SOS Africa founder Dr Matt Crowcombe introduces the launch of SOS Africa’s latest charity education programme in Somerset West, South Africa…
“Surely our greatest privilege as SOS Africa staff has to be meeting the new children, we support for the very first time. It is these cherished moments which make all of the blood sweat and tears shed with our passionate volunteers and fundraisers worthwhile.
For the last two weeks Claudia and I vacated the familiar surroundings of the charity’s fundraising headquarters in the UK and set a course for SOS Africa’s education programmes in South Africa. It has been a fantastic opportunity to not only catch up with the wonderful staff and children who have been part of our programme over the past 13 years, but also to meet the new members of our ever-growing family.
Today we bring news of a new education programme which we have recently launched in the Western Cape in partnership with the Tereo Mission School. This exciting new partnership will see the SOS Africa Aftercare Programme established at the school as part of a new sponsorship scheme.
The Tereo Mission School itself is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to offer children at risk an opportunity to learn in a place of safety. It is our aim to provide the SOS Africa children attending this school with all of the emotional and developmental support they require to prepare them before entering into mainstream schooling by Grade 4.
Over the last few days, we have been fortunate enough to visit the new centre and spend time with our new Aftercare Manager Chloe, and the first 6 wonderful children who will be empowered under her care. After only spending a few hours in their presence, we have been inspired by Chloe’s passion and by the bond she already shares with these special children and cannot wait to receive updates on their progress when we return to the UK.
As I write, I know that the smiling faces of the 6 special children whose lives will immediately change for the better will be forever imprinted on our minds alongside the faces of the other 38 children already in our care. These moments also remind us just how much children can give back and that supporting their education is surely the greatest investment of all.
We would like to say a big thank you to Naomi and the Tereo Mission School for joining us on this exciting new venture and also to you, the SOS Africa sponsors, for making this possible!”
Dr Matt Crowcombe (CEO/Founder, SOS Africa)
