Lend a Hand to the disadvantaged and neglected

YHAF “You Have A Friend” is a non profit company registered with CIPC. It aim is to help the disadvantaged and the neglected individuals. The company is in its initial stage and looking for donations to help create a website and fund its first project. The project aims to help the widows and widowers. Upon our research and experience in our communities especially in rural areas it is found that widows and widowers are uncared for. Widows for examples are abused by their in laws when their husbands die. They are forced to live their houses; their assets are taken out of their will. Most of these widows suffered stress, depression and post traumatic stress. They become frail and unable to take care of their families. They are not hired because of their poor health. As a result they only live on child social grant. On the other hand the widowers find it difficult to raise a girl child and to raise children as a whole. Children are ended up raised by a drunkard father who turns into alcohol to ease the pain and frustration. So as YHAF we will intervene by doing the following:

• The project will start by giving them food vouchers, clothing and blankets. Food vouchers are not sustainable but are special intervention because there are widows who do not have means of acquiring food. Like the one I talked about. She sometimes cooks onions and maize meal or maize meal alone because there is nothing to cook other than that. Last month a group of Christians donated money to my account so that she can be able to buy food. It wasn’t much and cannot live on handouts for the rest of her life.
• The next stage will be home gardens. They will be given assistance in fencing their gardens and seedlings. Growing your own vegetables is healthy and sustainable. They will eat some and sell the surplus. Giving them those vouchers and home garden will not be sustainable enough.
• Then the next stage will be to teach them skills that will help them being able to generate their income. The skills acquired will be used to seek jobs or create their own job opportunities. They will also pass it on to their kids and the next generation. By doing so vicious cycle of poverty will be conquered and sustainability will be met. Skills to be taught are those that will able them to do services and goods that are needed on daily basis like blocks making, sewing, cooking and baking, farming, manufacturing of products that are used daily i.e. soap and other cosmetics, food canning and freezing, food processing, etc.

Your donation will be appreciated. For further information and enquiries contact Ms. L. Nyathi (Director) [email protected]