Upliftment of poverty in a small SA community

Living out in the country teaches one to become creative ...

After more than 30yrs in the Corporate industry, working a 9 to 5 job, I was retrenched due to financial difficulties in the company. Moving to the country was the best option (financial wise). The ambiance is just perfect and nature tends to stimulate one's creativity beyond imagination.

Being on the farm on a permanent basis, I soon realized that due to our location, many of the black women in our local community are jobless and still living in extreme poverty.

My own life advanced as I was blessed with three grandsons within a period of 15 months. Farmlife has so much to offer and outdoor playtime for the little one's means happy times - they explore, they investigate and it keeps them healthy and happy. Soon their mommies started to complain about their clothes getting dirty and stained while they were digging in the fresh ground, playing in water puddles and just running and playing outside.

An idea was born...

It came to mind that if the mothers of my grandsons complain about them getting their clothes dirty while playing outside, most mothers all over the world must have the same problem. I reached out to the internet and did extensive research for some clothing items for kids expecially designed for outdoor play, but I could not find something durable, easy-to-wear, but also fashionable for the smaller child. I wanted something like a "coverall" (also known as: overall / boiler suit / jumpsuit / romper), to protect my grandsons clothing.

On the one hand I was having a problem of toddlers enjoying the outdoors, but are getting discouraged to do so because their clothes get too dirty and on the other hand I was surrounded with women living in poverty, not only due to a lack of jobs in South Africa, but also due to a lack of skills.

I am sure you will agree with me that the future of our planet depends on our children and that they need to learn and appreciate everything it has to offer, so why must they get discouraged from doing so just because of the clothes they're wearing?

Therefore, my main aim was to combine the two situations together and come up with a solution to the problems.

Together with the women in our local community, we wish to produce a solution to parents and address the problems parents are facing with their children's clothing while playing outdoors.

And above all, with this particular clothing range, job creation will help to uplift the community. I personally believe if you have a job, you earn money and if you have money, you can buy things you need - things like food, essentials and clothing. With a lack of money, there is not much you can do or obtain in life. A job opens a whole new world to you, you learn new things and you develop new skills. A job gives you self-respect again, it gives you self-worth, it gives you dignity, and it make you feel good about yourself. Upon giving these women the opportunity, you will enable them not only to take care of themselves, but to take care of their families, their children, and their grandchildren and build a bright future together.

Our kids clothing range will not only be sold on what they look like, but also on the outcomes they represent to the buyer. We will only be using proudly South African fabrics, offering a durable and long-lasting quality.

Your donation will assist me to serve as a conduct in helping others, not only to give these women a job, but introducing her to a skill that will improve conditions for her and her family. It will help the community thrive and make use of other creative talents.

Your donation will help us set-up a sewing workshop, fitted with sewing machines, fabrics, habedashery, packaging, labelling, in creating a online-store, doing marketing campaigns, branding, etc.

The women of the community and myself are all very eager, positive and excited to start off this project early January 2020 and your donation will make it possible for us to pull the strings together before the Festive season.

We wish to thank you in advance for giving children the opportunity to love and enjoy every moment while playing outside and to uplift a small community in the North West province of South Africa.