STATUS REPORT DECEMBER 2007

Short Summary of Activities

Four management meetings and five Executive Board meetings were held during November 2007.

During the course of the month the following sponsorships and activities took place:

· The Middelburg Dutch Reformed Church agreed to sponsor the needs of the children of house 7 and the house parent and to see to their spiritual needs.
· The Ridge Entertainment Centre presented each child with their own presentation pack of toiletries, which is a special treat for the children at the MCV.
· On 5 November 2007 The Spur treated all our boys to supper at their restaurant after the girls had had their turn the previous week.
· On 7 November 2007 Vukani Gaming held a very successful PRO event at the MCV where they officially handed over their recent donations of the palisade fencing, kitchen equipment and laundry equipment.

On the evening of 15 November 2007 the children treated the staff and selected guests to a wonderful Christmas pageant. Many a tear was shed by those who attended.

On 23 November 2007 the children were taken to the Virgin Active Gymnasium where they were treated to eats and various other interesting activities and each received a gift.

The same evening they were invited to attend a film evening at one of the local churches.

On 24 November 2007 a tin collection at one of the largest shopping centres was organized by one of the local estate agencies, Chas Everett, in conjunction with Rotary to collect funds for the Middelburg Care Village. Initiatives like this are greatly appreciated.

The biggest challenge for the management of the Middelburg Care Village at present is to place as many of the children as possible with their families or foster homes during the December school holidays.

Capital needs

14 Seater bus
Industrial washing machines
Large generator
Developing and extending boreholes
Renovating vacant houses
Furnishing vacant houses
Clinic and salary for sister
Entertainment Centre
Renovating security guard office at gate
Intercoms office, houses and gate
Small compressor
Medical Fund for staff and children

OPERATING REQUIREMENTS

1. Salaries (domestic workers, social workers etc.)
2. Sewing machines, irons, ironing boards
3. Vacuum cleaners
4. Microwave ovens, toasters,
5. Cutlery, crockery, pots, pans etc for homes
6. Kitchen equipment and utensils
7. Toothpaste-cup holders
8. Shower racks
9. Waste paper baskets
10. Lounge Furniture
11. Carpets for lounge and bathroom/shower floors
12. Pictures/paintings to hang on the walls as well as for the bathrooms
13. Paint: “wall and all” type for interior and exterior use
14. Photostat paper & stationery
15. Toiletries: Shampoo; deodorants/roll-on (boys & girls); soap; toothpaste; aqueous cream; Vaseline
16. Hair driers for girls.
17. School Clothes
a. White shirts: Size 13 years to 16 years
b. Grey shirts: Size 13 years to 16 years
c. Grey shorts: Size 13 years to 16 years
d. Black school shoes: Sizes 1-8
18. Black belts for trousers, size 75cm
19. Tackies: Sizes 1-8
20. Cleaning materials such as Handy-Andy, Sunlight, washing powder etc.
21. Sport bags

The Ridge Sponsership

During October 2007 The Ridge Casino and Entertainment Centre presented each of the children with a new school bag which is very welcome at this time of the school calender. On the photo you can see Monica handing over the school bag to the Manager of The Care Village.

During November 2007 The General Manager of The Ridge, Maureen Klivits and her personnel assistant, Susan Esterhuizen once again surprised all the children by presenting each of them with a wonderful selection of toiletries. On behalf of the management and all the children of the Care Village, a very big thank you to the Ridge for the difference you make.

STATUS REPORT AS AT 30 OCTOBER 2007

Five Management meetings and four Executive Board meetings were held during October 2007.

From 1 to 8 October 2007 the yearly singing Eisteddfod was held at the Care Village.

During the month a courtesy call was made to a number of schools in Mhluzi, where 3 of our children were enrolled at a new secondary school for the first time.

On Saturday 6 October 2007 a very successful talent show was held at the Care Village. All the organization was done by the children themselves while the talent they displayed was a delight for all who attended.

On Saturday 13 October 2007 Life Health Care sponsored a day of recreation at the Pienaarsdam Holiday resort for the older children which included horse riding and game drives.

