It has come to an end for 2013 – all 56 charities that we now assist have been visited by the board and volunteers of the NCCF and these visits have followed the welcoming pattern of the past 6 months.MC Kharbai School’s marimba band welcomed us with music and smiling faces while we enjoyed their delicious snacks and juices.

A Tour of the school by a very proud principal, Michelle Batchelor, who showed off the borehole installed by NCCF as well as the interactive white boards that are making such a difference assisting in education of the 364 deaf as well as minimally physically and mentally handicapped children. Who are not receiving just regular schooling, but are taught skills such as metal work, woodwork, hairdressing and baking in readiness for their entry into the outside world.

Thato Ke Matla, now overcrowded with 38 resident children,  and 18 day care kiddies attending the newly extended and renovated day care centre thanks to the work done by NCCF’s builder. The home, thanks to NCCF, has also seen a face-lift with proper ceiling boards, safe electrical connections, new fascia boards and no more leaks! Educational equipment has been purchased for the centre.

The 345 children who live in Lufhereng, Roodepoort South have found a safe haven in SANTU’s HIV/AIDS Project after school, where they can do homework, receive what is often their only meal of the day, and wait to be collected by a guardian, single parent or grandparent as most of these children are either orphaned, or have a guardian in the form of a family elder who cares for them on meager grants as we are informed that 60% of the township’s residents are unemployed. The NCCF not only supplies the centre with essential groceries, but has also provided eating utensils, cooking implements and will now add a deep freezer to their list of needs.

The Cradle of Hope continues to grow with The House of Restoration now accommodating 30 and the Cradle Ark in Tarlton housing 106 residents. Their outreach program which extends as far as Swaziland and Lesotho cares for a further 460 children. The NCCF has equipped The House of Restoration day care centre and continues to supply regular groceries to the home.

Baby Moses has relocated one of their seven homes to Helderkruin after a fire destroyed one of their former facilities and so the NCCF visited this new residence and were welcomed by a happy group of youngsters who were so eager to show us their new rooms and playground paradise. This home has been renovated by house parents Christo and Lanie, but still needs more work, so the NCCF builder will be asked to visit and present a quote to us.

Villa of Hope continues to thrive with 56 children enjoying life in a kibbutz type setting with large grounds and many care-givers who attend to the needs of the babies, toddlers and teens. The children come from abused, orphaned and abandoned backgrounds and many are very disturbed, hence the invaluable support of an in-house social worker.  The children enjoy regular groceries from NCCF and are also treated to outings.

Caritas was the last stop on our visits and house mother Yvonne was sad to report that social services have removed 14 of the children who have been in her care for up to 10 years, but the powers that be feel it  important to try to integrate these children with family members that they have found, be it that the children were very reluctant to leave what was in most instances, the only home they ever knew. However, the home will soon be full again, as Yvonne has agreed to take in abandoned babies and will nurture them until suitable homes are found for them in the type of family structure that social welfare deems suitable. The NCCF will continue to support Caritas Home with groceries, cleaning material and toiletries.

Thank you to Jeremy for his careful driving from the West to East side of the city (we did miss you Sergio) and to the team who travelled with us, interacted with the children and handed out sweets wherever we went.