Blessings Group npo - Eastern Cape

FOCUS AREA:
Blessings Group npo is a HIV/AIDS organisation for OVCs (orphans and vulnerable children) from 0 till 18 years.

To identify them we do door to door surveys in the informal settlements and the townships of Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. We co-operate with the local hospital, clinics, doctors and social workers.

We run a Helpdesk for children, their parents and/or caregivers.

We also run a Drop In Centre for 300 OVCs, who go hungry to school every day, here we provide them with a healthy breakfast before they go to school.

We also have an Activity Centre for OVCs where they are entertained in a holistic way by singing, dancing, drawing, painting, awareness, watching and discussing DVDs like Yesterday, Tsotsi etc.

During schooltime we run a Day Care Centre for the neglected elderly with activities and a healthy lunch.

During the school holidays and the long weekends we run Holiday Camps for OVCs.

To provide the kitchen with vegetables we have several vegetable gardens and a small poultry farm in the rural areas.

All activities are executed by non paid volunteers.

WE NEED:
Money is our biggest problem, because we do not have any support from the authorities.

We also need transport in the form of a 4x4 to travel to the rural areas.

We also need food parcels with samp and beans, maismeal, canned food, clothing for children, books for children and toys.


At this moment we are in the process of building a Centre thanks to a loan from a donor. The Centre will be opened on the 19th of June 2007. We have applied for funding from the Department of Social Service to run the Activity Centre with kitchen.