At the same time the younger children were treated to a jumping castle and eats at the Care Village.

A golf tournament was hosted by ABSA Bank on 18 October 2007 at the Middelburg Country Club on behalf of the Care Village. The proceeds of the tournament including a raffle IN THE AMOUNT OF R 47 000,00 were donated to the Care Village.
Thank you very much ABSA.

The Annual Rotary GSE selections were held at the Care Village from 26 – 28 October 2007. Five candidates were selected to travel to Canada for six weeks as part of the exchange programme.

On Saturday 27 October 2007 the children were sponsored by Ubungani Wilderness Experience to a visit to the historical old mission station at Botshabelo.

A special treat for the children was arranged when all of the girls with their house parents had supper at the Spur Steak Restaurant on Monday 29 October 2007 which was sponsored by Spur. The boys will be treated to supper during November 2007.

Sponsorship Vukani

The Care Village has recently been blessed with two big sponserships by Vukani Gaming Corporation. The old fencing around the Care Village has been replaced by a steel palisade fence which not only ensures greater security on the premises, but has also improved the appearance of the Care Village. Through the donation of a large amout of electrical appliances, the kitchen is being upgraded and our dream of establishing our own laundry will soon be a reality. THANK YOU VUKANI!

Rotary Clubs assist with a large matching grant

The Middelburg Rotary Club and the Strathroy Rotary club in Canada initiated a process for a matching grant in aid of the Middelburg Care Village through the Rotary Foundation during December 2007 after a meeting between Rotarian Chris Das (from Strathroy) and PP Andre Brandmuller(from Middelburg).

As a result of the incredible efforts of Dianne Twynstra and Chris Dasin Canada the grant grew to include contributions from Middelburg, Strathroy, and the clubs of Forest and Grand Bend in Canada.

The amount of R211 000,00 was paid into the project account in the beginning of October 2007 as a result of the approval of the grant.

The Middelburg Care Village will benefit with workshop tools, playground equipment, furnishings, Linen, curtains, duvets, crockery and cutlery, beds and mattresses. In addition the boreholes on the property will be redrilled and assist in the supply of fresh water for, amongst others, the new vegetable and fruit garden.

The Rotary Foundation and its matching grant programme has again assisted in the needs of an organisation which is trying to assist those who need it most.

A big THANK YOU to all involved!!!!!

Super Star Talent Show

On Saterday 6 October 2007 a very successful talent show was held at the Care Village. The planning and organization of the talent show was done by the children themselfes with the help of the house parents and was attended by members of the Management Board and the community. It was a huge success and all who attended were amazed at the talent displayed by the childre.

TREE PLANTING & RIDGE CASINO 10TH BIRTHDAY

On 11 September 2007 a tree planting ceremony was held at the Care Village.The Middelburg High School Agricultural Faculty arranged for a donation of fruit trees ans assisted the Children of the Care Village in the planting of the trees.

On Saturday 15 September 2007 a successful birthday party was held at the Care Village by The Ridge Entertainment Centre for all the children. Jumping castles were arranged as well as lots of eats, while a soccer match between the soccer team of the Care Village and the Enthembeni Children's Home provided much excitement.

Care Village AGM

The Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 29 August 2007 at the Care Village with representatives from both the Management Board, the Mpumalanga Department of Health an Social Development and the local community. The financial statements were presented by the auditors and the Chairperson, Mr A Brandmuller gave an overview of the progress and activities since the last report. Special mention was made of organisations and individuals who had contributed to the well-being of the children in one way or another.

JULY STATUS REPORT AND WISH LIST

Short summary of activities.

4 July 2007 a rededication service was held for the Village. The service was led by one of the Care Givers, Pastor Joseph Mahlangu and was attended by a number of people from the local community.

The new Care Givers (house parents), Mr and Me Steenkamp took occupation of their house on 1 July 2007. As they are both trained counsellors, their presence has already started to bear fruit. As Mr Steenkamp has also been appointed as factotum, he has started with repairs to the houses which are presently occupied. However, funds are urgently needed to renovate the 3 houses that are presently vacant, to provide additional accommodation. We are in the process of obtaining quotations.

