St George’s Home: you can share in their success stories
The home has been trying to come up with different ways in which to raise funds
HELP to give a St George’s Home child a brighter future through funding their education.
The home, which is constantly trying to find ways of raising funds, has made a request to the community to help them in any way possible.
One of the ways the home can be assisted is by helping them put their children through school as part of the skills development programme.
The Kempton Park home, which cares for children aged 14 to 21, puts them through the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) programme offered by the department of education.
The children are thereafter taken to Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre in Kempton Park and St Anthony’s Education Centre in Boksburg to help them attain skills training. Here they are able to be trained in artisan work, such as welding and carpentry and the home helps them to find work.
“But it costs the home thousands of Rands for each child, so a lot of the money goes towards that,” senior public affairs manager, Sandhira Poonsamy, told EXPRESS.
However, the home has had quite a number of success stories. One of the teens, 19-year-old Naledi Seepe, just completed her ABET levels 1-4 and passed with distinctions. This year she will be doing her ABET matric certificate and has also managed to complete vocational training in diesel mechanics, for which she received a certificate.
Another teen who has been doing well at St George’s is Thabiso Lenka, also 19, who has been with the home since 2013.
“He was able to get a job while he was in our care and was one of the young people who used the money wisely,” Poonsamy explained.
Lenka completed training in electrical work and received a certificate. He also did his ABET level 4 and passed English, human and social science, natural science and life orientation.
The home is also exploring other avenues to raise funds.
“One of the ways we thought of which would be a fun way to raise money is through corporate companies possibly sponsoring a golf day or gala dinner. Even donating food and groceries would make such a huge difference and bring much needed relief,” Poonsamy added.
“The kitchen also needs a bit of revamping, so perhaps a hardware company could assist us by sponsoring the materials needed. Also, clothing donations for the children, especially for winter, would be appreciated.”
For more information, contact Poonsamy on 011-616-4015 or email sandhira@coach.org.za.
