Nkosi’s Haven at the start of 2014

ALAN MANOR – Nkosi’s Haven, situated in Alan Manor, and started 2014 off with a bang celebrating the results of their three matriculants who successfully passed matric in 2013. The girls are still not sure what careers they want to follow and so are spending a gap year assisting with chores and child care at the Village. The first year Sports Management student passed her year with flying colours and is now fully ensconced and rearing to take on her second year challenges.

Of the 105 school-going children three did not pass their grade, so a couple of tears were shed, but they seemed to settled down. Due to the fact that the major educational donor of five years ended their support at the end of 2013, quite a few of the children had to move schools to those that are more cost-effective, but resulted in a rather large ‘new uniform’ shop. A couple of the younger ones have been moved to a remedial school as they were just not coping in the mainstream, so they were reassessed and it was decided that a remedial school would be more beneficial for them.

Having the children participate in some form of sport has always been a priority at the Nkosi’s Haven Village, however, the ‘compact’ sports field and equipment needed a facelift and replacement.

Megapro Holdings (Pty ) Ltd., the well known sporting and entertainment promotions company, came to the rescue by sponsoring the repair and facelift of the sports field and purchasing a range of equipment from soccer, basketball, volley ball and cricket nets with all relevant equipment catering for all ages and sizes of the resident children. This ‘activities division’ will be run, organised and planned in age groups by the Sports Management 2nd year student, who cannot wait to get her ‘hands on’ experience.

The ballroom/line dancing lessons continue to be an integral part of the resident children’s lives, with lessons given oro-bono every Friday afternoon by Martine Davies of the Dance Studio. Most of the boys are not that keen to get involved as they see it as being a ‘girl’s thing’, however one or two of the boys are beginning to show interest. Two of the girls show magnificent talent and it is hoped that they will continue to develop their skills ending up as professionals.

Two very efficient mothers are now responsible for running the bakery and are producing bread and/or rolls for both in-house consumption (based on menu requirements) as well as for sale to other non-profit organisations or members of the public. This is an incoming generating division that requires further investment to develop a strong sustainable project for the capacity building of our residents. The size of the bakery has not permitted extension into confectionery production, however, it is certainly on the ‘to do’ list for 2014.

Nkosi’s Haven 4Life Farm, a 12 acre property owned by Nkosi’s Haven just outside Vegeeniging, is the second and more important project to get up and running for social-economic development and capacity building. Presently, with the assistance of commitment funds, the development of produce generation such as vegetables and broiler chickens projects is being implemented. It is hoped to have these facilities up and running within the next two months. Developing it on the kibbutz style of living, the farm will accommodate women and children with the long term intention of establishing a training division targeting non-resident youth, who are unemployed and want to develop an incoming generating opportunity for themselves by taking their knowledge back into the community and developing vegetable gardens. The project is huge and needs tremendous investment and support, but it is a must for 2014 for the further growth of Nkosi’s Haven.

Nkosi’s Haven management, staff, resident moms and children take the opportunity of wishing all Southern COURIER readers a rather belated happy, healthy and successful 2014 and thank everyone for the amazing support received during 2013.

For more information on Nkosi’s Haven contact Gail Johnson 011 942 5580 or email director@nkosishaven.org