We need your help. We’re fundraising for the Langbos Creche & Child Centre in Addo, South Africa and need your kind support. Please have a read below of why we’re doing this and exactly where your donation will go.
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The Back Story
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
This African proverb couldn’t be more true. It leverages the cultural context and belief that it takes an entire community to raise a child. A child has the best ability to become a healthy adult if the entire community takes an active role in contributing to the rearing of the child.
What is Langbos?
Langbos is an informal township in Addo, South Africa. The Langbos people live in dire poverty, in shacks without lights, running water or electricity. Many of them are HIV positive, and alcoholism, drug abuse, child abuse and neglect are wide spread problems. Addo, a citrus growing area has only seasonal work and 70% of the community becomes unemployed between December and March. This contributes highly to the dysfunctional families and alcoholism. Within this informal community is the Langbos Creche & Child Centre whom this fundraiser is for.
How did we get involved?
A year ago, we reached out to a lady, Muffy, who runs and manages Langbos Creche & Child Centre in Addo, South Africa.
In 1994, Muffy, a born & raised South African was tired of seeing children scavenge alongside pigs and dogs on an illegal rubbish dump, looking for food or water to drink and having nowhere for an education. With her growing concern about the educational needs, health issues and crime in the area, she decided to act.
Today, after a long 20 years, the center now serves as a pre-school for up to 50 children, as well as a beautiful Community Centre, Intsikelelo, meaning blessing in Xhosa. This center is open to the whole Langbos community every day with crafts, music, dancing and 2 soup kitchens per week.
On our recent tour through South Africa we visited the crèche and met this fantastic lady. Words cannot describe Muffy and what she does for this crèche and the community. Her given nickname is “Thandi” meaning the beloved liked one in Xhosa, a local language.
We spent some time with the children at the crèche, bringing them little treats and watching their faces light up. They sung us songs, danced for us and we left smothered in kisses.
After leaving the crèche, we spent the night at Muffy’s house with her family and we chatted for hours about the history and all that has been done with her 20+ years here, along with what she hopes for in the future.
Their latest project is focused on the construction of a new home for orphans and vulnerable children. The purpose of this new building will serve as a safe home for these children in which a responsible adult will always be available for them.
How can you help?
Langbos truly left an everlasting impression on us and we left with our heart strings pulled. Visiting the center wasn’t enough and it got us thinking of how we could help. We can’t save the world with a single fundraiser but we can try our best to give this community and these children a life they deserve.
It doesn’t have to be a lot but even the smallest of things go a long way. Please help us by donating anything you can. 100% of all proceeds will go to Langbos Creche & Care Center.
We thank you and we know Langbos Community will be very thankful too.
– Emily & Jacob Cass.
For more information on the creche you can visit http://www.langbos.co.za/
