Update for 2019
KHAZIMULA: will receive a Grant $27,250 for 2020. TIAS ARMS’ founder, Joanne Baker helped start Khazimula. Then it was a lean-to shelter for abandoned children. Now, it is a group home licensed for thirty children and adolescents housed in a former private boarding school. Khazimula’s staff deal wonderfully with the on-going challenges of raising youths who have been abandoned and betrayed by adults in their lives. But, Khazimula struggles because a dysfunctional foster care system did not have enough money to pay for the full complement of thirty children, dramatically reducing Khazimula’s income. TIAS ARMS’ funding in 2019 and 2020 helped to fill the short fall so that the absolutely necessary food, shelter, clothing, education, and therapy could continue.
TIAS ARMS’ grants have increased over the years and have funded a variety of programs to help the children, including staff training, staff salaries, food, transportation, and therapy. Music therapy proved to be a wonderful outlet for the children and teens. Khazimula youth sang and played marimbas in a video which won second place in a nation-wide contest!
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Hello TIAS ARMS December 2018
I hope this finds you well.
I have been spending a lot of time on site to get a good understanding of the systems that we have in place, and to make changes if need be, to ensure that we are operating as cost-efficiently as is possible. I have visited two other children’s homes to have discussions with their management teams with regard to operating costs etc.
The Department of Social Development’s regulations dictate that we need to have one carer per nine children. We are already short staffed in that area so unfortunately there is no room for cut backs there. Our existing staff are taking on more tasks, and the children also have daily chores.
Last month (July) we were listed as a beneficiary of one of South Africa’s biggest shopper fundraising programmes (every time a shopper uses the card at any of the partner stores – a percentage of the purchase value is given back to the charity of the shopper’s choice) We are also hoping to hear positive news this month with regard to our application to the national lottery commission for funding. I am exploring all possible avenues and reaching out to a whole host of people and businesses to source extra funding.
The children are all well! Two of the boys (both have special needs) have been attending two special schools in Pietermaritzburg on a trial basis for the last 3 weeks. They both appear to be so happy in their new learning environments and we are praying that they will both be accepted on a permanent basis. This in itself will present us with new areas to be funded – a never ending story. All of our children currently in high school are now receiving extra lessons twice a week after school in an effort to improve their grades. The weekly marimba lessons continue to be a highlight and the marimba teacher has recently started bringing drums to the lessons to give more children an opportunity to participate. The last couple of months have been a busy time for both children and staff – with workshops and therapy sessions, as well as a host of extra mural activities. School will be closing at the end of the month for a short break and then will resume for the final term of the school year.
I really do not know how to put in to words how deeply grateful we are for your support. Khazimula has felt the warmth of TIAS ARMS embrace for years and we thank you for partnering with us in helping these vulnerable children to shine. Whilst we are currently facing some serious funding adversity, I have been inspired and encouraged by your willingness to share advice with regard to the way forward. We continue to make a positive difference to each child in our care.
Apologies for the delay in touching base with you but I trust you will understand. I am off to spend another day at Khazimula!
Warm regards
Lorraine
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Hello TIAS ARMS
I hope this finds you well.
I have been spending a lot of time on site to get a good understanding of the systems that we have in place, and to make changes if need be, to ensure that we are operating as cost-efficiently as is possible. I have visited two other children’s homes to have discussions with their management teams with regard to operating costs etc.
The Department of Social Development’s regulations dictate that we need to have one carer per nine children. We are already short staffed in that area so unfortunately there is no room for cut backs there. Our existing staff are taking on more tasks, and the children also have daily chores.
With regard to the areas that Tias Arms has been funding this year – there is one area that all the funds that have not yet been fully utilised. This is an amount of around R20 000 which we had earmarked for the services of Keith Govender. I would like to request permission for these funds to be used to cover the salary of one of our care workers until the end of the year.
Last month (July) we were listed as a beneficiary of one of South Africa’s biggest shopper fundraising programmes (every time a shopper uses the card at any of the partner stores – a percentage of the purchase value is given back to the charity of the shopper’s choice) We are also hoping to hear positive news this month with regard to our application to the national lottery commission for funding. I am exploring all possible avenues and reaching out to a whole host of people and businesses to source extra funding.
The children are all well! Two of the boys (both have special needs) have been attending two special schools in Pietermaritzburg on a trial basis for the last 3 weeks. They both appear to be so happy in their new learning environments and we are praying that they will both be accepted on a permanent basis. This in itself will present us with new areas to be funded – a never ending story. All of our children currently in high school are now receiving extra lessons twice a week after school in an effort to improve their grades. The weekly marimba lessons continue to be a highlight and the marimba teacher has recently started bringing drums to the lessons to give more children an opportunity to participate. The last couple of months have been a busy time for both children and staff – with workshops and therapy sessions, as well as a host of extra mural activities. School will be closing at the end of the month for a short break and then will resume for the final term of the school year.
I really do not know how to put in to words how deeply grateful we are for your support. Khazimula has felt the warmth of Tias Arms embrace for years and we thank you for partnering with us in helping these vulnerable children to shine. Whilst we are currently facing some serious funding adversity, I have been inspired and encouraged by your willingness to share advice with regard to the way forward. We continue to make a positive difference to each child in our care.
Warm regards
Lorrain