Lesedi la Batho Social Relief Fund, South Africa

The Baloyi family have 7 members and were all sharing a simple home together in Mabopane township. In August 2021, their home burnt down during an act of vandalism - destroying everything they owned. 

Community members came together to help - donating clothes and building supplies. But the Baloyi's were still without the essentials - food, and shelter. Thanks to the support of our donors of our Social Relief Fund and our longstanding funders at Rays of Hope Foundation in Germany, we were able to provide them with food parcels, more clothes and blankets. In the coming weeks, we employed local community members to build a new home big enough for all 7 in the Baloyi family!

"We, as the Baloyi family, would like to express our sincere gratitude. We've witnessed your generosity in our time of need and we are extremely grateful. The place we called home was burnt to the ground. Now, it's been restored and rebuilt. If it wasn't for Lesedi la Batho and their supporters, we would have been stranded and homeless." - Mrs Baloyi

Thank you all for your meaningful and compassionate support of our community’s most urgent needs!

At the end of June, we received a phone call from a concerned community neighbour about a house fire. Our outreach team went to visit the site and found a home almost completely destroyed and a family distraught.

The fire was cause by paraffin - unfortunately, a commonplace incident in our community. Families who don't have electricity rely on paraffin stoves, which also help to warm the house during this bitterly cold South African winter. Unfortunately, they are susceptible to explosive fires - destroying the home and everything inside.

Brightness and his family had lost their furniture, car, clothing, documents and food supply. We were able to give them food parcels and some clothing donations we had on hand. The public responded to a social media post, traveling across town to deliver preloved furniture. Then, thanks to YOUR donations to our official Social Relief Fund, we were able to help Brightness and his family repair the damage and improve the house to a better state than before the fire!

We used the funds to help plaster their floors, which were previously just sand with a blanket thrown on top. We repaired doors and fixed broken windows. We provided more food parcels, clothing and a couch to help them get through this tough time and rebuild.

The name of our organisation translate to "Light for the People" in our language, Setswana. Thank you for enabling us to provide resources, encouragement and hope for the people of Mabopane!

In light of the harsh economic impact of COVID, our country's economic instability, the riots and looting in recent weeks, political tension, and high unemployment, we are expecting an ever growing need for basic social relief from families living on the edge. If you are able, please consider becoming a monthly donor to our Social Relief Fund to ensure we can continue helping the destitute rise up from their circumstances. The amount doesn't matter - small gestures add up to big impact!

Links:

• Donate to the Lesedi la Batho Social Relief Fund
• Find out more about us on our website