By Ray Schone | Project Leader
Dear Friends of YOUPSA,
The citrus season is now in full swing and it is very busy in the Gamtoos Valley. All of us here are so enjoying the fresh and healthy fruit every day. Tractors and other agricultural vehicles fill the roads. The rate of employment is higher during the season. Packhouses become busy like beehives, sometimes doing night shifts and huge lorries bring the fruit, oranges, mandarins and lemons, to the harbor for exporting to Europe, USA and Asia.
Most children from the workers' families can only envision becoming a fruit picker or packer or tractor driver. Their exposure to other ideas or dreams is next to none. YOUPSA's programmes open their imagination, build valuable skills and prepare them for a brighter future of possibilities.
YOUPSA is a 2019 Top-Ranked Organization!
Youth Potential South Africa - YOUPSA is honored to be recognized as a top-ranked, effective and vetted organization this year by GlobalGiving. Thanks to all our ground-breaking students, the generous donors, supporters and advocates for helping us achieve this awesome milestone!
Some recent news from our programmes
At De Mistkraal Primary we introduced the children to the art work of Christoph Niemann. We showed them a lot of slides of his art work on a computer screen and discussed these images with them. They were so excited by what they saw! Then we gave them some materials and they started creating their own Niemann-inspired art.
We discussed with the children what they like about YOUPSA, and they also expressed their feelings in their art. It was moving to see what they drew and what they wrote.
Some children said this on their art work:
"Thank you YOUPSA, I love you. You make my life change. I learn a lot of things that I didn't know. You are wonderful persons and leaders. Thank you for making me a leader, it makes me very happy."
"I love you so much Alexis and Ray. You are such good people for me!"
"I love YOUPSA because they read for us new stories. And they teach us good things. They love us. They don't break our hearts, they give us love."
We at YOUPSA are trying to help bright young rural students to enrol at better High Schools, where they will find the conditions to achieve their dreams. We recently attended the 'Open Day' at Woodridge College with Phila, one of YOUPSA's most enthusiastic students, and her family. It was SO exciting for everybody!
For a bright young girl who dreams of becoming a neuroscientist, there is no opportunity for her to connect with the wider world in the Gamtoos Valley. In many of the rural schools here, there is not even a teacher for some subjects and the classes are often idle for long stretches. Phila is an avid, self-trained runner and would really like to participate in sports, but there are no sports offered at her school. She's also a passionate reader but there is no library at her school.
We've also been raising awareness about YOUPSA's need for 2 laptop computers for teaching computer literacy, online research, library management skills and for educational videos, as well as for the daily operation of the organization. Please view the computer campaign info here: Laptop Campaign
We hope you enjoy the photos from our programme activities.
We really appreciate your kind support and would love to hear from you!
Warm regards,
the YOUPSA Team
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