Thanda After-School Umtwalume, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Thanda After- School was started two and a half years ago on the South Coast by Angela Larkan- one of a few leading forces in this country who has studied the wide-reaching, negative effects of the AIDS pandemic and rural poverty and who has come up with workable, holistic solutions to fight these issues. Through education, mentoring and community-driven initiatives, Thanda After-School is inspiring and teaching South Africa’s orphans and vulnerable children to be the future leaders of this great nation.

Thanda After-School knows that by giving the next generation the tools they need to cope with the daily traumas they face and overcome the underlying problems that HIV/AIDS is leaving in its wake, local communities can discover opportunities and find the means to triumph over hardships like poverty, disease and lack of education.

Working in a rural area inland from Hibberdene, Thanda After- School’s approach is based on the traditional Zulu culture of the community assisting and helping members in need. Thanda After- School is unique in that it uses already-existing local resources such as classrooms and sports fields after school to provide every day support to vulnerable children, enabling them to stay in their community while learning education and life skills.

Thanda employs young role models from within the community to be mentors for these students.

Thanda currently operates in three low –performing government schools, where resources are extremely limited and Matric pass rates are very low. Thanda After-School currently enrols 325 orphans of AIDS and other vulnerable children aged between 5 and 22 years, in eleven different after school programs each day, such as computers, art, soccer, basketball, netball and construction/agriculture.

Thanda After-School will succeed as it is a prototype that works and is easily adaptable to any community and their needs. Thanda After -School uses resources that are available and works with the Community for the Community.

Vision: Mission: Thanda After-School is a section 21 non-profit company that addresses education quality, high HIV infection rates, and high unemployment in rural Umtwalume, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In an effort to create sustainable change, Thanda After-School supports, empowers, and equips orphans and vulnerable children to live within their local community, protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, create employment in their community and become positive leaders in the future. Thanda After-School's vision is to support all orphans and vulnerable children by empowering them through education and skills development after-school. To accomplish this task, Thanda After-School would like to spread this model throughout Africa in order to help eliminate the cycle of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Visit UsContact Us

OUR VISION, THE THANDA COMMUNITY CENTER

Our Dream is to build a Community Centre where by the kids from the Community will have a Safe Place to be after school and on the week ends.  The kitchen, during the week, will provide the children with a wholesome hearty meal, in some cases, probably the only meal they will have for the day.  The computer room will give them access to the internet to research school projects as well as prepare them for the future.  The library will be filled with educational books, D.I.Y. books, guidance books, how to… books, newspapers and most importantly story books.  The community assistance room will be there to assist the children's guardians with advice on certain information, for example how to apply for grants.  The meeting room is solely for children who need or request guidance counselling. It will be a room of trust, peace and love. The wonderful Role models/teachers Standing on the grounds of the future Community Centre.

BASKETBALL Basketball Teaching the kids sports results in creating trust and team work SoccerNetball

Above left: photos of the start of the vegetable garden Left : the vegetable garden now, at the grounds of the futureThanda After-School Teaching the kids and the community on how to be self sufficient

We are a non profit organisation that relies on donors and sponsors to survive and carry on with the work we do. We require the assistance of your company to achieve our Dream of building the Thanda Community Center and creating a safe place filled with love, trust and education. What your company will receive:  We will provide a link from our website and blog straight to yours.  Depending on the size of the sponsorship, we will brand our vehicles with your logo for the duration of the sponsorship  Mention in our Newsletters What we require:  Money: Donations can be made out to: Thanda After-School, Nedbank current account Account number: , Branch code:  Thanda Community Center:  Outdoors: bricks, doors, windows, 2-3 jojo water tanks, gravel,  Library and computer room: desks, tables, chairs, computers, story books, educational books, self help books, D.I.Y. books,  Kitchen: a long term food and cooldrink sponsor, large fridge and freezer, storage containers, shelving

 Team building campaign: Companies can use our facility for a day or a week end to assist with clearing up the area, assist in laying grass, planting trees and plants.  Teach a trade: a technical company can volunteer to teach the high school kids tricks to their trade. (builders, tilers, painters, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, etc.)  Buy a brick campaign : The kids at Thanda After-School have designed beautiful paper bricks, which will be given to the company that raises the money towards the bricks needed for the Community Centre.