SOCIAL RELIEF FUND: A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

18/8/2021

Here at Lesedi la Batho, we don't believe in hand outs - rather giving opportunities to people to help them improve their lives and become independent of hand outs. Our holistic offering of upliftment services works to achieve this mission, yet many of our beneficiaries are living day to day with very little resources to begin from. That's why our outreach and social relief department provides essential help along the journey to those in most need.

Our already marginalised and struggling community has been hard hit by the pandemic - job losses, increased domestic violence, losing loved ones and breadwinners to the virus, and many social and economic knock-on effects. Many are relying on their families, neighbours or NGO's like Lesedi la Batho for support - we have seen firsthand a deep, desperate and increasing need for outreach and social relief over the past year and a half.

Gratefully, we have also seen more benevolence and generosity for those less fortunate than we've ever seen before throughout the crisis. Our supporters came together time and time again to help us meet the needs of the vulnerable - making many gestures of relief and hope possible.

Knowing the issues in our community aren't slowing down anytime soon - and neither are we - the Lesedi la Batho Social Relief Fund was established in June 2021. In just three months, we've achieved so much together - read on for some significant stories of hope.

food parcels

Thanks to the donors of our Social Relief Fund and the congregation of the Brooklyn Methodist Church in Pretoria, we have distributed nearly 150 food parcels.

They largely support child-headed households, single parents, and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

Each parcel costs R180 and contains non-perishable, nutritional food items and toiletries to help people stay healthy and hygienic during a health crisis.

a home for brightness & his family

Paraffin fires are a commonplace incident in our community - families with no electricity rely on paraffin stoves, which also warm the house during winter, but are very susceptible to fires that destroy homes and everything in them.

After Brightness and his family's home was burnt down from a paraffin fire in June, they lost their clothing, furniture, documents, car and food supply. A concerned neighbour called our centre to assist, and our outreach team went out to meet them. We were able to give them food parcels, secondhand clothing and furniture donated by the community. With funds from the Social Relief Fund, Brightness' home was restored - and in even better condition than before the fire!

honouring seun's promising young life

We met Seun in early 2021, after the home he lived in with his mom and older brother was burnt down by his abusive father, on the day he was released from prison. We immediately intervened - reapplying for ID documents, donating food parcels, gathering clothing and school supply donations from kind-hearted people all over the country, and most importantly - providing family counselling. A new home was soon built for the family of 3. Seun re-enrolled in high school with the help of our social workers - determined to finish his high school certificate. His favourite subjects were Science and Maths.

Tragically, Seun was killed in a hit and run accident by a taxi in early August. Alongside his family who had already suffered so much trauma and heartache, our team was devastated. The week before he passed, Seun met with our social worker and told her how much more motivated he had been in the past months, that his grades were improving and his teachers were happy with his work. He genuinely seemed happy.

Seun's mom has not been able to seek employment yet as she is still recovering from her abuse and trauma. In her culture, burying a family member with dignity is very important - yet she had nothing to give. Thanks to the donors of our Social Relief Fund, we were able to sponsor a special, intimate funeral to honour Seun's promising young life. May you rest in peace, Seun...

Our name, Lesedi la Batho means "light for the people". In everything we do, we strive to bring relief and hope for a better future to the people of Mabopane. Please consider making a contribution of any size to our Social Relief Fund, or becoming a monthly donor - the most sustainable way to ensure we can keep helping families, together.

give today to social relief for families in crisis