Waltham Forest Thuso in South Africa
registered charity no. 1ll5066
Who we are... a small charity founded in 2006 by former members of the local Anti-Apartheid group. We share Mandela's vision that Soth Africa's children are its greatest asset and work to help young people living in poverty stay at school.
What we do... With the help of our supporters, we sponsor 50 students at Thuso Lesedi High School in Vosloorus, near Johannesburg, paying school fees for those who don't qualify for state support We also raise money for a food programme which provides lunch and food parcels for over 500 children. And we have sent thousands of books to fill the school library shelves.
Since 2012, we have also been helping children at rural Lobethal primary school in Limpopo, sending toys, clothes and books. In summer 2015, we sent our first batch of solar lamps to the school, so that children can study at home and families can reduce their use of dangerous kerosene lamps. We have now sent hundreds of lanterns to the school and all families have been provided with a solar light.
We also work with community group Kopano Ke Maatla in Attridgeville, a township in Gauteng Province. The group was set up by two nurses and their patients to support families living with HIV/AlDS. Many of the children they support are orphans living with grandparents or in child-headed households.
How we do it... We fundraise for these projects by selling home-grown plants, handmade crafts and bric-a-brac on a stall next to the Social Market every Sunday (weather permitting) in Walthamstow town square. We also run stalls at local events, organise a fundraising garden party every summer and hold an annual bike ride to raise money for solar lights.
How you can help... You can buy from our stalls, sponsor a student or donate to the food programme or solar light appeal. If you have some time to spare, you can volunteer on one of our stalls of offer your skills to grow our charity.
In conversation with Felicity… we also learned that Thuso’s chairperson is South African, and that the name “Thuso” means “Helping hand”. Also that the money raised by the Waltham Forest part of the organisation is taken to Africa in person by a courier within the organisation so that thieves and corrupt officials can not get their hands on it.
Email: info@thuso.org Phone: 02085208816 Website: www.thuso.org
Postal address: c/o Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 9AH
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