Newsletter

October2010

Mothers Unite - Let’s Feed Our Children

AWordfromourChairperson

IwelcomeyoutothefirsteditionofourNewsletterWe findourselveswithina verydiverse community calledLavender Hill in Cape Town. Mothers Unite has startedspreadingwithlovetheirunrelentingtrailofPassionforthepeopleofthiscommunityespeciallythechildren.Wehavesited the challenges that the children of Lavender Hillencounteronadailybasis.In this disadvantaged community the children have veryfewrealrolemodels,nevermindservicesthatareavailableandaccessible‐theyarefewandfarbetween.Thisinitselfis our challenge asMothers Unite, tomake provision forthese childrenwith the limited resources thatwe have atourdisposal.Thechildrencomefromverychallengingbackgroundssuchasparentsnotbeing employed,older siblingsandparentsengaginginsubstanceabuseandnotmuchattentionbeinggiventotheirhealth.Sometimes it is difficult to imagine how these kids copewithlife. Itistherefore imperativeforusascitizensofourcountry andwhichever communitywe come from to roleup our sleeves and start doing something to uplift anddevelop our children.It reminds me of the old cliché‘Childrenare the future leadersof tomorrow’ ‐but that isnot so if we do not play our part today to equip ourchildren with the necessary tools that they need for thefuture.In my experience while working with children and youngpeople theyneed to feel lovedandwanted.Theyneed tobe respected as much as adults demand respect fromthem. Our greatest challenge today is to find thatconnectionwithchildren.Oftenenoughadultsbelievethatthey are the only one teaching the children, again this isnot entirely true as children oftenmirror the adults, andseeingourownactionsreflectedintheyoungchildrenmaybe a frightening experience. By their innocence andhonestythechildrenmayoftenteachusasadultshowweshouldnotbe.Within each community there are people who committhemselves tomaking a difference in the life of themostvulnerable.Areyouoneofthose?“The best place to find a helping hand, is at the end ofyourownArm”

Gerry

LookingBackattheHighlightsof2009….

June/JulyWorkcamp

Organized in collaboration with IDEM, students fromSweden andGermany came to stay in LavenderHill for amonthandassistedusinestablishing:

• thefoodgarden

• theadventureplayground

Seetheworkcampblogformanymorestories,picturesandvideos@www.mothersunite.org.za

ArrivalofourFirstContainer!

Last yearwasbuzzingwithproductiveactivitiesand therewas absolutely no time to waste. Thanks to our projectmanagerShaun,wewereableto laytheconcretefootingsrequiredforthedeliveryofthecontainer.Thiswasdoneona Saturdaymorning withmuch appreciated help from allvolunteers.

WeweregreatlyblessedwithacontainerfromBreadlineAfrica.ThishasnowbecomeourkitchendedicatedtoprovidinglowcostnutritiousmealsforthechildrenthatattendtheArtsandCraftsProgramstwiceaweek.

The slabs outside the container and the new palisadesecurityfencewereprovidedbycouncil.Weareextremelygrateful as this hasmade a tremendous difference to thesecurityandsmoothrunningoftheprograms,eventhoughthearduousprocesstookaboutayear.

We are also very excited about the arrival of 4 morecontainers from Junior council. These containers, onceconverted and equipped will hopefully be the hub of ourliteracyprogramforchildreninthecommunity.

Perhapsyoucouldassistus

Weoften turnablind eye to thedaily challengesbut feelthatbyreflectingonthemperhapssomeorganizationsandcompanieswouldbeabletoassistbyinvestinginourcauseor providing a helping hand in the future. Some of thechallengesthatweexperienceonadailybasisare:

Continuous vandalism and theft in the food garden,containersandadventureplaygroundaretheorderofthedaybutwe trynot to let it getusdown toomuch.Waterconnection pipes and garden irrigation pipes have beenstolen and destroyed on numerous occasions. Electricalfittings and lights for the containers have been destroyedandstolen.This isdespitethefactthatthereisanewhighsecurityfence.

Wehavenotedthatwhencouncil erectedthefencetherewerenoextendedconcrete foundations toprevent futureaccessbydiggingupthesoftsandandgainingentryunderthefence.Thisisanareathatneedstobeaddressed.

The fact that there are no ablution facilities around theMulti‐purpose centre except in the hall is a real andincreasing problem. Initially we were given access to thecommunityhall,where council suggestedwemakeuseofthe currentablutionsbut it isextremelydifficult toaccessthe community hall at the best of times as booking andpayment is required, even if you are merely utilizing thetoilets.Thereforeweurgentlyrequiresomeformofoutsideablution facilities, even if it is only two temporary toiletsthatarekeptunderlockandkey.

Becomeavolunteer

Our volunteers have been growing since December 2009andCarolourco‐ordinatorwillbe introducingyoutoeachoftheminournextNewsletter.Ifyouwouldliketobecomeavolunteervisitourwebsiteatwww.mothersunite.org.za

UniversityofCapeTowninvolvement

DieteticsstudentsfromtheUniversityofCapeTown(UCT)havebeenassistingMothersUnitewithskillsdevelopmentin the kitchen. The first group of students was veryproactive in providing workshops on healthy, safe andeconomical cooking methods as well as ways to identifymalnourishedchildren.

SwamibringsNetiPotstoLavenderHill

ThroughourpartnershipwithSevaUnite,wewereabletohostavisitbySwamiPragyamuti,whotaughtusandothercommunity based organisations the importance of takingcare of ourselves before we can take care of others. Wereceived a generous donation of Neti Pots, which wedistributed among the families that suffer from sinusitusandasthma.

