THE DIFFERENCE MADE IN A YEAR
A Year at GAGA UK Your 2016/17 Impact Report
Registered Charity Number: 1092028
2016/17 AT
GAGA UK May 2016
June 2016
Sylvia & Sandra raised £100 selling plants, cakes and second hand items at a car boot sale.
We shared stories throughout National Volunteers Week, showcasing how volunteers make a difference at GAGA UK.
August 2016
November 2016
You paid for a bed in HACT’s Respite Unit helping people like Lungile, affected by HIV. You helped people regain their strength & hope throughout the year.
Hlengiwe, a teacher at FSR, was sponsored through her studies. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education.
December 2016 Over 180 people celebrated & more than £2000 raised from The Remembering Tree.
February 2017 £1,800 donated to KYGN in Tanzania, ‘I was determined to do my best who provide over and complete my degree. Thank you very much and may God bless 150 children with primary education. you all.’ Hlengiwe
You can find these stories in more detail on the news section of our website: www.gaga-uk.org/news/news
July 2016 Self-funded volunteers visited GAGA UK supported projects in South Africa, sharing their various skills & knowledge.
October 2016
September 2016
Likhon iThemba’s charity Hop Shop opened. Your donations provided a loan towards the setup costs.
We held our first summer fete with a dog show, stalls & games. It was a huge success, raising £600.
January 2017 Building work got well under way at First Step Right School. What an inspirational start to the new year!
March 2017 £400 was donated by Alcester Alauna Rotary Club after another successful Big Breakfast in Bidford.
The 4 year-old’s mum, was so grateful that there was somewhere she could take her son, who had serious injuries to his leg after A 4 year old boy was being attacked by a bull. He was in treated at 1000 Hills shock and pain, and bleeding Clinic; his mum heavily. She said she didn’t know reminded us of the what she’d have done had the great need for this clinic not been there. She had no means of taking him anywhere else project. for help.
April 2017
NEW CLASSROOMS:
FIRST STEP RIGHT SCHOOL
This year, thanks to your ongoing support and a variety of events and donations, we were able to renovate an unused and decrepit building at First Step Right School (FSR). Two new classrooms and a playroom were created for the pre-school aged children.
In February 2017, we opened the Pre-school building, dedicated to Richard Harrod, a former GAGA UK Trustee. Much of the funds needed to renovate the classrooms were raised in memory of Richard, by his friends and family. “The classrooms are quiet and peaceful and the children love them. They’re calmer here too.” Lungile, one of the pre-school teachers, spoke about how the children now have their own space to allow them to get used to school routine and how grateful everyone at FSR is for these new classrooms.
Renovating the pre-school block allowed space in the existing school building for a library. Donations from UK charity Chameleon paid for new shelving. Children of all ages are now able to read a wide variety of books, and borrow them to take home. Many of the children will not have books at home, so this is such an important new service.
FAIRY TALES REALLY CAN COME
TRUE
Once upon a time, a little boy had a tragic start in life. He was horrifically abandoned when he was just a few days old. Luckily he was found and taken to the Castle of Love and Hope. He spent a few months living there, receiving so much love and a lot of cuddles. But this wasn’t his ‘forever home’, it wasn’t where he was destined to spend his life.
Sisanda was adopted by a South African princess and whilst not every story has such a royal ending, Likhon iThemba advocate adoption and want the best for all children. They, like us, believe all children should have a forever home and the chance to make their own fairy tales come true. Thanks to your donations we were able to provide a loan to Likhon iThemba, helping them set up a charity shop to generate income. The shop is now generating profit which is helping to cover Likhon iThemba’s core costs to care for 6 babies like Sisanda.
Then one day, a Princess came along to take him home with her and his new brother. Little Sisanda became Prince Sisanda and we’re sure he’ll live happily ever after with his Royal Family.
1000 HILLS
COMMUNITY
HELPERS
We’ve continued to provide funding for 1000 Hills Community Helpers and their clinic. We were able to do so because of you. Take a look at what your donations have helped to do... General clinic services
Home Visits
Referrals to local hospitals
Family Planning
26,130 PATIENTS SEEN HIV & CD4 Testing & Counselling
Support for babies & new mums
HIV/AIDS & TB Support Groups
In May 2016, a 73 year old lady came to the 1000 Hills Clinic, appealing for help. She was looking after her 3 orphaned grandchildren of 7 and 4 years old, with the youngest just 8 months old. She could only afford to feed the baby with flour and water, as the cost of formula was too much for her. We are grateful that because of your donations, the 1000 Hills clinic is able to support people in situations such as this. They gave the granny milk and food for her family and the centre will continue to be there to support her.
Siyabonga!
WHAT DO
YOU
THINK?
We’re really proud of our work and of the organisations we support. But we left it up to some of our donors, fundraisers and supporters to tell you why they love GAGA.
“We wanted to ‘do our bit’ to help in some way... [we] are delighted to be helping a small local African charity that does great work in a big way. The story Sarah told us about a little baby at an orphanage that GAGA supports, touched our hearts ... We’re delighted to be working with such a worthy charity.”
Liz and Devinder, from In2Cultures, have supported GAGA UK for over 2 years, recently raising £350 for us. “I donate to GAGA because I want to help more children access education. As a teacher myself, I know how important education is, and I wish all children had the same opportunities that we have in the UK.”
Bev Hudson, one of GAGA UK’s regular donors “We visited The White House in South Africa and were so overwhelmed by the great need that was there. We’ve got far too much in this country and they’ve got far too little. We felt a great desire to help. “
Pam Cooper, a GAGA ambassador and regular donor Would you like to be more involved? Here are a few ways you could help further...
If you feel you can, please increase your regular donation. An extra £1 a month could help one more person access medical care Tell your friends and family about GAGA UK Follow us on social media and share our news Attend or put on your own fundraising events Leave a gift in your will Get knitting or crocheting for our Remembering Tree.
Get in touch to find out more
ANYTHING ELSE? YES! Not only have you helped to build classrooms at a school, provide thousands with access to medical care and support, and made a boy into a prince, your donations and support over the past year have also allowed us to: assist with the running costs at First Step Right School; sponsor a bed at Hillcrest AIDS Centre Respite Unit; provide food for the elderly and vulnerable at The White House; sponsor students through further education and training; and assist with running costs at KYGN Primary School in Tanzania.
THANK YOU
FOR BEING A LIFE CHANGER
Want to find out more about what you’ve been reading? Get in touch: Registered Charity Number: 1092028 GAGA UK – Goodwill & Growth for Africa UK, 50 Cygnet Court, Timothy’s Bridge Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 9NW
www.gaga-uk.org info@gaga-uk.org 01789 414088
Facebook: /UK.GAGA Twitter: @weare_GAGAUK Instagram: @GAGA_UK
