SOS Project

ABOUT US

The SOS project started functioning the first week of May 2004. Two Volunteers, Two Home Based Care Workers and one vehicle.On the recommendation of the Care workers Soup and bread was prepared and taken to the homes of the sick in dire need and to persons taking AIDS and TB medication.

A database was set up and within 4 weeks the area was divided into two areas and two vehicles. Eventually more volunteers with vehicles came to help. Today we have 6 vehicles with between 68 – 70 delivery points.

Dr Louis Meyer who worked tirelessly to establish a Clinic for HIV/AIDS patients opened the doors during April 2008; sadly it was forced to close on 30 June 2012.

The success of the clinic was noticeable in the SOS Project. Now patients once again have to attend the government clinic which has to tend to many illnesses and we notice the change in deaths of patients as well as patients defaulting on their medicine.

PROJECTS

DELIVERING FOOD PARCELS - 2004 - ongoing

Currently we use 6 vehicles (belonging to volunteers from the local community) to deliver soup and bread once a week to no less than 160 people in 60+ families.

HELP NEEDED: We would prefer to have a standby vehicle for each route, in the event someone is not available, in which case there is a substitute and the project does not suffer or put too much strain on a single person. All this is done by volunteers!

SOUP KITCHEN - 2008 June - ongoing

?Every Tuesday and Wednesday we also render services as needed in our soup kitchen to more than 200 other people in need. The Soup Kitchen is run by Ester Ntombana who has been part of the project since May 2004. Soup is freshly made by many many people. Soup is then frozen and placed in deep freezers. Volunteers also bring 5 liter hot soup in a pots. Church members work together to make turns to deliver soup. Other community members also participate bringing hot soup. All this is done by volunteers!

SEWING CLASSES - 2013 - ongoing

Volunteer Popsie Claassen teach ladies how to use a sewing machine. Ladies can then decide what to make for their homes, pin cushions, decorative pillows, place mats, table cloths, bags, etc. Material is donated and income in all sizes and shapes! 3 Sewing machines and one over locker are available. If ladies prefer to sell their wares half the money is for their own pocket and half for the project. This money is used for buying thread and padding. All this is done by volunteers!

SORT AND REPACKING BREAD - 2008 - ongoing

10 Volunteers arrive every Tuesday morning and repack Bread, Buns, Cake and other goodies ready for distribution the next day. (Wednesday). All this is done by volunteers!

PICK UPS FROM SHOPS - 2004 - ongoing

Fresh Bakery products taken from the shelves at Checkers Equinox Jeffrey's Bay must be collected 5 days a week. Fresh Bakery products taken from the shelves at Pick & Pay Fountains Mall, Jeffrey's Bay must be collected 3 days a week. 8 Volunteers - one per shop per day. Here we are in desperate need for 8 more volunteers per day, to take turns. All this is done by volunteers!

AFTERCARE: Primary School - 2013

Started in the house of Ms Ntombana. We are in the process of starting up again incorporating High School children during holidays as well. Please pray urgently for this part of the Project. Our Children are in dire need for help with especially Reading and Maths. The classes take will take place in the Soup Kitchen during afternoons. All this was done by volunteers in partnership with Talitha Khoum working together.

CHRISTMAS TREE BY ROTARY JEFFREYS BAY

Rotary Jeffrey's Bay hosts this event every year. Children make a wish list and brand new toys are collected through donations. 2013 Involved 80 Children as can be seen in the Gallery. Children enjoyed themselves immensely.

CLOTHING, BEDDING, SHOES AND HOUSE WARE

Donated clothing must be sorted then packed according to needs and sizes. This is a huge task and is done 5 to 6 times a year. HELP NEEDED: People to help unpack and sort clothing, if in need of buttons etc it is sent to the Sewing Class at the Soup Kitchen.

WHO CAN HELP?

Any artisan builder or expert in the field of:

STATE OF HOUSING

Many of the old houses is in disrepair and in an urgent state of repair.Wooden windows are falling out as the wood is rotting.Outside doors rotting as there is no awning to keep the rain away.Roofs leaking. Walls crumbling. No taps or toilets inside. If an organization can supply goods and train jobless to fix these. It will ensure a better life for the poor people of the project.

DRUGS & LIQUOR

Drugs is especially rampant in this area and easily available. Many children drop out of school as they cannot cope with the work and fail school, they are used to sell drugs, jobless persons and even pre school children are used as drug runners, or sellers. Mostly they are paid for with drugs.The fishing industry is adding to the problems as Skippers did not get a license for the season and this creates more people without means of income.

COOKING AND BAKING

Once our premises allow we would like to start teaching people to cook nourishing and tasty food with basics foodstuff from our food parcels. How to shop economically and to bake for a living.

HANDWORK PROJECTS

We would like to teach how to make Lamps, lamp shades, do basic repairs and other worthwhile handwork projects.