The MTN is the body responsible for this. They are a Committee which consists of the Rector, the Church Wardens, and the Treasurer, together with David Sykes, Ivor Jardine, Liz Murray, Trevor Wegner and Bea Law. During this half year, The MTN has been busy distributing the funds approved for charitable donations. The process is not yet complete and much has still to be done in the second part of the year, but it is appropriate that the parish be kept in touch with the outreach activities to date.
THE BURSARY FUND
This is a fund which was constituted to use the income St Andrew’s gains from the rental of premises to the Kildare Pre-School. It uses this money to promote the post-school training of children whose families were disadvantaged as a consequence of the Group Areas Act in the 1960’s. Training for the trades, nursing and teaching are particularly favoured for this assistance. At present St Andrew’s is supporting 5 students through Access Trust. The courses followed are electrical engineering, fitting and machining, financial management and two students are training as nurses at the Kingsbury. In addition, the St Andrew’s bursary fund has financed KearnanBasson through a course as a commercial diver. In 2007, he was a school drop-out and classed as a “youth at risk”. However, his life has been turned around by Life Exchange and he now has good prospects. Lauren Allies was referred to us by Natalie Simons. She is doing a course in travel agency at the College of Cape Town.
CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
R20 000 from the MTN budget has been directed towards Church Development. The Bible Society and the Centre for Christian Spirituality are focused on development within South Africa The range of the activities of African Enterprise and Growing the Church is wider and spreads into neighbouring states. From the central budget of St Andrew’s, R50 000 has been sent to the Archbishop’s special fund for the training of clergy. We are also aware that St George’s Cathedral is facing serious costs for the repair of its roof and we realize that we ought to consider supporting this cause in the future as the Cathedral is central to the life of the Diocese.
PRE-SCHOOLS
Township pre-schools have received about R17 000 so far this year. This has been used to supply tables and cupboards and for the maintenance of school properties.
HEALTH
The charities which St Andrew’s supports under the category of health improvement cover both adults and children. The Service Dining Rooms in upper Cape Town provide in the region of 1000 meals per day. Half of these are served at the Dining Room premises and the other half are prepared and sent to points of distribution in the townships – often to school situations. The Peninsula School Feeding is a well-known project which also seeks to support child health. Its activities are not confined to the Peninsula but extend into adjacent rural areas. Payments to these and other charities involved in the maintenance of health have been in the region of R28 000 in the first half of 2011.
THE HANDICAPPED
So far, in 2011, St Andrew’s has donated R27 000 to projects which offer help to the vulnerable in society. Lilyhaven Place in Bonteheuwel is an old age institution providing a home for elderly residents of the area who cannot stay with their families. The Saartjie Baartman Centre is a haven for abused women, most of whom have children. The Centre seeks to counsel them and set them up so they can live independent lives apart from their abusive partners. This year St Andrew’s has helped with the renovation of bathroom facilities at Saartjie Baartman.
Besides these “financial handouts”, St Andrew’s has made other donations in kind, thanks to the generosity of our congregation.
- Used carpeting has been donated to 5 projects. Countless jerseys, caps and blankets were collected on Jersey Sunday and have been distributed to needy situations, among which were the folk of Masiphumele, who lost their homes as a consequence of a recent fire.
- The packing of love-packs for AIDS sufferers has continued as usual, under the able direction of Frank and Eleanor Wright and the Soup Kitchen has provided soup and bread to about 80 recipients on a fortnightly basis.
The MTN would like to thank all those who have helped in these activities or responded to their appeals for useful items.
Bea Law
