Community Development, April 8, 2021, 8:49 p.m.

Uthando (Love) South Africa March 2021

Author: riaan@wecanchange.co.za

I was recently asked what lessons I had learnt as the manager of a Non Profit Organisation (NPO) operating in the tourism space during the Covid-19 crisis, the subsequent lockdown and the global shutdown of the tourism industry.

This question offered an opportunity for a cathartic reflection of what has been one of the most intense experiences of my life and no doubt the same applies to many people. I thought it would be interesting to share my reply as an introduction to our March newsletter, since March is the month of GRATITUDE for Uthando.

Feeling and experiencing GRATITUDE provides a constant source of courage and hope. It is sometimes very difficult to feel gratitude under such trying conditions but if mastered it is well worth the effort.
ACTION is the best antidote to overcoming FEAR.
If a seed is not planted, nothing will germinate. Inspire people through telling sincere human stories and many opportunities will follow from that. The seed must be planted in order for a harvest to occur.
A clear intention, coupled with LOVE and HEART is a powerful combination. This is how a small organisation like Uthando not only survived but infact thrived through this massive tumultuous crisis. Uthando’s message of love, kindness, empathy and compassion resonates deeply with our friends and donors both in South Africa and around the world.
Adversity can and must bring out the best version of ourselves. South Africa has the finest examples of this : Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Ruth First, Helen Joseph, Helen Suzman, Steve Biko, Beyers Naude, Donald Woods and many other individuals who showed their true character when the circumstances demanded it.
Never give up ! Even when exhausted, isolated, emotional and dealing with time consuming and laborious administrative issues, persevere!
Focus on the good and the goodness of people rather than the negative and the darkness which is so often exploited by the media. There is no point in dwelling on the negative. South Africa and the world is truly blessed with an abundance of people with integrity, honour, ethics, a moral compass and heartfelt passion to bring about social justice, fairness and equity.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, focus on what one can change and let go of the rest.
Accountability and transparency resonates intuitively with benefactors. There are many, many, many kind, generous, thoughtful people in South Africa and all around the world who have a deep desire to help this country succeed, they just need reliable, accountable and transparent partners on the ground that they can trust with their resources to make it happen.
All of our thoughts, words and actions are absolutely critical in creating the re-imagined world that we wish to live in. We absolutely cannot go back to “business as usual” when this Covid-19 crisis has passed. We need a new vision of our society based on LOVE, COMPASSION and EMPATHY ! The Uthando Campaign of LOVE is playing its small and modest part to assist with shifting consciousness in this direction.

LOVE,

James Fernie
Founding Director, Uthando (Love) South Africa
March 2021

A few of the highlights from the month of March…

THANK YOU DEBBIE AND RICHARD MASER (USA)

THANK YOU Debbie and Richard Maser for your many years of support. Uthando’s 25th cement table tennis table installed recently at Woodlands Primary School in the community of Heideveld is a tangible and visible token of our appreciation for your incredible kindness and generosity.

Watch video on YouTube

CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE EKHAYA EKASI “HOME IN THE HOOD” FEEDING SCHEME

The dedicated team at the Ekhaya Ekasi Centre in Khayelitsha continues to provide critical nutritious food to the local community. Besides the weekly support from Uthando for gas to run the stoves and ingredients, Uthando recently purchased a brand new freezer for the centre with a view to increasing their capacity to feed even more people. The Ekasi Team run the feeding scheme every Wednesday and Friday afternoon through which they are feeding more than 400 children and adults per day.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST GANGSTERISM, VIOLENCE AND POVERTY

Many of the community projects that Uthando is supporting are located in areas that are being ravaged by gangsterism, crime, violence, hunger, poverty and hopelessness. Every week, news is coming from these communities of children being shot, injured and killed in the horrific gang violence gripping the Cape Flats on the eastern side of Cape Town. On the 24th of March, CEO of Uthando, James Fernie marched with the "Moms Move for Justice Movement” led by “Aunty” Avril Andrews and her team in the forgotten community of Hanover Park. The protest march took place through the streets of Hanover Park and ended at the local police station where a petition was handed to the station commander demanding better and more efficient policing and prosecution of crime in the area.

James Fernie, Avril Andrews, Lesley Wyngaard, Liesl Hermanus, Ashraf Allie

The protest march winding its way through Hanover Park

KIDDIES EDUCARE STILL THRIVING

THANK YOU to Uthando donors, the first pre-school that Uthando helped to build in 2010 is still thriving and educating little children up to the age of 6 years old, laying the important foundation for their educational career. Uthando continues to pay the insurance on all 5 buildings, assist with maintenance and provide ongoing support where needed despite the challenging circumstances of Covid-19. THANK YOU to our donors for supporting our efforts in relation to Early Childhood Development.

OUR AFRICA, ATMOSPHERE MARKETING AND BIG AMBITIONS SUPPORTING ANIMAL PROTECTION

THANK YOU to Allie Hunt, Storm Napier and Natalia Rosa for their kind and generous support for the Mdzananda Animal Clinic located in Khayelitsha. Allie and Storm accompanied the Uthando Team of James and Xolani to visit the clinic on the 17th of March to see firsthand the important work being done by the clinic to protect and nurture the pets in Khayelitsha, but also to educate the people living there on the importance of caring for and loving their pets.

Natalia Rosa sent the following note with their donation;

“Giving back through tourism ! What a privilege it is to be part of such a resilient and giving community. You have my deep admiration for everything that you do.”

A HAPPY EASTER IN HANOVER PARK THANKS TO WIDE AFRICA AND TRAVEL BEYOND (SWEDEN)

THANK YOU to Brigitte Walsh (Wide Africa) and Helena Andren (Travel Beyond Sweden) for raising the funds and purchasing around 5000 easter eggs which were handed to the Alcardo Andrews Foundation in Hanover Park and distributed to the children throughout that community over the easter weekend. For most children on the Cape Flats receiving even 1 easter egg is a luxury so this kind gesture really did go along way to making many children happy over easter. Travel Beyond (Sweden) has been a truly wonderful supporter for the kitchen run by the Alcardo Andrews Foundation, and it was so gratifying to take Helena to visit the project on her recent trip to Cape Town.

Brigitte Walsh, Helena Andren and “Aunty” Avril Andrews in Hanover Park

CONSTRUCTION ON ULWAZI EDUCARE CENTRE IN DELFT IN 2021

THANK YOU to the MITIALTO STICHTING in Belgium from the very bottom of our hearts for the absolutely amazing commitment to provide all of the funding to build Ulwazi Educare Centre later in 2021. Transforming the school from a few basic shipping containers into a world class educational facility provides an important symbol of hope and inspiration during an extremely tough time. Construction will commence in mid-September 2021 and will take approximately 6 months to complete. Thank you also to the Flipson Family (Sweden) for undertaking to pay for the play area and astro-turf for the children to play on once the new building is complete. So much to look forward to.

Watch video on YouTube

Please visit our website to learn about our work AND the myriad of impactful, reputable and reliable community development projects being supported by Uthando.

uthandosa.org

Become an Uthando Fundraiser Champion on the Uthando Crowd Funding Platform

Interested in running a fundraising campaign to support Uthando’s vital and valuable community programmes? Uthando is registered on the crowd funding platform called GivenGain. It is super quick, simple and easy to register a campaign, and even easier for friends and colleagues to donate using this platform. Crowd funding is highly effective at generating awareness and valuable income. Please contact James on jamesfernie@uthandosa.org for further details.