We sure have had an epic 2021 at Likhon iThemba.
Thank you to each one of you for the support and love throughout the year. There is no way we would be where we are without all your continued support! There have been many highlights this year, but just to touch on a few that really stood out to us.
We welcomed 6 new little ones to the HOLAH home this year,
Fafa who has just turned 7, Chris and Dylan together, Londi (who is unfortunately in hospital on a feeding tube as we speak after a severe health scare yesterday) and our youngest baby at HOLAH; Lenathi who was left in our Vikela baby saver. Lastly, came little Carter, the best kind of “thug” who makes us smile every time we look at him.
Welcome little beauties, we love having you as part of the family!
It is always bitter sweet when children leave us but we have to remind ourselves that this is why we do what we do and in that spirit we are thrilled to share that we had 2 babies leave the HOLAH nest this year. Esishle left us just after she turned 1 years old, adopted by a Mommy who simply adores her and our handsome Dylan who didn’t stay with us very long but will always be in our hearts.
Our therapy hut got set up at HOLAH, a quiet space where our therapists and care givers can take the children for one on one time with them to help with sensory processing, stretching, movement and work on specific areas that each child needs to develop.
Likhon iThemba had 2 Experts from SES (senior expert services) come all the way from Germany! Lucia spent 6 weeks at HOLAH working with our care givers and our special needs children. Volker spent 6 weeks working with Tman and the staff at our Charity Hop shop. We all learnt so much from them and we are moving into the new year with positive changes in place, thanks to them.
Leanne and Kim the Founders of Likhon Ithemba got to meet Unice and the team who run Siyajabula a children’s home in Molweni. Unice does an outstanding job but desperately needs support. We were so thrilled we could relaunch our outreach program, BOP – Bowl Of Plenty and help out in many ways throughout the year. Delivering food and raising funds to ensure one of the young adults from Siyajabula can continue her schooling. We plan to continue helping in any way we can.
Likhon iThemba managed to start up successful sub committees this year which focus on different areas of the NPO to make sure we are doing things as efficiently as possible. We are compliant in all areas, raising funds and most of all doing the best we can for the children in our care. This has been one of the best decisions for Likhon iThemba and we want to send a special thank you to our Chair – Colleen Wilson who made this all happen. This organisation has grown from strength to strength with you as our Chair, we are forever grateful to you Colleen for your commitment to Likhon iThemba and are continuously blown away at the time and energy you put into everything you do for this NPO.
All our CP children were invited to attend a CP programme at one of the hospitals. They spent a week in hospital and got to see every specialist the hospital has to offer. OT, physio, dietician, doctor and orthopaedic. They are given therapy sessions and the care givers were trained to continue the therapy at home. We also get detailed reports from each therapist. Once the program is finished, the child goes back once a month for 2 days for follow up appointments. Little Langas time in this programme resulted in him being a candidate for major medical surgery carried out this month to “stretch” out his legs and make him more comfortable long term. Although he is in so much pain and discomfort right now, we know it will help him and make his life a little easier.
