Happy New Year from South Africa, or “Compliments of the New Year” as they say here! Along with the New Year, school resumed this week in Johannesburg after the long holiday break. The South African school year follows the calendar year, with students who have advanced to the next grade starting that grade in January. For many students this means attending new schools as they advance from primary school to high school.

The start of a new school is always one of great need for many South African families and students as returning to school necessitates the purchase of school supplies and in many cases, new school uniforms due to a change of school or the old ones being outgrown or worn and tattered.

We have been assisting a number of students and families with their school fees, supplies, uniforms and transportation costs without the promise or pledge of funding for these expenditures and our Educational Assistance and Sponsor a Child Funds are presently underfunded. Won’t you please consider supporting a child’s education by donating to our Educational Assistance or Sponsor A Child funds today? For reasons of security and confidentiality we can not publish the names or pictures of the children in need on the internet, but we will provide you with information about the child your donation supports when the funds you donate are allocated and spent. To donate to these causes please follow the links to our on-line donation page, which allows you to designate the item you would like to sponsor. All donations made to our Educational Assistance and Sponsor A Child Funds will be used to meet the educational needs of students requiring assistance.