

After The Zukolwethu Educare Centre, Monwabisi, Khayelitsha

A big thank you comes your way from all the children and teachers at Zukolwetho Educare.

The Principal, the teachers and the community living in this informal settlement could not believe it when these two containers arrived for delivery. It was extremely difficult to get the truck up the road to deliver the containers, but with much perseverance and the help of everyone the containers were successfully put into place.

The children as well as the teachers were extremely happy. They could not believe that these containers could make such a huge difference.   We are very proud of our achievement and grateful to our Irish Advisory Committee and their friends for helping us make this make-over happen.

The difference our shipping containers can make in poverty stricken areas

Patiswa, her teachers and the children extend a big thank you to our board of Trustees and their friends for making this little school possible here on the tip of Africa.

Patiswa Bangani, who lives in Delft on the Cape Flats, has become the ‘mother’ in her community. She started collecting the children that were walking in the street and invited them into her little wooden structured house.  Many of the parents were out looking for work and the children had to look after one another.  Patiswa started to look after the children and cook a nutritious meal for them. But then more children started coming as the little ones brought their sisters, brothers and friends who were at home and needed this basic care as well.  The children ranged in age from two to six years old and soon there were more than eighty children at one time.

Patiswa’s little house was getting too small for all the children. She heard about Breadline Africa who assists communities in need with refurbished containers.  We met with Patiswa and all the children in her care.  She needed extra space urgently and with the help of our Board of Trustees and their friends they raised enough funds to help build a little container school for the children of Delft.

Patiswa is the Principal of this beautiful little container school, called Ulwazi (which mean “knowledge” ) Educate Centre.  She is very proud that she could help the little children in her care with such lovely classrooms and a beautiful ablution block.  One of her greatest concerns is the issue of health and hygiene but with proper toilets and sanitation she is now able to teach the little ones proper hygiene care.

The toilet that is currently being used by the children

One of the three containers that have been converted into a proper toilet for the children.

The Principal, Patiswa Bangani outside her educare centre. This container will be used as a classroom.

Breadline Africa is a hub of International activity

We have had the pleasure of welcoming Australians, Americans, the British and even Dutch visitors so far this year.

What  a day of sheer excitement when Lisa and James Holland brought their two sons Mathew and Ben, as well as their Aunt Day to meet us at the Breadline Africa office.  This trip is a dream come true for their Aunt Day who has always wanted to visit South Africa. And here they are!

From our Breadline Africa office they were taken on a tour to Khayelitsha (a township outside of Cape Town). We stopped off at the Khayelitsha shopping mall,  where they bought fruit and food for the children of the Founder Educare Centre we were visiting.  Lisa and her family enjoyed playing with the children as well as helping the teachers serve the children their lunch.

It was important for them to see the wonderful work that Breadline Africa does before they went on to see the beautiful scenic areas  and tourist places of South Africa.

Thank you for having included us on your itinerary Lisa and for bringing special joy to kids here in Africa.

Mathew Holland and his mom Lisa cutting some fruit for the children

The joys our visitors brings when playing with the children

Ben and Mathew Holland with their aunt Day serving a meal at the Educare Centre

Breadline Africa Comedy Show Featuring Don Packett and John Vlismas

Who knew that laughter could heal a soul and bring joy in troubled times?  Our Comedy Show was not just about an evening full of laughter and fun but also about transforming the lives of those little kids that have never seen the sea. The event was held at the Grand Daddy Hotel and the venue was truly grand and magnificent. The finger food platters were enjoyed by all and the guests indulged in the delicious cocktails.

One of Breadline Africa’s projects, Conscious Marimba Band, did a fantastic job of entertaining and bringing a truly ethnic atmosphere to the evening . The comedians, Don Packett and John Vlismas  rocked. These two are the best of the best and brought the house down.   Nadia from Clowns without Borders demonstrates how they use laughter to bring healing to broken children and communities. Richard Hardiman was our gracious MC AND the auctioneer on the night.

All in all it was a great evening  and a brilliant way to inform people of what Breadline Africa does and how we uplift poverty stricken communities. The Comedy show was held in aid of Breadline Africa’s annual Seaside Party and I would like to thank you all for your support in giving 120 extra children the opportunity to forget their situations at home and to enjoy a day of being a child by the sea.

Edna & Marianna with Comedian Don Packett & MC Richard Hardiman

John Vlismas

Nadia from Clowns without Borders

Like to laugh?

Haven’t got your tickets to the Comedy Show? Call/email us to secure your seat at this exclusive event!

