The Two Sisters Christmas party

We all arrived there at 10 in the morning. It was quite cool because there's been a lot of rain as you can see from the water running in the road.
The proceedings began as the children all filed down from the old Two Sisters yard to the new site 150 meters down the road. The younger ones held hands and there was this long string of about 120 children who sat down on benches under the big tree. Our minister Dean then opened with a prayer and asking the children why we have Christmas.
Val Morris who writes books for black children, then told a story and this was followed by a play put on the Patrick's two daughters about a selfish woman who lost all her servants and friends.
The big tuck-in then began and everyone lined up for cakes and sweets. Pies were donated by a local pie shop and cakes came from Spar. There were also packs of sweets from Ursula in Canada and sweets from the Winkler Hotel. All in all a pretty good party fare.
Patrick bought a lot of meat and cooked a big lunch for them all I think it went ok and was well represented by our Board as well as other supporters.
There will be an ice cream party in January when school stationary will be given out.
The old main holding the "thank you Ursula" card represented the local chief.

The Ice Cream Party

About 100 children ranging from under 3 years to 15 received a school bag and stationary to take to school next week from Bruce and Robyn Maclenan from Nelspruit. The idea was that each child should get a sturdy school bag and pens, pencils, exercise book and a lunch box ready for school next week. They also received an ice cream donated by Ursula Bock from Canada.

The Sewing Project

The 4 learner sewing ladies are getting on well after 4 months of sewing lessons. SASOL’s help this year was in the form of a donation of 3 heavy duty sewing machines and an over locker and training for potential clothing and fabric makers. The ladies have made some outfits and items such as sheets and pillow cases. It is hoped that they will progress on to become makers of clothing and bed linen this year after more training.

January report

Mpumalanga children went back to school last week and Two Sisters children were equipped with school bags and some basic stationary provided by Robyn Maclaren at an ice-cream party in early January.

Like many parts of the world at the moment, Two Sisters has been subject to heavy rains and stormy weather. Patrick's computer was struck by lightning recently. Fortunately he has a standby unit to put into service. The roads are taking a hammering and the tar roads are badly potholed.
Still, things are progressing favourably and with the new vehicle, Patrick is able to take children to clinics and school a lot more safely.
The sewing project is also progressing nicely. The 5 ladies who attend regularly are being trained by Helen, a professional seamstress from White River who is sponsored by SASOL. Some quality articles are now emerging from the sewing room including aprons, cushion covers and 2 piece overalls. Helen comes from White River daily and will continue to do so until the ladies are fully trained after which she will oversee them on a less regular basis.
The new 2 Sisters buildings are surrounded by a wall but to further improve security a razor wire fence will be erected above the walls.
Our accounts were recently audited by our Auditors PricewaterhouseCoopera Inc. and found to be sound and approved. We thank our current book keeper Leanda van Zyl for all her hard work to get this in place.
Also to let you know that Patrick continues to feed 170 children every day. A number of older children who passed matric and left school are no longer being fed.

Greetings from Two Sisters
 

September 2011

Two Sisters continues to care for many children without parents at the Care Cantre Patrick continues to run things sometimes under extremely difficult conditions.

Visit from Dick and Monique de Boer.

Every two years Dick and his wife Monique visit Two Sisters to see the children and bring both financial and moral support to the Care Centre. This year Dick and Monique spent a day with Patrick and then met with the board for an informal dinner at Gloria and Willie Luus’ house in White River. Dick showed us an excellent slide show covering his last visit and presented Patrick with R 55 000.00 raised in Holland for the care centre. A fun run and several other donors helped raise this substantial amount which will go a long way to help feed and clothe the children. Numbers of children vary but up to 200 are often at Patrick’s door for food before going home to their foster parents. Without supporters like Dick and Monique these children would suffer even more than they do already.

Lack of water at Two Sisters.

Water still remains a problem in the village (Maganduzsweni). Despite local protests water still has to be delivered by water cart and pumped into the storage tank. The pipes remain dry due to a broken pump which the municipality fails to be able to repair. As a result Patrick collects drinking water from White River in containers.

The Sewing Project.

Due to the distance to get to Two Sisters, it has been decided that the sewing project, which was largely sponsored by Sasol, would be moved to White River. It now takes place at the Methodist Church centre where volunteers train learner sewing ladies mainly from Maganduzweni area (their transport to and fro is sponsored). It is hoped that this project will grow with the help of the White River Church support.

Greetings from Two Sisters