400 Children's Lives At Risk. Help Save Tshepang.

Co-organized

Zoe Boyman and 2 others are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

It takes a village to raise a child; let’s rally our village to save 400+ of the some of the most vulnerable children in the world.

“Mom!”, “Mom!”, “Mom!” - the children come running uphill, smiling widely, and fold into the open arms of Susan Rammekwa. Her embrace is much more to each child than a gesture - it is an enfoldment of love, safety, motherhood, selflessness, and trust. Her embrace holds each of these 400 children on a daily basis. Her embrace means another day of needs being supplied for the hundreds of mouths and lives that depend on her as ‘mom’.

Susan is the founder of The Tshepang Programme, a non-profit organization for orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa.

Translated, Tshepang means “Trusted one”. This definition beautifully represents Susan and the crucial role she holds in the lives of those she touches, - and has now for 18 years since Tshepang’s founding in 2006. This long-standing trust, and this loving mother to 400 are now facing their end.

In 2023, the South African Government stopped funding non-profit organizations resulting in most NPOs shutting down and leaving children without care and food.

Susan has miraculously kept the program running up to this point despite the incredible challenges she has faced this year. She is now on the verge of being forced to shut down due to a lack of funds.

Tshepang Provides:

Daily meals (this is essential: it is their only meal. If they don't eat, they cannot attend school or learn while there. Without education, they cannot break the cycle of poverty; when they are malnourished they are more likely to fall ill; if they have HIV/AIDS lack of regular diet will make them more susceptible to further illness and possible death)
School visits
Home visits
Clinic visits
Homework supervision
Life skills programs
Documentation for school grants
Birth certificates and ID documents so students can access education and some funding
HIV positive children and their caregivers checking nutrition, Medication, viral load checks with clinics
HIV AIDs counseling and training including how to stay negative, live with being positive
Family planning to prevent pregnancy
YOLO program with teens: helping kids not be infected, living their dreams and more!

Additionally, Tshepang:

Promotes education
Is a support system for orphaned and vulnerable children
Teaches kids about how to keep themselves safe
Teaches kids how to stand up for themselves
Teaches kids what appropriate vs. inappropriate behaviors look like
Organizes community events
Gives kids hope for a brighter future
Provides daily nutritious meals
Creates a safe and supportive community with adults they can trust and rely on

Meet the Magwaza Family - one of the 270 families who rely on Tshepang's services.

Why Donate Now?

Susan relies solely on donations to keep Tshepang running. Every dollar she receives goes directly to keeping the program open and the children fed. Tshepang is down to $430 USD and depleting further every day. The cost of groceries to feed the 400+ children one meal per day over the course of a month is $3,590 USD. These precious children are down to their last meal. By giving, you become a lifeline for over 400 children who depend on Tshepang for their daily needs.

Fundraiser Goal:

$30,000

Background Information:

I’m Zoë, Chair of the Working Advisory Board of Tshepang, South Africa. I met Susan, her staff, and the children attending her program during a service trip in 2016. When Susan opened Tshepang she initially helped 15 children. Today, that number has grown to 400+. Tshepang is completely out of funds.

Click here to meet Susan and hear her story

About the 400+ children in Susan’s care:

Living in squatter camps in extreme poverty
Exposed to diseases - including, but not limited to HIV and AIDS
At risk of malnutrition and/or starvation if Tshepang closes
Some orphaned children are being raised by an older sibling

What Would Happen if Tshepang Shuts Down?

Children will be subjected to malnutrition, hunger, and face an increase in disease vulnerability
Increase in teenage pregnancy
Significant increase in school dropout rates amongst children making them vulnerable to criminal activities
Increase in illiteracy leading to a high rate of unemployment within the community

Conclusion:

Thank you for taking the time to read about what the contributions of one person can do. Susan’s selflessness has saved hundreds of lives. Tshepang now needs you and these children need the Program.

Please consider donating today. No amount is too small.

If you can not donate financially at this time, please share our page with your network or contact us to get our media kit to spread the word.

If you would like to get involved further, please contact us through our social media outlets linked below.

It truly does take a village to raise a child.

To see Tshepang in action, please visit:

Instagram: @tshepangovc https://www.instagram.com/tshepangovc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TshepangOvc

Website: https://www.tshepangprogramme.org/about-2

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