July 2022: Today we would like to tell you about the great fundraising run of the Moritz School Erfurt, which could finally take place again this year, and report on the current status of our projects.
On June 10, 2022, the students of the Moritz School ran their laps full of enthusiasm. Before the event, they had sought sponsors who promised a certain amount of money for each lap they ran. This was multiplied by the number of laps run and thus resulted in the amount donated. The great amount of EUR 4’264.17 was collected, with which we were able to do something good in all four projects. For this, once again a heartfelt Siyabonga - THANK YOU - to all children, sponsors, the principal Mrs. Beecken as well as all teachers of the Moritz School. More information about this year's charity run can be found on the school homepage (German only).
We would also like to thank all the other loyal donors who support our projects in the form of standing orders or one-time donation campaigns. The Dubiel family from Erfurt, for example, called for "donations instead of presents" for their family celebration - a great idea that perhaps one or the other would also like to adopt on the occasion of a birthday or the like?
It's wintertime in South Africa right now, which can be quite cold. I myself have experienced snow in Greytown. The poor children who visit our feeding project twice a week for a warm meal are therefore incredibly grateful for the warming sweaters. On the occasion of Nelson Mandela Day on July 18, 2022, there was a big feast with 35 kg of chicken stew (chicken biryani).
In the children's home a lot of renovation work was done at the beginning of the year and the children's dormitories got a nice new coat of paint. The whole thing was excellently rounded off with new bed linen.
Unfortunately, we also received sad news in June: 9-year-old Mpendulo Zulu passed away after a long illness - everyone misses him very much. The nurses at the children's home had lovingly cared for Mpendulo during his illness. Thanks to our donations, the children's home was able to organize a beautiful funeral for him.
But there are also nice experiences: 16-year-old Andile Gasa is an enthusiastic and talented soccer player in the school team. He was even invited to the national talent search in Durban at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. We made this trip possible for him, which meant the world to him and has brought him a little closer to his dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
The vegetable garden of the children's home is maintained by the children with great dedication and there is also a new scarecrow.
In the village project we are currently building a new preschool: for this purpose the existing building has to be rebuilt so that there will also be a kitchen, toilets and a large rainwater barrel. In the future, the children will also receive lunch in the preschool. We have already been able to build a beautiful playground on the outside premisses, which the children love.
Project leader Paul and his team of volunteers have also done some repair work on the other preschools. And every month we continue to provide the poorest of the poor families in the villages of Muden and Keates Drift with survival packages.
In our township project, we would like to encourage the families to plant small gardens so that the children can eat fresh vegetables along with the traditional maize meal (puto). For this purpose we have distributed seeds for spinach, cabbage and beet root. In addition, one of the greenhouses on the former farm has been refurbished and now serves as a community garden - we are looking forward to the first harvest.
In addition to providing food for families in need, we support stroke patients and the disabled in particular with necessary supplies such as adult diapers.
The corona situation has eased somewhat in South Africa. But the government's electricity and water saving measures are omnipresent, as in the past, and days without running water and electricity are not uncommon. The rising energy prices are also a problem for everyone in the South African winter.
We wish you all nice and relaxing summer vacations!