I think almost everyone I meet knows within about 5 minutes of starting the conversation that I’m slightly obsessed with South Africa, and have been since my work experience there in 2000/2001. Most of my friends also know that I’m a trustee of Helwel Trust, a tiny volunteer run charity raising funds for the poorest people in rural Zululand. That’s the bit on Eastern coast, above Durban and below Swaziland. Helwel Trust has been around since before I was born, and has helped thousands and thousands of poor people with education, self sufficiency and HIV/AIDS projects. The work is truly inspiring... I’ve seen it myself a number of times. Every time I go to South Africa, I come back wanting to do more for these inspiring South African’s who are making a lot out of very little.
This is the first time I have turned to my friends with such a personal appeal for you to help too if you can. I’m not asking much... (I’ve given some examples near the end of this letter), as I know these are hard times for many of us. But I know so many people in South Africa who are having an even harder time than us, who live in mud huts with no front door, are orphans, miss out on school, can’t get jobs, are going to bed hungry, can’t afford drugs when they are sick. And the amazing thing is that a little bit of money from one of us in the UK goes a very long way to give someone in South Africa a big hand up.
The reason I’m asking now. Well, I’ve just been to South Africa again, seen that the problems that poor people face every day unfortunately aren’t going away, it’s inspired me to make this plea for help! But more importantly, Helwel Trust is struggling. Many of our members are getting older, passing on sadly, and our income is dwindling. But the need in South Africa is still great. We can’t give up! Helwel needs new supporters... could it be you?
To show you what the need is, I’ve written two little stories about people that Helwel is helping out:
At the front is little Themba. He’s only 4, but with those big eyes, I’m guessing he’s going to be a ladies man. But Themba had a hard start in life. His mum and dad died of AIDS. He lives with his Gogo (granny), and she loves him a lot, but life is tough. Gogo gets a small pension, and takes in sewing work from her neighbourhood, but struggles to make that money stretch to feeding and schooling Themba, his brother and sister, and 4 teenage cousins (also AIDS orphans) who all live with her. Her biggest wish is for Themba and her other grandchildren to go to school, get some qualifications, get a job and get out of poverty.
Thanks to Helwel funding, Themba and his little sister started to attend a local pre school. This is great for lots of reasons. He is safe in the day while granny is out. He gets a warm breakfast and lunch, which takes a bit of pressure off the food bill at home. He is learning his ABCs and numbers, and he’s a keen little learner, so he’ll be well prepared when he’s big enough to go to Primary School. He gets health checks for free, another weight of granny’s mind. But Themba likes it because he gets to be a kid, play, run around with his mates. Do things that all four year olds should be doing, instead of what he used to do... look after his little sister, fetch firewood and water, beg on the streets. Now Themba and his sister are in pre school, it helps granny too. She has time to do more sewing work and bring in more money. Big knock on effect... simple really.
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This is yours truly on a trip I made to see Helwel Funded projects a couple of years back. I’m standing with Joseph and Gertrude Dlamini in their inspiring veggie garden. It was an amazing garden growing like an oasis in a desert. OK it’s not a desert in Zululand, but in Nkandla where Joseph and Gertrude live the land is pretty poor, it’s dry, cold at times and quite barren. But they had lush banana trees (behind Gertrude), chillies and peppers (by Joseph’s feet), cabbages, onions, potatoes, carrots, spinach, chickens, herbs of every kind and much more.
What’s more impressive is Joseph’s story. He freely told me that he’d been a bad lad in his youth. On finding no work, had drunk heavily and turned to burglary and stealing cars to fund his booze habit. His wife and kids were starving, but he kept drinking. But then he got involved with a Helwel funded programme that teaches people sustainable agriculture and small business skills. Joseph really grabbed the opportunity and turned his life around (and that of his family too). He set to veggie farming like a man possessed and now his family are very well fed. And it’s all organic/free range/locally sourced! They grow so much that Gertrude takes it to the local market and runs her own little veggie shop, so the family has a steady income.
What’s truly great about this programme though is that it’s a multiplier. It starts with one man like Joseph, but every person who benefits from the programme is committed to get their neighbours to do the same. With Helwel’s help, Joseph is now a local celebrity.... everyone comes to see his garden and get his advice (He even gave me a tip about using chilli’s to ward off insects). Joseph is now employed by the programme, training and advising other people in the villages around him to do the same. What a guy. But he needs funds to help him to do that job – he travels huge distances so needs a sturdy vehicle, needs venues and materials to put on his training, even needs a small salary for all the hard work he’s putting in.
*Apologies for the hazy picture... couldn’t find the original! And yes, I do realise now that white trousers probably aren’t that flattering!
So can you help? Then great! I knew you would...
How much is needed?
Well, this is personal so I’m just asking you to do what you can. Times are tough for many of us but you should know that a small amount to us, means a big amount to Themba, Joseph and Gertruide.
Could you give a fiver a month? What’s that: two skinny lattes a month? One of those fancy burrito things from the street market?
In South Africa, just 4 of your burritos (or 8 lattes) could give Themba’s teacher a starter kit so she can make her own toys from recycled materials. That translates to you giving toys to the whole class, and lots of future children when they get to go to pre-school. And look here at the cool toys they can make from some cereal boxes and porridge glue (it’s all a bit blue peter!)
What about £180? That’s a bit steep you say, but over a year that’s only £15 a month. For this small amount you can keep a vehicle on the road that allows a field worker to visit hundreds of poor rural people like Joseph, giving training and advice on their gardens and small businesses. Now I wonder how much a month you pay out for your car, road tax, MOT, Service, oil, new tyres...? £15 a month doesn’t sound so much now does it?
So if I’ve managed to convince you then please donate what ever you can afford here:
Or send cheque donation if you prefer to our lovely donations secretary, Carol French at Copperfield, Station Road, Much Hadham, Herts, SG10 6AX.
If you do, please drop Carol a note to tell her you are a friend of mine, and that you are a tax payer (if you are!) while you are at it. If you are a tax payer we can claim the tax back from those lovely people at HMRC... and that makes me smile :-D
Whatever you do, be assured that every little penny will go straight to helping children like Themba to get a quality education, and adults like Joseph and Gertruide to feed themselves.
And even if you can't give at this time, thank you for bothering to read about these people dear to my heart, and please think of them and spread the word about Helwel Trust whereever you can!
Thank you. Your support means a lot to me too!
