THE SPIRIT OF UBUNTU FOR NKOSI’S HAVEN VILLAGE

Qantas crew team donation

“Happiness consists of giving and in serving others” (Henry Drummond). The Qantas Cabin Crew Team (QCCT) is registered as a charitable organisation committed to serve those who are less fortunate. They are a group of Australian flight attendants and the face of Qantas. Very aware of the less fortunate and desperate needs of others in the countries to which they travel, the QCCT was formed to ‘get hands on involved’ with registered organisations in those countries.

Gail Johnson receiving a cheque from Qantas crew



Having met the founding director of Nkosi’s Haven, Gail Johnson, on a flight back from Sydney in 2002, they wanted to do more.

The first property they ‘attacked’ was the homes in Berea (which have since been sold), spending two days painting and refurbishing.  Loving the concept and philosophy of Nkosi’s Haven the team wanted to do more and soon the Nkosi’s Haven Village became their flagship project.   The QCCT successfully raised money to purchase a Wendy house which is now the library at the Village. And in 2011, in memory of one of the QCCT members, Joel, a second wendy house was purchased which is now the music and art room for the resident children.

In 2009 money was raise for the Nkosi’s Haven 4Life Farm (a 12 acre farm just outside of Vereeniging) and the QCCT spent two exceptionally ‘hands on days’ planting garlic, completing the building and tiling of the chicken slaughter facility, as well as assisting in planting over 45 fruit trees.

The relationship between the QCCT and Nkosi’s Haven has grown from strength to strength with firm friendships having been formed and the QCCT’s commitment in supporting the resident children of Nkosi’s Haven has just been further enhanced through the donation of Australian dollars 18 000.00 that the Qantas Cabin Crew Team raised for the resident children’s needs such as computers, art products for the art therapy that has just been put into place at the Village.

In a flying visit, members of the QCCT ‘hand delivered’ the $ 18 000 and had time to spend with the resident children and enjoy a performance by the Nkosi’s Haven Choir.

Baby daycare makeover

Nkosi’s Haven Village baby daycare centre is currently being renovated with the help of Summit Financial Partners staff members, who too, wanted to get hands on involved.

Summit Financial Partners is an organisation committed to bringing positive change to the financial service, by doing exceptional things for consumers. They believe in having the best interest of the consumers at heart and their objective is “to continually impress our clients though delivering exceptional service hopefully at a profit, sometimes at loss, but always impressing”.

 

Nkosi's Haven kids with Summit Fiance employees after baby
daycare makeover



Nkosi’s Haven

has been chosen as one of their outreach programs, coming up with projects that will benefit the Nkosi’s Haven Village and its residents. They are currently busy with the makeover project, whereby they giving the baby daycare a new look. This involves painting the walls, new playground for the kids, laying an artificial lawn, new fencing and new toys.

The aim of this project is to provide a safe, beautiful and fun place for our babies/toddlers so that they can be able to express themselves to their full potential.

Summit Financial Planners are planning other activities at the Village which will include ‘taking over the kitchen’, thus giving the cooks a much needed break, as well as working with the teens and introducing dress codes, make-up and hair styles and most importantly towards the end of the year will be a ‘how to manage your money’ day for the teens of the Nkosi’s Haven Village.

Mountain hiking

On the 1st May, our current volunteers from Germany and Guatemala used the opportunity of the public holiday by taking our residents for a hike. Everybody who was older than 12 years was more than welcome to join. 


20 of the children were joined by the more energetic caregivers and volunteers. Leaving the property at 10 0′ clock in the morning, the Nkosi’s Haven ‘team’ took to the mountains to get to the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve which is situated ca. 3 km from Nkosi’s Haven.

volunteers and the Haven kids
at the hiking

Once in the reserve, they were thrilled to come across Zebras and springbok, within reach of the children. The small stream in the nature reserve was the perfect opportunity to refresh themselves from walking before they went back home. Pretty exhausted and tired but happy, everybody was back 4 hours later for a late lunch. Not only for our kids but also for our caregivers, this was an absolutely extraordinary experience. It was also an opportunity for them to improve their health by getting some outdoor exercise working off a few extra kilos.   Nkosi’s

Haven works hard at motivating the residents to work at maintaining   a healthy lifestyle and this initiative is complemented our vision and mission.

Appeal

 

With winter upon us, the management of the Nkosi’s Haven are requesting the support of Southern Courier’s readers for donations of warm winter clothes, closed shoes (both sexes and all sizes) and should there be a wiling donor who could assist with the supply of walls heaters for some of the cottages and leisure room – that would be stunning.  In addition, we recently admitted two pregnant mothers and we are in urgent need of two prams, baby blankets, winter baby grows and sterilising units for bottles - thank you.