Ratang Bana Centre, in the middle of Alex, is situated on a large 2-acre, fenced-off area. At the heart of it all is Ingrid Moloi, who about 12 years ago had the dream to create a haven for orphaned and vulnerable children, and to support the grannies that take care of them. Ratang Bana (meaning “Love the Children”) is an uplifting place to visit, always filled with volunteers, workers, children and their gogos.

A donation of three prefabricated structures provides admin offices, a library, computer learning centre, and food and provisions store; beyond is a thriving food-garden tended by Lymon, covered by shade-cloth and full of vegetables that are available to the grannies who work there twice a week. There is also a children’s playground created by volunteers from the USA through Kidlinks, our sister-charity. Beyond is a food tunnel of vegetables, and there are plans to extend this into the current veld and rubble and to plant fields of garlic.

The Learning Centre and library is funded by our Phetoho Education Project. There are often teenagers busy on the computers and regular training projects for the school-going children and/or the grannies. There are also periodic visits by social workers and auxiliary medical helpers.

Gumboots has set up a “meals support” system where 13 families (65 children) are provided with meals once a week, cooked by volunteers and delivered to the Centre.

Ingrid’s dream has come true – it’s a thriving environment that is helping the 450 children from 125 child-headed and granny-headed households, many of whom are HIV infected and affected. And Ingrid is still building on that dream. Visiting Ratang Bana is an inspirational experience.

Gumboots support/assistance

• Staff stipends
• Seeds and maintenance of food garden
• Some school uniforms and stationery
• General maintenance
• Learning centre management

Based in Marlboro, Alex, Sigiya Sonke has been operating for the last 21 years under the guidance of Jack Letsoela and his supportive wife Beauty. He started with the view of taking disadvantaged young people off the streets and away from glue-sniffing and petty crime – and this he has achieved, but it is so much more than that. This talented and enthusiastic group of 35-40 children, ranging from 8 years old to their early 20s, rehearse six times a week and participate very successfully in competitions and workshops.

The group is housed in a large, double-storey warehouse that has been renovated by Gumboots and consists of a dance floor area, kitchen, bathrooms, chill-out space and learning centre. Currently only part of the building is in use and Gumboots is in negotiations with the owner with the intention of creating a broad-based community centre there. The children are taught traditional dance, gumboots, hip-hop, contemporary dance and pantsula by experienced dancers and choreographers. In 2008, they represented South Africa in Prague for the World Youth Dance Championships, gaining 1st, 2nd & 3rd place.

The Dance Warehouse is a safe haven for the children from their difficult and disadvantaged lives as they are able to escape for a while to dance, sing, socialise and study. Beauty and Jack are there to support and advise them in a parental capacity, and the children come away with much more than just dance lessons under their belt. Jack is also involved in transporting the children who are benefitting from our Phetoho Education project and travelling to schools outside Alex.

A food-garden has been created opposite the Dance Warehouse on an adjacent plot that not long ago was full of rats and rubble. It now has terraced gardens of different seasonal vegetables that are available for the dancers and their families.

Gumboots support/assistance

• Stipends for the staff
• Transport for the dancers
• Food garden support
• School uniforms, stationery and books

Improved education is one of the primary needs for South Africa’s future. For this reason, Gumboots decided to make education its main focus, and the project was initiated in 2012. It is our goal to assist selected students to get a better grounding in secondary education and to find a platform from which they can move on to tertiary levels and meaningful employment. Alexandra Township schools are overcrowded and inadequate, the standards are low and even those students who matriculate leave school frustrated and desperate, with little hope of finding jobs.

Gumboots UK initially raised the start-up funds that have enabled us to change the lives of a few of the children:

• We have created Learning Centres at Ratang Bana and Leratong where children can do homework and projects. The Centres have computers, internet, reference books and a safe and secure environment in which to study. Tutors are available to help with homework at the weekends. Courses are run from the Learning Centres on personal leadership, maths club and computer training.
• At the beginning of 2012 we selected five young children to attend the United Church School in Yeoville, a small, privately run institution with good teaching and back-up support. We also provide uniforms, transport and lunch boxes.
• In 2015 Gumboots six young girls were sponsored by Gumboots to attend the St Mary’s School Saturday outreach programme, which assists learners from Grade 9-12 with studies, particularly maths and science. The matric rate pass of learners who have attended the programme has been excellent.
• Support has also been provided to a few students who are studying towards tertiary qualifications, and sometimes help is needed for children's transport or uniforms.
• The Caitlin Fund, set up in the UK, has been funding young girls through university for the last few years.

Gumboots support/assistance

• Provision of furnishings
• Electronic equipment
• Tutors' payment
• Support for the bursary children