Archive for the ‘Africa My Bra’ Category

Meet Thobekile Mbanda from Red, Gold & Green Creche

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

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My name is Thobekile Mbanda I come from a place called Inchanga in Kwa Zulu Natal close to the valley of the Thousand Hills. I was raised by my grandparents Dhlokwakhe Mbanda who was a teacher and community builder (the pillar for people’s needs)and Valentine Dhlamini a nurse and also a community builder(working with woman in creative hand work a Nomphilo(life giver)for people with AIDS and very active in the church).So I grew up in the environment of care givers selfless lifestyle and we always had to cook in big pots because there was a constant flow of people which my gran made it a point they need to be fed.

So being exposed to that kind of life every community I live in I embrace as though as it was my own, which was what happened in Phillipi through my interactions with the people I got to learn what were there needs and desire and amongst the women I learned they needed some independence and a sustainable place for their children and that’s when Red Gold and Green Educare was born when I started the whole idea I was also greatly affected by the amount of young children not cared for roaming the streets aimlessly and all I wanted was to gather them all and give them love that they so need and also to take them to see places they haven’t yet seen.

I personally am not a teacher but every time I’m at the crèche and meeting kids who don’t go to RGG they always running up to me and giving me hugs and they call me teacher they warm my heart in the most.When I started the crèche I there were 15 women and now only for and through the years (3) I have realised the amount of attitude change the realisation that anything is possible and when TCD started helping us and build us a beautiful Wendy house the community the teachers and the children have come to embrace the beauty and pride the crèche has restored in the community, they have something that belongs to them something that they have worked towards, because amongst the shacks and all the mishaps of the area they have something that resembles beauty and hope for a better beautiful future.Sense of pride and ownership and to have such a beautiful structure and makes the surrounding homes want to be beautiful too cleanliness etc and that for me is pure success, for beauty is in the eyes of the be holder.

I now run my own restaurant in Observatory and the money that I make here a certain percentage goes towards the crèche so as to continue in our growth so at to maintain our mission:
Red Gold & Green embraces the different people who contribute towards this little nation in the making, called RED GOLD & GREEN We welcome the unity and humbleness created by the vibrancy of colors Red, Gold and Green and languages represented by RGG our school.

Better is the one that gives then the receiver.
Thobekile Mbanda.

Posted in Africa My Bra, Blomvlei Multi-Purpose Centre, Companies, Friends of the Trust, Individuals, News, Projects, Red Green and Gold Creche | No Comments »

Greetings from Bronwen Wetton, new Trust Manager

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

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I would like to introduce myself to the Friends of the Trust, some of you may already know me as I have been involved in the tourism industry for many years. I was born in Zimbabwe and grew up with a genuine love and passion for Africa which has never left me. I have, as a tour operator, travelled Southern Africa extensively. For the past four years I have worked on a part time basis with a social upliftment project in the townships in Cape Town which has given me great joy and a deep respect for these communities. The project also involved the tourism indusrty and I saw how the project changed many people’s lives from living in a shack to owning a home of their own.

I look forward to working together with the Trustees and the Friends of the Trust to continue the good work which has already been achieved by the TCD Trust and to see the reality of the dream for the new multi purpose centre at Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park.

I recently visited Blomvlei Primary School for the first time and met with the head mistress, Dawn Petersen. She proudly showed me around the school and the new sports flieds which were being laid, the first step towards the bigger picture of creating an enviroment for these children that they can be proud of and play in a safe area. We were there on a scorching hot day and the children were having their school assembly out in the school courtyard, Dawn said she could not wait for the day when they will have the centre open and the children won’t have to sit outside.

I hope to meet with many of you as soon as possible and look forward to working together.

Posted in Africa My Bra, Baphumelele Educare Centre, Blomvlei Multi-Purpose Centre, Chris Hani School, Clothing Collection, Companies, Friends of the Trust, Individuals, Masikule Home Creche, News, Projects, Respite Centre, Rosie's Soup Kitchen, Schools 4 Schools | No Comments »

TCDT appoints Trust Manager

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The Trustees of the TCDT are pleased to announce that they have appointed Bronwen Wetton as their Trust Manager to the TCDT.

Bronwen has been in the tourism industry for over 20 years and has, for the past four years, successfully coordinated projects involving the tourism industry and raising funds to build houses for shack dwellers living in the townships of the Western Cape.

With her passion for the upliftment of grassroute projects in South Africa and a vast knowldge and understanding of the tourism industry, Bronwen will continue to expand our Friends of the Trust and work with our various projects which the Trust supports.

The multi-purpose centre at Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park will be the focus of fund raising efforts and ensuring that the project continues to become a reality for this community.

We welcome Bronwen onboard and look forward to working together.

Posted in Africa My Bra, Baphumelele Educare Centre, Blomvlei Multi-Purpose Centre, Chris Hani School, Clothing Collection, Friends of the Trust, Masikule Home Creche, News, Respite Centre, Rosie's Soup Kitchen, Schools 4 Schools | No Comments »

Africa My Bra donates over R25,000 in 2005

Monday, November 27th, 2006

Africa My Bra is one of the trust’s longest standing and effective “friends of the trust”.

Offering job opportunities and a % of all sales to the trust, Africa My Bra has donated R25,195 in 2005 alone.

Many Thanks :)

Posted in Africa My Bra, Companies | No Comments »

“Africa My Bra” – Township Employment Project

Monday, November 27th, 2006

Read below about the township employment project. If you would like to order your Africa my Bra products please visit the Africa my Bra website at www.africamybra.com.

In South Africa “africa my bra” is slang for “Africa my brother” and “Africa shu” is slang for “Africa wow!” In this instance, obviously, “bra” is for brassiere and “shu” is for shoe.

“Africa my bra” and “Africa shu” are the names chosen for the unique beaded bra straps and barefoot shoes made by previously unemployed African women. The packaging is environmentally friendly, made from recycled brown paper and the colour of the name represents Our Rainbow Nation.

The idea originated when Dahlene Griffiths stopped smoking and needed a way to occupy her restless hands. Her clever designs soon became popular,
but demand was fast overtaking supply and when she expressed her dismay at this dilemma to a friend, Di Thomas, who happens to be a trustee of the TCDT, their two minds got ticking…

The Trust had been looking at ways to create employment and encourage entrepeneurship amongst women in the townships. Surely, with their strong tradition of beadwork, these women would be perfect “bra and shu” makers?

The plan was quickly put into action, beginning with the training of Lucy Susela, Di’s 2-day -a-week-char, who was desparately in need of further employment. She, in turn, trained and sub-contracted a group of women from her immediate community. These ladies are working from home, so they have no transport costs and no need for daycare for their children. There is no expense to the beaders. They are supplied with a needle, string, beads, hooks and the training to get started. Their creativity is endless and Dahlene has given them the freedom to be creative with the materials that she supplies. They are paid in cash on completion of each pair. As word of mouth spreads, the network grows. So far 16 women and one man are putting bread on the table, where before there was none. Some are still in training and many more will be trained!

Shu, it’s so exciting my bra!

     

 
         
     

The Trust helps to market the merchandise via the tourism network and in turn a portion of all sales – R10 per bra strap set and R5 per shu set, are donated to the trust to further benefit the community.

If you would like to purchase a pair for yourself or a friend, visit Africa my Bra website or contact Dahlene directly on 083-6288555.

Posted in Africa My Bra | No Comments »

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