Teddy Bear Donation

http://theilzehallidayfoundation.weebly.com/1/post/2014/01/teddy-bear-donation.html

A friend of mine, Marinda Deyzel, owner of El Pelo Studio in Magalieskruin, informed me on Wednesday that one of her clients was kind enough to bring this donation to her shop so that she can hand it over to me. I'm ever so much thankful for that and will see that the toys are used well. If I cannot find a home for it during the months ahead, it will definitely be used during our annual Santa Shoebox drive during September/October. Thanks again!!

Just a reminder...............

.........remember, you are NEVER alone. So if you feel struggles and suffering piling up, know this, there is a GOD!!

Sharon Halliday Hattingh on Facebook

Sharon Halliday Hattingh

For my Foundation's loyal followers:

Making someone's day... - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

Making someone's day... - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

Pictured here is Solly....Solly came knocking at my door today, saying he needed some supplies for his kids who will be starting school tomorrow. They have NOTHING....Solly comes into town every day and try to get some kind of job just to feed his family.

On Sunday I received a generous donation from a beautiful lady called Tanya Pegram (yes, she does SO have a heart of gold!). It was as if Solly was sent especially for what she donated....he asked for stuff that she actually gave me (exactly what she gave me!).

So Tanya, your donation is going to make three little children very happy tonight when their Daddy comes home with those school supplies you so generously donated.

People, this is what giving is all about!!! Making someone smile, making his day better and giving them hope....it is SO worth it!

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Comments

EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES - 10 WAYS TO HELP - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES - 10 WAYS TO HELP - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

Although I have already had one kind person donate educational supplies I still need more. Remember I'm helping around 14 facilities around Pretoria with nearly 1200 children in pre-primary, primary and high school, so you will understand the need for action in this regard.

Many of these children reside in places of safety (mostly abandoned children up to the age of 5 or 6), some of them are HIV positive, some of them are orphans living on social welfare (if they are lucky enough, that is). All of them have far less than most of you guys have....our own children (and often the parents as well), take our circumstances for granted. We can afford to buy school clothes, tablets for e-education, extra curricular activities, books, stationery...and more often than not, our children are still unhappy, filled with discontent, despite the abundance of earthly possessions, love, caring and simply, families, they have. Things like electricity and running water are things we TOTALLY take for granted.

Let me enlighten you about some of these schools...
- the children often have NO parents, NO proper homes, just shacks (if they are lucky)
- many of the older kids (I'm talking 8 years and older) have to take the place of a
  parent, leaving school to work/steal for a living), they will never have the privilege of
  being just kids.
- 2 thirds of my facilities have no electricity or running water and NO lavatories inside
  (sometimes just a hole in the ground....really)
- some schools have tin huts for classrooms and the children's meals consists of
  Mabella or soup....they don't get juice, they have to drink water from the single tap on
  the block.
- mostly the teachers are unqualified....it is volunteers from the community that give
  their time for free to teach these kids the basics....yet, they DO try their best and I
  have so much respect for that.
- in the orphanages the children sleep at night, sometimes three or four to a single bed 
- the floors in their classrooms are bare cement and the tin huts have inadequate
  ventilation.
- most of these schools get by without any support from welfare organizations or the
  government.
- there is no black/white boards, no pictures on the walls apart from those drawn by the
  kids, no proper study guides, no literature, very little pens and pencils (they usually
  share one Tupperware bowl filled with crayons), there is no musical instruments, no
  radios, nothing at all.....
...this just a few notes on the things I have personally noticed during my visits. But let me tell you one thing....those kids are willing to learn, they are there every day, never miss a class and thoroughly enjoy whatever education they get. 

I feel it is our duty as citizens of a country where, in my humble opinion, the children are our only hope for a peaceful and prosperous future, to make sure that we try our best to give them a proper education.

Remember what I said....even the most humble donation will be used well. I'm not asking that you go to the store and spend thousands of rands on educational supplies, I'm simply asking that you try to give a little something back...trust me, you will reap the benefits.

Now, you may wonder about the heading for this post....the 10 ways you can help and here it is:

1. Donate supplies (pen's, pencils, crayons, paper, books, calculators, erasers, paint, whatever - see previous post 'January is stationary month)
2. Find a school on my website (read through the posts on my blog or contact mefor a list) and sponsor it for a month/year, whatever, with supplies/food
3. Sponsor one child for a year with supplies, school fees and school clothes, or just one of these.
4. Donate funds to my foundation (click for account details) for supplies/school fees/school clothes
5. Volunteer as teacher at one of the schools
6. Volunteer to train the young teachers so that they can properly assist the children in laying a foundation for higher education
7. Join me in this venture by visiting the schools and handing out the donations
8. Send meals to the school (MacDonals/KFC, whatever, as a treat once a month or just once)
9. Involve your children's school/your own business by sharing this blog....I will gladly give a talk about this, should you wish me to.
10. Donate all the old school clothes that your own children have outgrown, this includes old school bags, shoes and sport wear and equipment.

