Charities

Each region has chosen their own charity to support. Here is a summary of the various charities.

Durban

Izulu Orphan Projects

Izulu Orphan Projects, IOP, is a non profit organisation which deals with orphans and widows who are affected by HIV and Aids. We are not an orphanage but assist on a home based care system through caregivers. Founded in 2002 by Chadd and Kate Bain, the organisation was created to serve hundreds of orphans, starting in Kwa-Zulu. Our aim is to school, feed and clothe as many orphan kids as possible and to impact the local community through education, health awareness and job creation.
IOP started by holding an Annual Orphan Christmas party. Our first party was held in 2002 with 80 orphans attending. In 2003, we had 150 kids and we schooled 17 in 2004 with the left over funds. That increased steadily over the years. From the beginning of 2010 we are supporting the 994 orphan children we have on file, making up 389 families.

Hermanus

Hermanus Rainbow Trust

http://www.rainbowtrust.org.za/

The Hermanus Rainbow Trust aims to paint a rainbow of hope and opportunity for poor and marginalised communities, and operates within the Overstrand region of the Western Cape province in South Africa. The Trust provides essential health, social and education services in response to the dire needs of poor and marginalised communities within the region. We are officially registered as a trust and as a nonprofit organisation (NPO). The Trust is affiliated to the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA).

Johannesburg - Benoni

Red Sea & Holy Band Apostolic Church of God

GPS co-ordinates: S26 07.355' E28 29.322'

Our chosen charity for #TBD is Red Sea & Holy Band Apostolic Church of God in Etwatwa. They run a pre-school and a daycare centre, and they permanently house 10 Aids orphans. They also support the very needy and destitute in their community. There is very little money for salaries for staff. Their Deputy Arch Bishop is Adam Mashiane. They are a registered NPO.

Knysna

Edge of Africa

http://www.edgeofafrica.com/

EDGE of AFRICA is a non-government South African organisation offering international volunteers the opportunity to visit the country and contribute to our communities and environment. Our dedication to service excellence and an authentic South African experience has paid off - we've won the 2010 Welcome Awards in the tour operator category and have also been voted in the top four of South Africa's leading conservation companies by the World Travel Awards since 2008. EDGE of AFRICA has numerous community and conservation based projects in the Garden Route area, and one project that is very close to our hearts is the "Recycling Swop Shop".

Plettenburg Bay

St Vincent de Paul Society

In South Africa, St Vincent de Paul Society has approximately 2 500 members and volunteers who work very hard to assist people in need and combat social injustice.

They rely on contributions of cash and kind from other caring people - who allow us to be their hands - carrying comfort, compassion and practical help to those most in need.

In Plettenberg Bay a weekly soup kitchen is provided by the local St Vincent de Paul chapter, at both the Catholic Church in town as well as at the New Horizons church. Food parcels are also distributed monthly, as well as clothing and any other item needed to those who are not able to provide for themselves. They rely solely on donations.

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service started in the 1990's with the aim of providing animal welfare services to the Bitou Municipal areas surrounding Plettenberg Bay.

This non-profit organisation, currently operates a mobile Inspector who services 11 different townships in the area.

Many of the residents in these townships cannot afford even the most basic veterinary care for their animals. The inspector, undertakes dipping and deworming clinics on a weekly basis, attends to emergency callouts, and works to educate the community on essential primary pet care.

In addition to this, "Spay Days" and held, where inoculation, sterilisation, and mange control clinics are organised on a regular basis.

Pretoria

P.E.N.

http://www.pen.org.za/

The inner city of Pretoria is a fast growing and densely populated area. Hundreds of people flock from rural areas to the city with the dream of setting up a better life than they are used to. Sadly, reality is met when they end up in the inner city, sharing a small one room flat with ten or more other people, where there are very few opportunities and sometimes equally little food to eat. In circumstances like these family structures fall apart, moral standards drop, and crime and gangsterism become a way of life. Amidst all of this hardship it is usually the women and children who suffer the most. Fathers often leave to seek a better life and mothers are left to care for the children, mostly with devastating consequences. Mothers and/or their children fall prey to drug lords, prostitution and those ever preying adults, also victims of abuse.