Breadline Africa

BREADLINE AFRICA VISITS CERES

children, Uncategorized | admin | May 14, 2012

Ceres, a mere 150 km or 90 minutes drive from Cape Town, in the heart of the Cape Winelands, is the gateway to the Cederberg area.

During the winter months, the mountains are often covered in snow and the area has been referred to as Little Switzerland. There are plenty of snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding to keep the whole family busy.

The valley produces the finest deciduous fruit in South Africa. Also well-known for its fresh and dried fruit, fruit juices and natural spring water.

It is here where we met Pat Langeveldt, the Principal of Wouter Kabouter Educare Centre. She is a retired bubbly educator who has been in the teaching profession for more than 25 years.

A woman with a brave heart is what I would like to call her. When she heard the plight of the parents in her community she opened up her entire house to their children.

Most of the parents who are employed by the local shops, garages and restaurants have to work odd hours or until late at night. None of the educare centres in the area caters for the needs of these working parents, but Pat has stepped in and she makes a contribution to the plight of her community by helping to look after the children when the parents need it most.

Breadline Africa visits Tulbagh

Allocations Visits, Food Parcels | admin | May 7, 2012

Tulbagh is situated in one of the most scenic valleys of the South African Cape Winelands, a short drive north from Cape Town; the secluded Tulbagh Valley is surrounded by the towering Witzenberg Mountains which are snow capped in winter.

It is here where we met Anneline Louw a woman with a big heart. We learnt how she cared for her community especially during the winter months as most of the people in her area are seasonal workers.

The winter months are tough months as people struggle to survive. Many go without food as they have no income. Anneline’s passion to care for her fellowman started when she was a Sunday school teacher. It is here where she has learnt the struggles and sadness of what the children in her community endures. Her heart went out to the kids as they shared with her that most of the time their parents have no food in their homes. It is then that she discovered that many of the children did not have a meal the night before.

Anneline started making pots of food and started delivering the food to the children’s homes. She said with tears in her eyes that many times she felt like a beggar when she asked her families, friends and the local grocers for bread and clothes. When she received these donations she would go door to door to share it with the people what she has received. Many times people are not at home, but then she would kindly drop the parcel through the open window and just leave. As she walks away she hopes and pray that the family would appreciate the parcel as for many it would mean a nutritious meal for the night.

Press Release: TREK IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR FREE!

Uncategorized | admin | April 11, 2012

If you have ever wanted to do an exhilarating challenge for charity here is your chance. Breadline Africa are looking for adventurous volunteers to trek in South Africa taking in some of the worlds most breathtaking landscapes and if you raise enough in sponsorship you will get to take part for free! Prepare to be overwhelmed by South Africa’s natural contrasting beauty –you can’t fail to be mesmerised by its traditional charm which is alive with wildlife and jaw-dropping landscapes! For those of you in search of the challenge of a lifetime, South Africa won’t fail to leave an indelible mark on you, providing you with memories which will last forever.

Simply give us a call at the office on 01473 259048 or send an email to info@breadlineafrica.org.uk and we will send you a full information pack and everything you need to take part in the experience of a lifetime.

For more information click here

Tim Smith completes the Argus Cycle Race in Cape Town for Breadline Africa

Fundraising, Online Giving | admin | March 14, 2012

“Thanks so much again to all of you who sponsored me in the Argus cycle race Sunday. It was one of the hottest races in recent years, with the temperature going up to around 35degrees in places, and the large number of ambulances on the route suggesting that many people succumbed to the heat. However there was a slight sea breeze to temper the heat. I finished in just over six hours, way behind the other riders from Breadline Africa, Morne Notje and Eben Klue who probably finished within four hours. ”

Below is a picture of the riders going over Chapman’s Peak drive – one of the toughest parts of the race.

”We raised £800 on the UK website www.justgiving.com and there was a further R 4,650 raised on the SA website www.doit4charity.org.za, with some more donations still promised. The funds will be allocated to the Container fund to purchase a container for children this year. There have been suggestions that many others would like to join us next year, so we will consider joining the race as an official charity.”

Breadline Africa visits Hillcrest Primary School in Wellington, Paarl

Cans4Reading | admin | February 23, 2012

Hillcrest Primary School in the Western Cape, was one of the schools which received a container library through the Nelson Mandela Container Libraries campaign. On our recent visit to the school we found the learners standing in a line to access the library. Only ten learners are allowed into the library at a time so that each one has enough space to look for his or her own choice of books. A teacher is on duty to see that the children are taking out the correct books that are suitable to their grades.

This school also has a Soul Buddyz Club and is the only one in the Western Cape who has achieved Diamond Status. The learners are accredited for their community involvement which earns them all the points needed to achieve the different levels. The teacher has motivated them to get involved in the local Night Shelter who serve the homeless people of the area. The kids also join local organizations in handing out food parcels and visits to the local hospital and clinic.

It was very inspiring to hear that the library has brought about so much change and excitement. It has helped to improve many of the learner’s reading capabilities.

The beautiful container that was placed on the school premises is truly a beacon of hope for every learner at the school. One learner described it as follows : “The library makes every child at this school smile, it does not matter what they do, and when they walk by they smile.”

Watch two video clips of two learners and how they feel about the Container Library, that has been given to their school. Click Here – Grade 3 learner and click here – Grade 6 learner.

Congratulations to Hillcrest Primary School’s Soul Buddyz Club on achieving their diamond status! We are indeed very proud of all the learners at this school.