KidzhelpKidz

A young boy by the name of Aaron generously blessedchildren less fortunate than himself for Christmas. Hedonated2largeboxesoftoystoMothersUnite,andthesewere distributed as part of our Kidz Unite program. 35childrenreceivedtheirveryowntoyforChristmasin2009.

ARTS&CRAFTSPROGRAMS2010

Mosaics

A series of introduction workshops were run by the 1stNaruna and Constantia Scouts. The purpose of theseworkshopswastofamiliarizethechildrenwiththevariousstepsincreatingmosaicsartwork.Currently15childrenareregisteredinourmosaicsprogram.

FoodGardening

Facilitated by Soil for Life, the children are taught how tomake compost, plant seedlings, water and care for theirgrowingvegetables.Theyaretaughthowtoreduce, reuseand recycle in the garden, the value of earthworms andhowtostartawormfarm.SoilforLifehasalsoassisteduswithmanydonationsforthefoodgardensuchascompostandseedlingsbutalsoingredientslikeflourforthekitchenwhichhasbeenverywellutilizedforthechildren’smeals.

CreativeRecycling

The children use recycled materials to make toys, gamesandbirdfeeders.Inthepicturesbelowtheyusedoldplastic2l coke and milk bottles to make birdfeeders for thegarden.

ClairePhilipssingsforMothersUnite

A successful event was organised by Cape TownCollaboration at the Vodacom Golf Range, where ClairePhilipsperformed unplugged, and we were given anopportunityto showcase the wonderful mosaic artworkproducedbythechildren.

June/JulyHolidayProgram

Organized in collaborationwith Cape Nature, the childrenvisitedBlaauwbergNatureReserve,wentforahikeatthe

Driftsands Nature Reserve and learnt all about theimportanceofalienvegetationclearing.

SUSTAINABLEPROGRAMS2010

SewingCushions&Placemats

CarolandthemembersofMothersUnitehavebeenverybusysewingcushionsandplacematsonthedayswherenoprogramsarerunningforthechildren.

Benchmaking

In collaboration with Mason, pallets are taken apart andrecycled into beautiful benches. The children help withsandingthewoodandpaintingthebenches.

Calendar

Don’tforgettovisitusinMuizenbergonthe1stSaturdayandlastSundayofeverymonth@

• thecraftmarket2October9am‐2pm

• thetalentmarketon31October1pm‐4pm

WishListfor2011Weurgentlyneedavehicle–asyoucanseethe4x4thatwearecurrentlyusingisquiteheavyonthebackespeciallywhentravelinglongdistancesaftergoinggroceryshopping.

LiteracyProgram• 4Desks• 8chairs• shelvingforbooks• 5storagecontainers• 5beanbags• 4x10litdifferentcolourpaintsforthecontainers• rollersandpaintbrushes

EarlyChildhoodDevelopmentCentre

• blackboards• educationaltoys• 100kidscups,platesandutensils• 2x40litcookingpots• 40kiddieschairs&10kiddiestables• 5storagecontainers• 2mops,2brooms,2buckets• cleaning material such as domestos, jick,

handyandy,sunlight• steelwool,cleaningcloths,sponges,dryingcloths

ArtsandCrafts

• 200reamsofplainwhitepaper• 100sheetsofcardboard(colourandplain)• 20setsofwatercolourpaintand20setsofacrylic

paint• 20setsofcrayons• 50pencils• 20pens• bucketsofplaydough• 10smallprittglue• 20smallkidsscissors• 500assortedbeads• material offcuts with different patterns, colours

andAfricandesign• wool• 5ballsofstring• 20largepaintbrushes&20mediumpaintbrushes• 20differentstencilsofanimals• creativecolourfulwire• ACDplayer• 20Prestick• tiles• tilecutter• 50sponges• sandpaper

FoodGarden

• Tunnelstoprotectthevegetables• Compostandmulch• Seedlingsandanenclosedareaforasmallnursery• 3spades,3rakes,• Wormbins,Compostbins• Recyclingcontainers• Secure fencing to enclose and protect the the

organicfoodgarden• We have a borehole and would just need a

watering system that only serves the fenced inarea

• Netting ormaterial around the fence to act as awindbreaker

ThoughtfortheMonthByCarolJacobs

“LAVENDERHILL”Formetheword“Lavender”means…sweet‐smellingflower‐“Lavender”remindsmeof:

a) Sweetsmellb) Calmnessc) Beautyd) SomethingIwouldliketohave.

SoIwouldthinkthatwhensomeonetellsmeIhaveaplaceforyoutostay,in“LavenderHill”thenamealonewouldattractme.Myfeelingswouldbeasmentionedabove,butinrealityIseejusttheopposite.Speakingasachildlivingin“LavenderHill”Ihavecometorealizethatwhatthenamemeanttomeandwhatitreallyisaretotallydifferent.Thisiswhat“LavenderHill”reallymeans…

a) Nastysmellofdirtallaroundme.b) Thecryofinnocentbloodbeingshedright

beforeme.c) Adisrupted,unsafeandpeace‐lessplace,

insteadofthecalmnessIimagined.d) Nobeautyofnaturetoadmire,butrathera

destroyedplacewhereno‐onecaresabouttheenvironment.

e) Thehorriblesmellofburningtyresandcopper.IMUSTSAYTHATASACHILD,THISISNOTWHATMYHEARTDESIRES.IWANTTOLIVEWHERETHENAMEISATRUEREFLECTIONOFTHEPLACE.Thatwouldreallybeawesome!SowhatdoIhavetosayaboutthisplacecalled“LavenderHill” IT IS A PLACE WHERE ALL HOPE WAS LOST, BUT I INTEND TO BE THE DIFFERENCE…