THE INNOCENCE OF A CHILD IS LOVE AND LIGHT
By Lesedi Masoko
South Africa still remains characterized by the unfortunate reality of inequality where many children are born into very marginalized backgrounds that are influenced by poverty. Many children in South Africa are in desperate need for social assistance that would aim to cover their basic needs that range from food accessibility, clothing, and access to educational equipment such as technology and textbooks.
“It is the community’s responsibility to address these very issues within our societies, to serve as helpers for children who are unfortunate,” says founder of Jabez-Foundation, Jo-Anne Jenneker. Taking a good look at our governmental leadership and the state of our economy, depending solely on the government to facilitate help will not guarantee success in transformative change. It is in the hands of our communities to take matters into their own hands and unite in the name of serving as a body of light to these children.
Jabez-Foundation is one in many NPC’s in Cape Town, that are committed to aid social help to marginalized children in various ways including, improving literacy rates by ensuring children in schools have textbooks and exercise books, curving the margin of food insecurity by providing food to children on the street and at various schools, and ultimately striving to make an impactful difference.
In addition to serving to improve societal circumstances, Jabez-foundation is also driven to promote education within the community through its ‘Fund-a-learner’ project and internship programmes offered to aspiring teachers, as they have partnered up with Northlink College in their Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes. Jabez- Foundation also offers computer skills development programmes for children and students are given the opportunity to serve as tutors at the organization. The future is bright for the organization as more educational courses are to be development in due course.
The Jabez-Foundation is still in its early and graceful developmental stages. Jo-Anne Jenneker envisions the organization, in the near future, to be a large foundation that is resourceful and impactful in supporting the journey of children in their educational development.
It is important that we take the responsibility to nurture our children and support them in ways that are necessary. Promoting education is just as important as ensuring that children have access to a nutritious diet.
For more information about the organization, please find Jabez-Foundation online at, Jabez Foundation or contact Jo-Anne Jenneker at 084 867 5110. Alternatively, to volunteer or to join the internship programe and other queries, email joanne@jabezfoundation.org.za