CharitySA

Diabetes SA

Diabetes SA has been in operation for over 40 years, is a registered NGO/ non profit organization and public benefit organisation and is a member of the International Diabetes Federation.

Key objectives:
- Increase diabetes awareness and education amongst all South Africans.
- Increase diabetes prevention encouraging healthy lifestyle choices amongst all South Africans.
- Increase diabetes detection rates.
- Dissemination of reliable diabetes information.
- Development and implementation of diabetes educational training programs to improve the understanding and management of diabetes.
- Keeping up to date with the latest research results relating to the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes.
- Reducing the costs of medication and services.
- Improving the quality of service delivery.
- Reduce discrimination against people with diabetes.

DSA believes in promoting healthy life style choices and diabetes self-care, which is a vitally important and a cost-effective investment. People living with diabetes must be given the support and encouragement that gives them the means to do this. Treating diabetes complications is far more expensive than trying to ensure preventative measures are in place.

DSA has operated successfully as mainly volunteer run organization up to now, but cannot continue to do so if we are to successfully achieve our long-term objectives. There is an explosion of diabetes worldwide and developing countries like South Africa are the worst hit. It is imperative that we expand the programmes and services offered by DSA, but to do this we need support and funding from individuals, government and private corporations.

Quick ref summary – What does DSA do?

- We represent the interests of people with diabetes at both local and national levels, and lobby for government and medical intervention.
- As part of our outreach project we motivate, manage and finance community support groups: there are over 35 supports groups, many in underprivileged areas. A critical element in good diabetes management.
- Organise living with diabetes education camps for underprivileged children with Diabetes. Diabetic Children from all different backgrounds can come together and interact and encourage one another and know they are not alone.
- We have taken Diabetes awareness and education to the schools with our on going “Denim for Diabetes awareness project” encouraging, understanding and acceptance as well as healthy lifestyle choices.
- We have a quarterly magazine; Diabetes Focus which contains articles on a wide range of topics related to managing diabetes and is a crucial support element in many diabetics’ lives.
- We send out quarterly branch newsletters advertising upcoming events and announcements, as well as hints and tips or latest news.
- As part of our education and awareness focus, we regularly distribute literature to the media, schools, hospitals, clinics, doctors, retirement villages etc.
- We provide advice and information, both to the public and to professionals, on all aspects of DIABETES, including medication, self-management care, diet, and exercise. Enquiries are dealt with by email, letter, in person or over the phone.
- We encourages self-help programmes and therefore organise regular patient self-care and educational workshops on a variety of topics e.g. importance of nutrition and diet, exercise methods, foot-care, CPR, insulin alternatives, avoiding serious diabetes complications.
- Organize prevention and early detection “testing wellness campaigns” (e.g. at Companies, shopping centres and schools).
- We speak as invited guests and do educational/awareness health days, expos and functions giving lectures, talks and symposia, to both professionals and lay groups.
- We constantly undertake and get involved in different research studies, research into the medical, social and psychological aspects of diabetes.
- Run community-focused awareness and fundraising events: book sale, Charity Christmas Card Kiosk, our annual Run/Walk in November, etc.

Some of DSA’s ongoing Projects in more detail:

Children Living with Diabetes Education Camps
We hold a number of camps through the year. Children come from many walks of life e.g.: St Joseph’s Home for the chronically ill and Red Cross hospital and DSA sponsors those that cannot afford the subsidized camp fees. At least 40 children attend each Camp, with sponsorship received for accommodation, medication, food and transportation. These Camps are hugely important, providing the opportunity for the children to interact with similarly chronically ill children from different backgrounds. They learn about managing their diabetes and learn that they are not alone, and many children do their first injections themselves at camp with the encouragement and supervision of our camp leaders and medical team.

Denim for Diabetes School Awareness
Why denim? Because it’s in your jeans / genes. In 2009 we successfully started to roll out this project into Western Cape Schools. The project involves DSA organising a casual day at the school where the children all wear an article of denim. DSA then shows a video at the school and educates the children on Type 1/ Type 2 diabetes and the importance of healthy life style choices. We have also recently partnered on a project with the Medical research council (MRC) and we are currently working on lesson plans to increase the over all effectiveness of this project. The MRC has a sample set of 8 schools mostly from the disadvantaged areas where DSA will then roll out the project and monitor and evaluate its effectiveness. It will be a joint awareness and educational drive on a national level, aimed mainly at school-goers, but once again it will need the support of media and sponsors.

Outreach Projects – Support Groups:
We have over 35 support groups, all meeting regularly, with a strong membership base, and many success stories to brag about.
One of our many outreach projects is to start up and assist diabetes support groups in as many communities as possible to empower family members and Diabetics to manage their health and avoid serious health complications.

