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