Breadline Africa’s Facebook Campaign: Help us build a soup kitchen

If you want to eliminate hunger, everybody has to be involved
– Bono

Whilst I don’t usually begin a blog post quoting Bono, I think our latest FB campaign calls for it. One of Breadline Africa’s main projects is converting containers into soup kitchens, clinics, Educare centers and libraries and placing them in impoverished communities that will utilize these containers in order to improve their quality of life.

Now YOU can help convert a container.

Now YOU can help eliminate hunger.

We are launching our Facebook campaign today. Just become a fan of our Facebook page, check out the uploaded images and tag the part of the container you want to help donate. You can choose from donating towards an air vent or helping paint the container or making sure there are windows or even assisting with the flooring.

The names of those that helped convert this container into a soup kitchen will be placed
on a plaque inside the container.

So help us build a soup kitchen and be immortalized for life…it doesn’t get better than this.

Support Breadline Africa by swiping your MyVillage MyPlanet card

Do you love shopping?

Do you love supporting a worthy cause?

Do you know that you can now combine both of these loves?

Breadline Africa is now a beneficiary of the My Village My Planet programme. This programme focuses on community upliftment projects and environmental concerns in South Africa. Now you can support our cause by swiping your MyVillage MyPlanet card at retailers across the country every time you shop. It’s all very easy to do…just follow the steps below:

1. Apply for your MyVillage MyPlanet Supporter card and nominate us as your beneficiary.
2. Swipe your card at any of the 2500 partners nationally and a percentage of your spend is paid to us at no extra cost to you.
3. Keep a look-out for your monthly electronic Supporter Statement from MySchool to see how much funds has been raised on your behalf.

So keep shopping…and swiping!

The BBC, the Lady Mayoress and Kleinvlei

Lady Mayoress of London at the launch ceremony

At first sight no one would think there would be a connection between the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the City of London and the small community of Kleinvlei at Eerste Rivier on the Cape Flats.  But at a ceremony at the RR Franks Primary school in Kleinvlei yesterday (Thursday 25^th March 2010) all three came together in the final part of a story which began more than eighteen months ago in the United Kingdom.

In September 2008 the BBC launched a project to track a container around the world, as a living example of globalisation and international trade.  The container was fitted with a tracking device and people around the world could follow its progress through the Internet.  During the twelve months of the project, the container travelled from the United Kingdom to China, and thence to Japan, the United States, Brazil, Singapore, Japan and back to the UK.

In October of 2009 the BBC agreed to hand over the container to an African charity, Breadline Africa, for transformation into a community kitchen in South Africa.  The handover was effected in London on the 4^th November 2009, and the final journey of the container to Cape Town completed on the 5^th December 2009.

Yesterday the newly renovated container, which will serve as a community kitchen for the people of Kleinvlei , was officially opened by the Lady Mayoress of London, Mrs. Claire Anstee, who is  in Cape Town on an official visit to South Africa with her husband the Lord Mayor.

She was introduced to President Zuma at a function that was held in his honour recently in London where she also met the Chairperson of Breadline Africa, Louise Seligman and was inspired to reach out to the poor here in South Africa.  During her speech to the community she thanked all those involved and added “I am not surprised to see you all here supporting the Eerste River community to combat poverty with this new soup kitchen uniting international trade and community work in a pretty unique way.”

Accompanying the Lady Mayoress on her visit was Liz Wootton, the Lady Sherriff of London, and Mrs Ina Gallagher, wife of the UK Trade Commissioner. Also present at the function were dignitaries of the local community, including the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Jeremy Cronin, in whose “constituency” Kleinvlei falls, Mrs. Wilma Bradey, Mr. B. Van Dalen and Mr. Johannes Jama, ward councillors, Mr. D. Sonnenberg, Chairperson of the sub-council, and Mr. Julian Untank, Chairperson of the local Community Police Forum, and Mr. Angus Baker of the local Economic Business Forum.  In addition there were staff members of Breadline Africa, the non-profit organisation which organised the donation and chose Kleinvlei as its final destination.  Breadline Africa has renovated more than 100 containers to serve as kitchens, classrooms, libraries and clinics over the last 15 years.During a colourful ceremony at the school, which included the singing of the national anthems of South Africa and the United Kingdom by the school choir and dances by various groups, thanks were expressed to the BBC, to NYK shipping lines which donated the container, to Maersk shipping lines which transported it to Cape Town for free, to Breadline Africa, and to the Principal of the RR Franks school for agreeing to host the container in their school grounds.