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Projects

Since 1988 Thembisa has funded over 60 different projects in South Africa. Some start-up projects have become viable. Others, such as orphanages and child feeding schemes, training programme, etc, are unlikely to become self-sustaining and need continuing support.

Projects include:
  • Education and training (e.g. leadership development)
  • Empowerment and income generation (e.g. craftwork, agriculture)
  • Community projects (e.g. orphanages, food kitchens)
Currently funded projects
  1. African Leadership Development Institute (ALDI)  Leadership Training, Empowerment, Income generation
  2. Bethesda Arts Centre              
    Centre for Arts education and health
  3. Sakhumzi
    Orphanage
  4. WARMTH
    Feeding / entrepreneurship scheme
  5. The Masikhulisane Trust
    Poverty alleviation, job creation
  6. Bonginkosi Preschool
    Preschool for children from extremely deprived families
  7. GADRA visually impaired project
    Helping visually impaired people
  8. Sinethemba shelter
    shelter for abused women and children
  9. Eluxolweni shelter
    Shelter for street children
  10. Bonginkosi blanket project
    Income generation
  11. The Alexandria Haven
    Orphanage
  12. Preschool places, Grahamstown

Archive of previously funded projects dating back to 2007

  1. Gauteng Peace and Development Foundation
    Empowerment, training and income generation
  2. Ingelozi Eyetu
    Craftwork project
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Print Project 12

  1. Preschool places for needy children in the Grahamstown area

    Poverty and AIDS mean that the number of orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa is increasing. Early childhood stimulation plays a key role in developing people’s full potential, but the government cannot provide all the funding needed. Registered community preschools receive some subsidy but still have to charge fees to cover their costs. The fees are only about R100 (£8) per month, but are still of reach of many families - especially because the mother is often either terminally ill or has died, the father is absent and the grandmother or another relative is taking care of the child.
    The Centre for Social Development (CSD), attached to Rhodes University in Grahamstown, promotes early childhood development and community development in disadvantaged areas. The CSD has established preschools, which it supports by training Community Development practitioners and channelling donations. These preschools provide educational stimulation, socialisation benefits, and physical benefits, as the children receive two nutritious meals per day.
    The children who would benefit most from attending preschools are identified by staff of the Grahamstown Hospice, which works with children affected by HIV/AIDS and terminal illnesses in their families, and by the CSD’s own Community Development practitioners, who are based in particular communities and know the children and families well.
    The annual cost to fund each place at a preschool is about £100, including all the administration costs. This project is the focus of Thembisa’s fund-rasing in 2010. We aim to raise £2500, which would benefit about 25 children.

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