This past year has been, without doubt, the most challenging 12 months most of us have ever experienced. It is therefore a huge credit to our trustees, staff, volunteers, sponsors, partnering schools, children and their communities, who have all contributed to what has undoubtedly been the most impactful 12 months in the charity’s 17-year history. With the help of photographer Helena Krige, join us as we look back on the most memorable moments from the past year…
The school year always begins with a great deal of excitement and 2020 was by no means an exception as record numbers of children across our 4 education programmes in Mafikeng and the Western Cape returned to school…
Our “year of firsts” began with our first children from Somerset West starting higher education at Hottentots Holland High School. It was a proud moment when we dropped Kim, Quentin and Laytham off for their first day at high school.
Meanwhile, in Mafikeng we received the fantastic news that SOS Africa graduates Obu, Othu and Olebogeng had been accepted into Pretoria and North-West Universities to study Information Technology, Microbiology and Organisational Psychology.
Back in the Western Cape, we expanded our holistic education programmes to incorporate occupational therapy sessions to assist children facing physical development challenges.
After a very successful first term, our partnering schools were forced to close due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In response, the SOS Africa staff arranged school supplies and assignments to be delivered so that our children could continue their studies from home. As the virus continued to spread across the world, our children sent messages of love and hope to their sponsors.
In response to the desperate need of those affected by the virus, in April 2020 SOS Africa launched an Emergency Food Relief Appeal. After an incredible initial response, in partnership with local organisations, SOS Africa began funding food parcels and hot meals for thousands of people from disadvantaged South African communities.
During the 3 month national lockdown, we kept our hard-working staff busy by funding a series of online training courses which they were able to complete from home. Thanks to the successes of the appeal, SOS Africa was also able to introduce medical insurance for our frontline staff.
Whilst all Western Cape Schools were closed during the national lockdown, the SOS Africa staff decided to organise a 3 week holiday programme to ensure that our children were safe, well and did not fall behind in their studies. It was the first time that our children from Somerset West and St Michael’s Elgin had spent time together – by the final day of the programme they were inseparable!
Throughout 2020, our charity also began expanding its scope of support to fund vital projects on behalf of our partnering schools. At St Michael’s School in Elgin, with the support of the Mordaunt Foundation, we fully-funded the refurbishment of the school’s sanitation facilities and purchased 2 brand new Grade 1 classrooms. These essential initiatives helped the school keep its staff and children protected from the virus and halved the sizes of its Grade 1 and 4 classes.
By September 2020, with the help of an incredible Minecraft Livestream Fundraising Event and an unprecedented corporate donation, SOS Africa’s Appeal passed the £200,000 fundraising mark! These invaluable funds enabled SOS Africa to purchase 2 23-seater minibuses to expand our food relief efforts and provide transportation for the charity’s Western Cape Education Programmes…
Earlier in 2020, the talents of SOS Africa’s star rugby player Elvino were spotted during a tournament by Sports and Academic Scout Francois Moller from Drostdy Technical School in Worcester. Soon after seeing him in action, Francois contacted Elvino’s family to offer him a bursary to attend the school from Grade 8 in January…
As part of a remarkable team effort to make the world a better place, in early November, SOS Africa staff, children and parents all descended on the Strand Beach and embarked on a mass beach clean-up operation…
On the 25th November, the SOS Africa staff and children joined South Africans across the world to stand together in solidarity to remember and honour all victims of COVID-19. Throughout the day, they wore black armbands, face masks, bracelets and wrote special messages of condolence to the friends and loved ones of those who have passed…
To celebrate a year in which all our staff and children have responded heroically to the many challenges thrown their way, we threw them a “Superheroes” End of Year Party. It was a memorable afternoon packed full of incredible superheroes costumes, games, delicious food and lots of dancing…
Meanwhile in Mafikeng, our staff and children were treated to an afternoon of go-karting. Though some took longer to complete their laps than others, all the kids loved the experience…
During the afternoon, Education Programme Manager Jenny Matthews proudly presented leavers books to the latest graduates, Tlotlo and Mathapelo who will continue their studies in computer science and nursing from January 2021…
In December, our staff also had the privilege of taking the next generation of SOS Africa children on a special tour of Grabouw High School to give them a taste of the next chapter in their lives, which they will all begin together in January 2021. We cannot wait to get started…