There are many more ways that you can help and I'm sure you can think of some on your own....I'm open for more ideas, so feel free to contact me.

People, it is really time that we start taking this seriously...we need to be committed to making the children of our world stronger through education and in the process teaching them the art of giving. They are our only hope.

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future."
John F Kennedy (1917-1963)

 

Donation received....thank you Tanya Pegram - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

Donation received....thank you Tanya Pegram - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

Got a message on Saturday from a lady who, graciously, helped us with Santa Shoebox's celebration at 2nd Chanz Foundation in November 2013. She even brought cupcakes! 
She had some stationery that she wanted to give away. ...so yesterday I collected it and, much to my surprise, she also had 3 book bags for the kids. Thank you so very much, Tanya Pegram.....your supplies will find its way to someone in need.REMEMBER FRIENDS....January is stationery month! Keep those donations coming!

JANUARY IS STATIONERY MONTH!!

Yes, I'm asking for stuff AGAIN!!! Don't I always! Anyway, this year, I'm going to focus on some type of item every month and all I am asking is that, if you can find it in your heart, to purchase that one item extra when you're at the store, please do so. If you live in Pretoria, give me a call and I'll collect gladly, otherwise, please contact me or complete the contact form, so that we can make alternative arrangements. Funds to purchase these items will also be welcomed. (Click here for account details.)

So, this is January, in South Africa it is back-to-school month and we are all off to the stationery stores like CNA and Graffiti to buy the kid's school necessities. However, I need you to keep something in mind while you are spending all that (huge amounts of) money on school clothes, educational supplies and school fees...please REMEMBER there are actually people in our country (and for that matter, all over the world) that cannot afford to do the same. I know of many here in Pretoria that cannot even buy a pencil or two for their children, much less pay the inevitable school fees or buy the expensive school wear. I think every child in the world is entitled to an education and to be able to do so with the basic supplies. As many people obviously don't care, I call on all of you who took the time to read this to open your hearts and consider those among us that cannot enjoy a proper education. Give something back to the community today...even if it is just a small donation or one single item...somewhere, someone will be able to use it well. 

I call on you then, while you are out shopping, to buy an extra packet of pencils, pens, erasers, whatever, and give me a call...I guarantee you that your donation will find its way to someone who will appreciate it. 

REMEMBER....nothing is too small or insignificant to make a difference in the lives of those who have nothing.


Thank you all and God bless!

New Year's wishes... - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

New Year's wishes... - The Ilze Halliday Foundation

I wish to all a very blessed 2014....and thank you all for your constant support during 2013. Without your help I would not have been able to give so much to others. Know that your gifts, kindness, donations, funds, etc were much appreciated by those on the receiving end of it. All my projects have been so successful and blessed, so, thank you all very much.

I am still spending some time with the family and, as school starts on the 15th of January, I will be busy preparing the little ones for that 'inevitable' journey. This year I'm blessed with one at university, one in high school and one in primary school...and the one at university is planning a wedding too! Of course these commitments will not keep me from reaching out and doing the job I was called to do.

I have plenty planned for this foundation in 2014 and the work will begin in earnest on Monday, 20 January....so just watch this space for lots of action!!!

Let me quickly give you an idea of what I'm going to be working on this year. Perhaps some of you can come of with more ideas on how to improve these projects, perhaps some of you can donate your time, items or funds toward some of these....perhaps some of you can only afford to pray for the success of these projects....whatever you can do, I will very much appreciate it.

Here is the list of (so far) six projects I'm planning to work on:

1. A training course in Counselling....I'm planning to kick this of in Eersterust, and perhaps continue from there to other areas around the city.
2. Teen pregnancy support ...I'm doing this with a colleague of mine and we plan to start this programme in schools around Pretoria
3. An art festival...it will start out as an art competition amongst my various facilities, with the winner having his/her own art show at the end of this year.
4. A fashion show for young children (aged 2-10) in August in honour of Women's Day. I'm doing this with a friend who contacted me during 2013. She is a very talented designer and seamstress and we are going to start by having a 'beauty contest' amongst the children of the facilities, choosing a few to model the clothes on the day. We already have a venue, and are looking for people/businesses to sponsor the caterers, material, etc. The funds will all go toward charity and my facilities will be given the opportunity to 'advertise' their services on the day of the show.
5. I will, once again be involved in the Annebel Foundation...but will have to seek out a new school. Hopefully I will be able to start a new Annebel club closer to home or perhaps run it in conjunction with the teen pregnancy project.
6. Last, but not least, I plan to be involved in the Santa Shoebox Project again. 

So, people, as you can see I have a full and very busy year ahead of me....please pray that I will have the strength, energy, patience, willingness and TIME to do it all!