Children's Report - November 2007
A huge thank you goes to everyone who has contributed to our appeal to make our children's Christmas special this year. We had not even finished sending out our e-mails when you started responding, letting us know that you would be either donating enough for us to fill a shoebox or you would be posting one for us. We are so happy to let you know that we now have a shoebox of goodies for every child in our home. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH to all of you.
We are all so over-joyed by your response. It is an amazing thing that when our children are happy, we (the staff) become uplifted ourselves. We become as excited as children and we anticipate what the children's faces are going to look like when they open their presents.
We would like to also thank you for the tremendous support that you have given us this year, despite the difficulties we have faced. Your loyalty and support in the face of unprecedented rumours and untruths, when it would have been easier to dump us, is testament to your courage and compassion.
Our children are well, happy and healthy.
These are our accomplishments this year:
1. Despite the fact that the teachers all went on strike for almost a term,
all our children have done exceptionally well in school this year.
2. Fourteen of our children are playing first team sports.
3. We have researched the backgrounds of every child and managed to get birth
certificates for them all.
4. All the children have had eye tests, dental checks and medical checks for
TB
5. There have been 14 overseas volunteers at the home during the year who
have taught the children various skills
6. Only one child was hospitalised this year
7. Diana Jagers, a registered nurse, joined us in February as the Children's
Home supervisor and the home is running like clockwork
8. The staff are receiving on-the-job training and we have registered all
staff to do a Basic Child Care course in February and five staff will be doing
a Nutrition and Cooking class at the same time
9. The Legal Resource Centre assisted us in taking the Department of Social
Development to the Supreme Court to secure safety fees for the children that
had been put in our care temporarily in 2005/6. The court ruling was that
the Department of Social Development had to pay safety fees.
10. Various projects have been put into place for the children to do and the
bangles that they are making are being sold in fair trade shops in the UK.
This is giving the children their pocket money, helping them work with budgets
and fundraising for the foundation.
11. The Legal Resource Centre also assisted us in applying for funding on
a business plan from the Department of Social Development. We had applied
every year for this and have received funding for six months to cover food,
a community project, maintenance, a social worker and for staff training.
12. The roof and gutters of two of our homes have been repaired.
13. The plumbing of three of the homes have been re-done.
14. Three of our Grade 7 children went on school tours this year.
15. Our First Team Sports children have travelled to play sport against other
schools.
16. Within the next two weeks, the 2006 financial statements will be ready
for the public. Should anyone want to see them, please email Janine.
17. The Dianne Lang Foundation was registered as a Charity in the UK
18. A microbus was donated to us by Chris de Beer which has made such a difference
to the lives of our children, particularly during bad weather when they can
be taken and collected from school.
Once again, thank you for your support and love
Dianne, Diana, Janine, Jackson, Monea, Child Care Workers and children
dianne.lang1@googlemail.com