Support a class of at-risk South African children

We hope that you and your family are safe, healthy and keeping calm during these difficult times. We are thinking of our kind YOUPSA friends all around the world, and wondering how you are feeling and what it is like where you live. We'd love to hear from you.

The area where YOUPSA operates is one of the major farming areas for the country, supplying citrus and vegetables nationally and for export. As this is an essential service, farm work continues as normal, although the country is in a national lock down. This means that most parents are out to work on the farm, while their children have to stay inside alone all day. Some children are lucky to have a gran to look after them. Most families have a very low level of literacy.

All the schools in this area are still closed for an uncertain period of time and offer no educational support at all. The children live on remote farms or small villages, with no access to the internet. Many families have a cell phone, but only few have smart phones. YOUPSA is the only roleplayer in the community providing them with ways to learn and be creative at home.

Through your kind support, we have been able to give beautiful storybooks and art materials to many children so that they can keep reading, be creative and have a source of comfort at home. Thank you!

By using WhatsApp and staying connected through phone calls, we provide the children daily with problem-solving, reading and writing activities, art, memorization and physical exercise challenges as well as educational games. We are also there just to chat and provide advice and mental support.

Here is a link for you to see one of the story books that we have sent to the children via WhatsApp, we think you'll really love it: https://bit.ly/3aFV6Aw

The children often say that they miss YOUPSA's programmes so much!

The Non-Profit Organizations in South Africa are not included in the Government Emergency Fund and like many sectors face a very challenging and unpredictable time. Right now we're doing everything possible to sustain daily operations and provide services to our community. Now, more than ever, our community needs us. And we need you.

If you are able, please make a donation to our program. If you are unable to donate at this time, there are many other ways you can support us! For example it would mean the world to us if you can advocate for us by sharing our mission with a family member, friend or colleague. Even a quick mention on your social media would help others become aware of the work that we do. They might even want to support us.

Thank you for being a friend to the children here, and sending you our very best wishes and warm regards.

The YOUPSA Team

Dear Friend of YOUPSA,

we wish you a very Happy 2020, may you experience much joy and fulfillment! Thank you for supporting YOUPSA in 2019. Your kind help greatly uplifts the daily lives of our rural children.

The new year has started with a good foundation from 2019. Here in South Africa the new school year begins in January, and schools are opening this week. During the holiday time we met with groups of children in their homes to read together and discuss what we have read.

Here is some news from since you last heard from us. YOUPSA's Grade 5 kids requested to be in the newspaper to let people know what they have to say. Three newspapers picked up their story - 'The Herald', 'Our Times' and the 'Kouga Express'.

Here are some excerpts:
Ronaldo Mandeka said: "We so love the stories in the books we read together because we learn many things and they are fun. The books 'Night Becomes Day' (by Richard McGuire), 'Whistle for Willie' (by Ezra Jack Keats), 'A Beautiful Day' (by Elana Bregin) and 'Die Seekoei Wat Gelukkig Was' (by Rachel Elliot) were some of our favorites this year."
George McGuire said: "We like to think about the stories and the things they teach us."
Lorenzo Blou said: "In our school there is no reading for pleasure, only text books."
Theoline George said: "Some of us are concerned that many of our friends in the school still cannot read and we are trying to help them. Reading makes people happy!"
The children experience daily challenges, both at home and at school. Here are some of the things they said that are worrying them:
Cedric Booysen said: "We worry about others bullying us at school, there is a lot of bullying among children."
Ronaldo Mandeka said: "I am worried about being threatened" and "I am scared to break a window and receive punishment."
Gaudencia Taisepi said: "At home there is fighting and I am worried to get a beating. It is not peaceful in our area."
About YOUPSA's presence at their school:
George McGuire said: "We feel happy and excited when we see YOUPSA because we learn so many new things with them every time. We love that."
Rockzan Schoeman said: "YOUPSA teaches us how to work together, like a team."
Roseline van Rooyen said: "We learn that maths can be fun, they make it easy" and "We really enjoy when they do art with us."
Christopher Joka said: "They care about every one of us."

YOUPSA's programmes are successful because children actively participate in the learning process and feel safe and supported. We have been with this Grade 5 group since the beginning of their Grade 4 year. They are a very special bunch of kids with bright minds and warm hearts. These kids so value when taken seriously and being heard. Read one of the 3 newspaper articles HERE

YOUPSA presents at the Volkswagen Literacy Conference

YOUPSA was represented at the Volkswagen Community Trust Literacy Conference. Co-founder Alexis Salaman gave a wonderful presentation on 'Literacy and Creative Learning in the Rural Context'. People really appreciated hearing about our literacy development innovations with rural children.
Volkswagen organized a very meaningful and enjoyable event. We were grateful to be part of a group of engaged people who are invested in bringing the love of reading to the children of our country.

Please consider continuing to support our Creative Youth Empowerment programs in 2020!

We'd love to hear from you.
With warm regards,

the YOUPSA Team