Patient Workshops and Health Days:
A number of Health Days have been in partnership with the Department of Health to increase awareness and stress the importance of proper care and support.
We have also visited many large corporate companies where we spend a day testing all their staff, giving talks and advice and hand out educational material. Unfortunately it has become very costly for us to do this service free of charge, so we do charge a fee depending on the size of the gathering. We hold self management patient workshops to educate people living with diabetes. We arrange specialists and nursing sisters to talk on topics e.g. diabetes complications such as foot care, correct diet and the types of exercises a person living with diabetes can do at home. At a self management patient workshop held at a Church in Gugulethu in September 2009, DSA had over 200 people attend the full-day training program, where we had speakers discussing the importance of prevention, foot care, diet and treatment of Diabetes.

IN SUMMARY / REQUEST FOR FUNDING

From experience, we’ve found it ‘easier’ to get assistance for smaller projects, like our Children’s Camps, newsletter, etc. However, the more long-term projects of DSA, i.e. those that we believe can potentially create mass diabetes education and awareness e.g. the Denim for Diabetes project or the new Diabetes Mall Awareness drive require much larger funding and commitment.

It is these larger projects that we need to focus our energies on to make a really substantial difference. If we can raise enough funding to finance at least one of these bigger projects, it would have a roll-on effect to the benefit of the rest of our projects and will help us to achieve immediate awareness.

It is no exaggeration to claim that strong partnerships, sponsorships and successful fund raising events will strengthen the capacity of this organization, and will not only save our already strained state health care system hundreds of millions of rands in years to come, but more importantly will enable many South Africans to live much longer and healthier lives.

We believe that if we all pull together as a national community, we as South Africans can effect extraordinary change. We must invest in that change. Diabetes South Africa NEEDS YOU to partner with us to make a difference. Together we can reduce the number of people developing diabetes; we can decrease the number of people dying from Kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes and amputations. We can prevent people from going blind, having miscarriages, and other serious health problems all due to diabetes. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Operates in: All of South Africa
Established in: 1969

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 000-797
Public Benefit Organisation Number: 930001764
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Margot McCumisky
Phone: 021 425 4440
Fax: 021 425 7940
Email:

Website: www.diabetessa.co.za

Physical address: 307 Tulbagh Centre, Hans Strjidom Avenue, Foreshore, Cape Twon
Postal address: P O Box 7828, Roggebaai, 8012

Grootbos Foundation

The Grootbos Foundation was established in 2004 to run the Grootbos Environmental and Social Development Programme and has as its mission: The conservation of biodiversity of Grootbos and its surrounds and development of sustainable nature based livelihoods through ecotourism, research, management and education.

Our major projects are the Green Futures Horticultural and Life Skills College, Growing the Future Food Production and Life Skills Training projects and our Football Foundation.

The GREEN FUTURES HORTICULTURAL AND LIFE SKILLS COLLEGE was officially opened on 9 August 2003. Since then, 70 carefully selected graduates have completed the horticultural and life skills course and all of them have found employment.

Entry requirements are very strict. Applicants have to reside in the local villages of Stanford or Gansbaai and must have a minimum of Grade 9 schooling, have a sound knowledge of English and must be unemployed. The horticultural component of the course includes plant identification, an appreciation of the natural fynbos vegetation, how and why it should be preserved, propagation skills in their own nursery, garden design, as well as garden establishment and maintenance using water wise techniques.

All theory is backed up by a vast range of practical work in gardens in Gansbaai, Hermanus and Cape Town. Every year, three of the best students are given the opportunity to visit and work at the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, where they are excellent ambassadors for Grootbos and South Africa. The remainder of the students are provided with the opportunity to spend three weeks working at either Kirstenbosch or Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens.

The life skills component of the course includes a first aid course, numeracy skills, literacy skills, health issues, an AIDS awareness programme, interpersonal skills, money management, basic computer skills, basic business skills as well as completing a drivers license in our training vehicle that was kindly sponsored by ABSA.

In addition to the education curriculum the College provides transport, breakfast and lunch, a uniform, equipment and a basic wage for all students. Once the course in completed, each student is awarded a nationally accredited certificate, allowing them to continue their studies and assisting them in job application and placement.

Linked to the college is an indigenous plant nursery and fynbos landscaping business that generates income for the Green Futures Project. By the students working together with the professional Green Futures landscaping team in fynbos landscaping projects, they build up experience in this field as well as raising funds for the students of the following year, encouraging team building, pride in their abilities, a sense of responsibility and business understanding.

All of the past students have gained work in horticultural, conservation or eco-tourism businesses. For many students, the course provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop a career and positive outlook on their future.

Green Futures has grown from a modest beginning into one of the most successful and significant social upliftment programs of its kind. The Grootbos Foundation is working with its partners in developing a strategy to roll out Green Futures Colleges to other sites in the Western Cape.

The GROWING THE FUTURE FOOD PRODUCTION AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING programme was implemented following the success of our Green Futures programme. The Grootbos Foundation has embarked on a new training project to further our commitment to developing the local community. Growing the Future is about food production, and 8 of the women will be trained per year in the growing of vegetables and fruit, beekeeping and the principles of successful animal husbandry.

