Covid-19 Initiative
The Balule Outreach Trust
Supporting Our Community
Covid-19 Community
Support Program
South African Medical Expeditions
Once again we chose SAME for the distribution, from the Child Care Centre, of food parcels, three ply washable cotton masks, and sanitisers. Currently 160 food parcels are being made up and distributed monthly. The distribution is carefully managed ensuring that these nutritious parcels reach the targeted families, currently providing food for more than 500 people every month. The critical loss of jobs in rural communities is expected to continue long after lockdown is over and we are budgeting for this process to continue for at least until the end of the year.
Message from Shirley-Anne Berretta
“The partnership between The Balule Outreach Trust and South African Medical Expeditions has had a lasting impact on the lives of the children and families within the rural communities we serve. Our first project together was the construction of a single playroom where orphans and vulnerable children could develop their find motor skills through the art of play. This has since led to annual building projects at the Sigagule Children’s Centre where each child is given the opportunity to access daily meals, afternoon education, sports facilities and medical support.
Our relationship continues to grow at a time of immense need in our country. Since lockdown was initiated, The Balule Trust has provided consistent and essential support in the form of hygiene and food security to over 250 households on a monthly basis.”
Our Partnership with Nourish
The Trust has also teamed up with a local NGO, Nourish, and advanced them funds to make and distribute 3 ply cotton masks. Nourish engages local seamstresses and trains other women to make the masks, thereby creating employment at this very difficult time.
A further 553 cotton masks were delivered by a team in Tzaneen to SAME bringing the total of masks distributed in our target communities to 2 553.
CEO of Nourish, Sarah Bergs
“Thanks to the donation of the Balule Outreach Trust – Nourish was able to distribute 2 000 masks to vulnerable families in need throughout the greater Acornhoek community and surrounding impoverished villages. Children, grannies and families are now able to minimize their risk of catching or transmitting Covid-19 and stay just a little safer and more resilient! Nourish was also able to support 4 women through our sewing initiative, bringing income in and supporting livelihoods at a grassroots level.”
Apostolic Faith Mission and Maseke
In June 2020 the Trustees resolved to support the outreach work of the Apostolic Faith Mission, a small community church in Phalaborwa. Pastor Sampie Cronje and his congregants have for some time sponsored destitute communities of Namakgale, Lulekani and Boelang with food, toys, blankets, clothes and, whenever possible, limited financial support. The Trust has advanced funds to the AFS to purchase and distribute food parcels in these communities.
In July 2020 the Trustees further resolved to support the Maseka community in the Phalaborwa district with funds for the distribution of food parcels through Sinah Magomane, who runs the Maseke Drop-in-Centre, an NPO which has been involved in distributing nutritional meals to, and organising after school activities for, orphans and vulnerable children within the local community since 2006.