Our gift on Valentine’s Day for the community of Malibu, Blue Downs on the Cape Flats – a beautiful renovated container kitchen

Cans4Feeding | admin | February 17, 2012

Tim Smith, Breadline Africa director writes:
The opening ceremony took place in the church which was lavishly decorated and full of people. There were several speeches by local pastors, and then Edna and I were asked to address the crowds. We spoke briefly and thanked the Pastor and his team for the work they were doing among the poor of the area. After several more items and songs, Pastor Mervin Jansen spoke and thanked all who had been involved in the project, and made special mention of Breadline Africa and of Roland Wilcox our technician.

He and his wife (also a pastor) had started the feeding scheme twenty two years ago and it had grown enormously, so that they were feeding about 400 people per week. Pastor Mervin said, people asked him, ‘why do you give people food parcels?’ I was so moved about that question that I answered, “If you see the hurt in people’s eyes and that they are hungry, how you can turn a blind eye?” When you feed a child you feed a nation, when you educate a child you educate a nation, and that is my belief.

We then proceeded outside to the container kitchen and there was an official opening with Edna Titus cutting the ribbon and handing over the kitchen to the New Haven Social Concerns. Everyone had a chance to walk through the container, which is a 12 metre high cube container unlike the ones we normally use for kitchens. One end is fitted as a kitchen; the other end is left open as a feeding area and will eventually be filled with chairs and tables. Pastor Mervin and his team packed 100 bags of food that was donated by Breadline Africa as a gift to the poor on this happy occasion.

This was followed by a lunch for the guests and the handing out of the gift food parcels to the men and women who always come for a meal at the kitchen. From all the comments that we received, one had the impression that Breadline Africa and especially Edna is well known in this area, and people could mention a number of soup kitchens or educare centres where we had supplied containers in the recent past, among them the BBC container. It was indeed a very happy and joyful occasion. Our heartfelt thanks went out to Pastor Mervin and his team for a job well done.

Last but not least, a big thank you to all our friends and supporters both near and far for having made this marvellous gift of a renovated container kitchen possible.

PRESS RELEASE: Soup kitchen for New Life Centre in Blue Downs

Cans4Feeding, Press Releases | admin | February 14, 2012

Every day more than a 100 Blue Downs Cape Flats residents line up at the New Life Centre for their one guaranteed meal of the day. From young children, to the elderly, the frail and disabled, the New Life Centre and their team of volunteers, work tirelessly to feed and nourish the dozens of impoverished and unemployed Blue Downs residents from their cramped quarters.

“The New Life Centre offers a vital network of support and care to the Blue Downs community,” projects officer for Breadline Africa, Edna Titus said. “Food and an adequate space to prepare meals is one of the most basic and urgent needs in the township. Breadline Africa is pleased to help in some small way by providing two converted containers for meals to be prepared in by the centre. Food is one of the most basic and urgent needs in the area.”

Breadline Africa, a Cape Town based NGO is one of the biggest suppliers of converted containers for poverty relief in Southern Africa, since 1993 the organisation has provided over 175 containers to poverty stricken communities. The containers, which are sturdy and watertight are bought at a low cost and transformed into mobile structures and used as educare centres, soup kitchens or clinics.

“The containers are a lifeline to many struggling communities, they provide instant and vital infrastructure,” Titus said. “Our projects try to establish a level of self-sustainability within the community.”

To celebrate the opening of the soup kitchen at the New Life Centre, Breadline Africa arranged for 100 food parcels to be handed out to members of the community.

For more information on Breadline Africa visit www.breadlineafrica.org. If you would like to contribute to Breadline Africa contact Edna Titus on 021 418 0322 or email: edna@breadlineafrica.org.za.

ENDS

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Distributed by Media Spot on behalf of Breadline Africa:

MD: Tim Smith

Project officer: Edna Titus

For more information, contact Media Spot:

Beverley Houston

beverley@mediaspot.co.za

082 824 8617

Breadline Africa and the Mount Kilimanjaro challenge.

Fundraising, Online Giving | admin | February 10, 2012

It never ceases to amaze me the extreme to which our friends and supporters will go to help us raise much needed funds for those less fortunate than ourselves here in Africa.

Steve D’Souza was persuaded by his friends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro which is situated in Tanzania and is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding snow-covered equatorial mountain on earth. Click on the link below to read all about his challenge:

Steve D’Souza is climbing Kilimanjaro!!

He took up the challenge and asked his friends to sponsor him and in return Breadline Africa would benefit from all the proceeds.

They will be travelling to Kilimanjaro on the 9^th of February and will be taking the Lemosho route, arriving at the summit on the 16^th of February.

Breadline Africa donated stationery schools packs

Donations, Education | admin | January 19, 2012

All the learners of Riebeek Wes Primary School received a huge surprise yesterday! We presented more than 170 learners with a stationery starter pack for 2012. Some of the learners will be fitted out with brand new uniforms too.

Grade R leaners receiving their stationery

We were told that many of the parents are seasonal workers for about twelve of the surrounding farms in the Riebeek Valley area. Rural life is not easy and the parents find it extremely difficult to make ends meet. Many of the parents rely on their child’s grant which is not much and in some instances the grants are the only income for a family.

The Grade R teacher was so happy when we presented all the kids with a stationery starter pack. She said “now she could happily start with her teaching knowing that all the children have the same stationery that is required to do the necessary tasks for their grade.”

Grade R teacher and 2 learners that received a uniform

Thank you to all our friends and supporters for making such a huge difference in the lives of so many kids. We believe that education is the key to success.

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

Allocations Visits | admin | December 23, 2011

“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.”

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