HOLIDAY EXCURSION

THE RIDGE (ENTERTAINMENT DAY)

The Ridge Entertainment Centre once again sponsored a visit to the Ridge during the school holidays. They entertained the children with a movie with cool drink and popcorn included and afterwards they were treated to lunch at the Wimpy followed by putt-putt and games at the Magic Company. The children enjoyed the day immensely.

LAMBSON'S HIRE (SPORTSBAGS)

On 11 April 2008 Lambson's Hire, an equipment rental company, visited the Care Village and presented each of the children with a sportsbag which can be used either for their school books or for other activities. On the photo the appreciation can be seen on the faces of the house parents and children.

ANGLO COAL (GOLF DAY)

The Human Resources Management personnel of Anglo Coal arranged a golf day for the benefit of the Care Village at which an amount of R 2 165.00 was raised. On 15 April 2008 the ladies from Anglo Coal visited the Care Village and can be seen handing the donation over to the Care Village.

The Ridge 7 February 2008

The children of the Care Village were once again treated to a visit from the General Manager and staff members of The Ridge Entertainment Centre. The children were each presented with their own parcel of toiletries and other goodies. Their appreciation was clear from their spontaneous applause and expressions on their faces. The visit was made more special by a donation of furniture, cutlery, bedding and electrical appliances by The Ridge at the same occasion.

Visit by Canadians

On Friday 29 February 2008 a group of Canadian visitors was hosted at the Care Village. Among the group were a number of Rotarians who had recently contributed to a matching grant which had enabled the purchase of indoor and outdoor sports equipment, beds and mattresses, the sinking of boreholes and a number of other projects. The Rotarian Clubs represented were Stathroy, Grand Bend, London and Forest. After they had been welcomed, the guests were taken on a tour of the facilities. The visit ended with a meeting between the visitors and the local Rotary Clubs of Middelburg and Witbank. During the meeting banners were exchanged and donations towards the work of the local Rotary Clubs and the Care Village were made. On the photos the visitors can be seen at the newly established vegetable garden as well as during the presentation.

DONATION OF NEW SCHOOL BUS

On 8 January 2008 the Management of Anglo Coal presented the Care Village with a 65 seater school bus. This donation could not have come at a better time, as the Care Village will soon be accommodating more children, who will need to be transported to school. At the same time, new school bags and stationary packs were given to all the children. On the photos, the Manager of Human Resources, Anglo Coal, Mr Ray Westermeyer can be seen handing over the keys of the bus to Mr John Brislin, member of the Board of Directors with the children in attendance.

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.