The skills that these women learn can be applied in many small ways; on a small piece of land in a township, each could grow enough vegetables to feed her family; through co-operative land use, the graduates could grow produce on a commercial level; and if they return to their homelands, the arable soils could provide the income that forces many of the young people in the rural areas to migrate to the cities in the first place.

To give the course recognition, we will follow the ABET guidelines, and graduates will receive a Level 4 ABET qualification. This has two advantages; one being that graduates will be a cut above in the employment market, and secondly that the women can continue their education at any ABET centre nationwide, if they are so motivated.

For the students the course is fully subsidised – they receive transport, tools, uniforms and all of their study materials, as well as weekly stipend to cover their living costs. From the Grootbos Foundation point of view, the project must be sustainable. To achieve this, we cannot rely purely on donations and sponsorships, but part finance the project through the sale of their produce. This is a great way in which the students also contribute towards their education through their practical work.

The FOOTBALL FOUNDATION, which focuses on sports development, was implemented as a result of the recent 2010 Soccer World Cup which was hosted in South Africa. As a result of lack of training facilities in Gansbaai, it was Michael’s dream to build a multipurpose facility which would serve as a community development project. This dream has been realised, and the Gansbaai Communal Sport Centre was officially opened on 20 April 2008 by the Overstrand Mayor, Mr Theodorus Beyleveldt, Barclays’ Group Vice Chairman, Mr Gary Hoffman, ABSA Group Executive Director, Mr Happy Ntishingila, and representatives from the Grootbos Foundation.

The Grootbos Foundation believes that through the development of these facilities and thus the creation of opportunities for young people – especially those who are deprived of these opportunities, to participate in sport, have access to professional coaching, and learn about the environment, our vision of improved social integration and development of community will be realised. Sport is a wonderfully simple way to break down social barriers and bring people together on even terms. For the youth of our townships, it also provides a healthy focus and inspires pride and determination to succeed.

The SPACES FOR SPORT project has been made possible through fantastic collaboration between the Grootbos Foundation, ABSA, Barclays, Overstrand Municipality, the Barclays Premier League and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. The project is also supported by the Football Association of South Africa. Tiger Turf UK supplied us with a full size, third generation FIFA standard artificial grass pitch, which is the first of its kind in Southern Africa. It is thanks to organisations like these that we can initiate such community sports programmes to build a positive future for South Africa.

The site was chosen due to its unique position in the centre of three diverse communities in Gansbaai: Masakhane Township comprises of about 12 000 black residents, the Blompark community has about 5 000 coloured residents, and the Gansbaai white community consists of about 8 000 residents. There was a dire need for good sporting facilities in the town with almost non-existent sporting facilities at Lukhanyo Primary School in Masakhane, limited facilities at Gansbaai Primary in Blompark, and 18 senior soccer clubs in Gansbaai who all had to share one pitch. This facility will therefore serve a much needed purpose in giving everyone around it the opportunity to play different kinds of sport whilst engaging with other communities. It is therefore vital that as many people as possible have access to the communal sports centre, and to facilitate this, training sessions are held several time a week where the coaches are often greeted by over a hundred kids.

The Grootbos Foundation will continue to manage and develop the project continues to concentrate on fundraising for the needs of the centre. Lean Terblanche is our project co-ordinator and is tireless in her efforts to organise training sessions, matches and leagues for the teams. She operates as the Football Foundation of South Africa, and has strong links with the Barclays Premier League and South African Football Association. Many of the youngsters that participate don’t have the privilege of owning their own kit, and we are grateful to be able to use kind contributions from all our supporters and donors to make things possible.

Operates in: Gansbaai / Stanford, Western Cape
Established in: 2005

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 053-605
Public Benefit Organisation Number: 930023319
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Sean Privett
Phone: 028 384 8084
Fax: 028 384 8100
Email:

Website: www.grootbosfoundation.org

Physical address: Off the R43, between Stanford and Gansbaai
Postal address: P O Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220

Motheo wa Tumelo

Motheo wa Tumelo was founded by Rev Rebecca Maphitikazi of the Anglican Church at Kanana township. The organisation was established by youth who were previously disadvantaged with the purpose of informing youth about life skills. There was a need for this organisation as kids are left alone, while their parents are struggling with the effects of HIV / AIDS.

The caregivers are rendering services daily to the community with a coordinator and s nurse. The community also receives information from the centre.

and the material like care kit,pamplets and we refer to the relevant institution. During the events they participate towards the planning and the succesful events.

Motheo wa Tumelo aims to:
- Render home based care nursing for terminally ill patients.
- To strengthens and support the existing community home based care projects in Kanana.
- To establish an effective referral mechanism for the implementation of community based care.

Operates in: Orkney, North West
Established in: March 2002

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 035-736
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Kedineetse Marake
Phone: 073 335 1433
Fax:
Email:

Website: www.charitysa.co.za/motheo-wa-tumelo.html

Physical address: 2266 Essop Pahad Street
Postal address: P O Box 1638