Dear
Friends
of
Independence
ZA,
We’re pleased to be writing to update you on recent projects and our
plans for 2011. Thanks to your continued support and generosity we have
been able to increase funding for projects last year and again in 2011.
This year we are stepping up a gear with the launch of our most
important project to date, but first, here’s a quick summary of our
activities in 2010.
2010: Bursaries,
Oscar’s Story, First Aid Skills and Jobs!
Independence ZA (IZA) continued its bursary
programme in 2010, putting seven students through a further year of
tertiary education. We’re excited that 2011 will see our first
graduates, who we’ve supported all the way through university.
A new project for 2010 saw IZA provide funding for certified First Aid
training for 34 young community volunteers in Philippolis and
Mpumalanga. These volunteers visit homes and provide support for up to
ten families each, playing a central role in the welfare of their
communities.
Last
year we began supporting a bright young thing, Oscar Mkhonza, through
school. Oscar is an inspiration – he’s 15 and lost both parents to
HIV-AIDS – possessing a tenacity and vitality that amazes. We’ve
separately enclosed his story.
Finally, it’s great to report that more of our beneficiaries found jobs
during the year. This is what Independence ZA is about: providing
learning that directly leads to jobs and allow previous beneficiaries
to lead independent lives.
2011: Launching a Digital Literacy Programme
In the 21st
century, being computer literate and able to navigate the digital world
is a fundamental building block for a successful future, anywhere in
the world. In poor, rural areas in South Africa, a Matric certificate
(equivalent of A-levels) doesn’t provide adequate access and
preparation for the world of work and tertiary studies. A low standard
of English and computer skills is taught, without which the Matric
certificate is worth very little. Therefore students in South Africa’s
poor and rural areas are significantly disadvantaged.
In 2011 Independence ZA launches its most important project since its
inception six years ago: to provide
exclusive funding for a digital literacy programme, which will
be run by our community-based partners, The Good Work Foundation. We’ll
establish a licensed International
Computers Drivers License (ICDL) centre in the town of
Philippolis, which will provide internationally recognised computer and
digital skills certifications. In 2011 we’ll train 30 students, the
most promising of whom will also be trained as ICDL facilitators, with
a view to rolling out a wider programme in 2012 and beyond.
In addition to the digital literacy project we’ll continue providing
tertiary education bursaries and also put 60 students through First Aid
Skills Level 1 and 2 training. And of course we’ll continue backing
young Oscar.
This is
only possible thanks to your ongoing support…
Thanks to you, 2011 equates to our
biggest year of funding, so thanks massively for your contribution – we
really are grateful that you have chosen to support our charitable
activities. Independence ZA continues to maintain an overhead-free
infrastructure, which means your donor buck continues to get maximum
value.
Yours independently,
Tim, Paul, Mark & Jake
Trustees
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