The manager and 5 car givers (house parents) of the Village attended a development course for care givers at Volksrust from 9 – 12 July 2007, facilitated by the nationally association of Child Care Workers. Follow up courses are being planned. The cost of the first course was R5280 while these costs still have to be met.

On 14 July 2007 Cathy Pacific Airlines and Ubungani Wilderness Experience, entertained all the children of the Village at Botshabelo, a nature resort on the outskirts of Middelburg. Activities and meals were arranged for the children, while a number of overseas journalists were also present.

On 23 and 27 July 2007 presentations were given to the children by the Life Health Care Groups on relevant health topics.

Me A Grobler, a dietician and member of the Board of Directors of the Care Village visited the Village on 24 July 2007 to discuss new menus and dietary needs for the children with the kitchen and support staff. Training sessions for kitchen staff are being planned while the vacant post of Head of House Keeping has been advertised in the local press.

Weekly meetings are held with the care givers (house parents) and other support staff to plan and co-ordinate the day-to-day running of the Care Village to promote participative management and to discuss policies and procedures.

WISH LIST

Capital needs

14 Seater bus
Industrial washing machines

Large generator
Developing and extending boreholes
Renovating vacant houses
Furnishing vacant houses
Clinic and salary for sister
Entertainment Centre
Renovating security guard office at gate
Intercoms office, houses and gate
Small compressor
Medical Fund for staff and children
Salaries (domestic workers, social workers etc.)
Sewing machines, irons, ironing boards
Vacuum cleaners
Microwave ovens, toasters, snack wiches
Cutlery, crockery, pots, pans etc for homes
Kitchen equipment and utensils
Toothpaste-cup holders
Shower racks
Waste paper baskets
Lounge Furniture
Carpets for lounge and bathroom/shower floors
Pictures/paintings to hang on the walls as well as for the bathrooms
Paint: “wall and all” type for interior and exterior use
Photostat paper & stationery
Toiletries: Shampoo; deodorants/roll-on (boys & girls); soap; toothpaste; aqueous cream; Vaseline
Hair driers for girls.
School Clothes
a. White shirts: Size 13 years to 16 years
b. Grey shirts: Size 13 years to 16 years
c. Grey shorts: Size 13 years to 16 years
d. Black school shoes: Sizes 1-8
Black belts for trousers, size 75cm
Tackies: Sizes 1-8
Industrial cooker

9 August 2007 Farm day

We decided to give back to the children who achieved their goals in some areas, like for example house duties, their respect for elder people and their friends, and who always have a smile on their face.

We took these children to a farm for a day and what fun they had. They drove on tractors, rode horses and even tried to catch a rabbit, (but the rabbits were very smart). They got the opportunity to feed some calves.

They told me that they would like to come back again, and we will. Busi,Cindy, Busi, Jacques, Elias, Maluleki, JP and Piet, it was great to have you on the farm and keep on being the wonderful kids you are.

The Ridge Casino

During the school holiday the 29 children who were staying in the Care Village were treated to Shrek at The Ridge Nu-Metro. For some of the children it was their firts time at the movies. On 16 July The Ridge went to welcome the children back after the holiday. The Ridge handed over some sport equipment to the children. The Ridge would like to support the children in developing sporting skills. The Ridge also launched an art competition with the Care Village and handed out Art & Craft Kits. By exposing the children to different and new art and craft skills they could discover hidden talents.

On the photo The Ridge Staff can be seen sorting out

Rotary helps again!!!!!!

The Middelburg Care Village was the beneficiary of the goodwill of a German Rotary Club. Renate Erichson a Rotary Exchange Student from Middelburg who spent a year in Germany.

She told her host club about the Middelburg Care Village.They were so impressed that they immediately organised a project to raise funds. The Care Village received more than R51 000 from this project.

Thank you to everybody involved and Renate for her efforts.

On the photo Renate is handing over the checque to the Chairman of The Board, Mr Andre Brandmuller. Also present were Pres Andreas Mastoroudis of the Middelburg Cycad Rotary Club, and Suzette Bekker a volunteer at the Middelburg Care Village.