South Africa entered a nationwide three-week lockdown on Friday, March 27th. Their 57 million inhabitants will be confined to their homes with a few exceptions. Cases of COVID-19 in South Africa are much lower than in the United States and Europe, but they do have the most cases in sub-Saharan Africa. Cases have primarily affected suburban areas, and the government-imposed lockdown aims to prevent the spread of coronavirus to crowded townships and settlements.
Officials confirmed the first cases of coronavirus in two townships in the Western Cape, but so far there have been no known cases among the communities CUSP Foundation partners serve. Read more about how the coronavirus crisis is affecting South Africa with the initial decision to go into lockdown here and one week in here.
Angels’ Care Centre has remained open for their food program during the lockdown, but both they and Thembelihle Primary School have discontinued education programs. Read more updates from our partners below.
March 31: Day 5 of Lockdown Update from Angels’ Care
Update from Georgie Purdon, via Angels’ Care’s Facebook Page
Despite numerous challenges our staff at Angels Care relentlessly continue helping the most vulnerable children in our community. We are so sorry we have been a little quiet lately but we promise we are still here fighting for our precious children.
Just a quick update: we have added together all our data on who we have been supporting during the National Lockdown. So far we have sent out approximately 944 daily children food parcels (containing two sandwiches, fruit and yogurt), as well as 68 family weekly food parcels. The 68 food parcels have reached 175 people (children and some adults) and have provided around 952 meals. We are hoping to continue reaching around 200 children a day (Monday to Friday) and plan to send out around 40 weekly family food parcels. We are also assisting children with healthcare issues and ensuring they are staying as healthy as possible. We are doing our very best in very uncertain times.
A HUGE thank you to every single person who has donated over this time, this would not be possible without your support. Please continue to share our stories and encourage friends and family to help if that is at all possible. We apologize for the delay in Thank You letters but as soon as we get a moment we will be sending those out. Please also let us know if you would like any additional information.
Stay safe, stay home and let’s beat this together.
April 1: Village Talk Newspaper featured Angels’ Care Centre’s Work
Feature from Village Talk’s Facebook Page
About 200 children are being given food parcels every day through Angels’ Care Centre in Howick during the National 21 day lockdown. Food parcels are also sent out to needy families twice a week. Most of these families and children come from Shiyabazali Informal Settlement. “We try to help as many vulnerable children and their families at this time of the pandemic,” said Georgina Purdon of Angel’s Care. The Centre has adhered to all Government Regulations during this time ensuring good levels of hygiene and social distancing, along with only a limited number of children entering the premises during lockdown to ensure that they are kept safe distances apart.
Since the closure of Schools, Angels’ Care reported yesterday (Day 5 of lockdown) that they had sent out more than 944 food parcels to children as well as 68 family food parcels which reached a further 175 people. “We hope to continue reaching 200 children a day and be able to send out 40 weekly food parcels to families,” said Purdon.
“We want to ensure that all children stay as physically and mentally healthy as possible and have access to care in times of crisis and possible abuse.” – Georgie Purdon
Angels’ Care also assists children with healthcare through their nursing sister and social worker.
April 4: One Week of Lockdown Update from Angels’ Care
Update from Georgie Purdon, via Angels’ Care’s Facebook Page
The first week of lockdown is complete.
Angels Care and our amazing staff have certainly learnt to be creative, change and adapt, while still keeping the children’s health and wellbeing as our priority.
A huge shout out to all the staff for their dedication and tireless determination to work on the “frontline” against all odds!!! We have distributed almost 1500 food parcels, in the informal settlement and from our Centre, to individual children and 95 weekly food parcels that will help sustain 250 people. We have also handed out clothing to children in desperate need as the days have been cold and attended to children that have been in need of some medical attention.
Thank you to EVERYONE who is helping us reach the most vulnerable in our community, we could not do this without you. A special thank you to WOOLWORTHS Howick, Southern Lodestar Foundation, Fairfield Dairy, Wonder Bag.
Please continue to support us if you can as we still have two weeks to go. We are desperate for underwear for children under the age of 7 as we cannot buy them at the moment. If you have any suggestions please let us know.
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How YOU Can Help:
Consider giving online to support the CUSP Foundation, where every dollar you give directly supports our partners in South Africa. Your generosity will have an important impact on the children our partners serve and their families during this uncertain time around the globe.
Visit our Online Giving page for options to support CUSP.
Thank you!