Miss Vicky's Children's Education Fund: January 2010

Mission Statement

The mission of Miss Vicky's Children's Education Fund is to finance the airfare from NYC to Cape Town, South Africa for at least one American teacher to donate his/her tutoring services each summer for several weeks to the children and mothers in Khayelitsha Township District "C" and to provide classroom instruction in the local public school to facilitate a learning environment focused on the improvement of overall literacy. Any additional funds raised will be used to establish a dedicated school library for "C" District. Eventually the hope is to provide each child with a school back pack filled with school supplies and their own reading book during the Holidays.

Friday, January 15, 2010

A Happy and Healthy New Year to All

Among our goals for 2010, the Board of Miss Vicky's Children's Education Fund hopes to fund the airfare for a teacher to visit Khayelitsha for the summer, following the success of Tanya's 2009 summer experience. We also hope to raise additional funds for school supplies and clothing.

The children of Khayelitsha live below the poverty level—many have never worn new clothes or undergarments. Every new school year, each student receives one pen or pencil, which is expected to last the academic year. The limited paper supply dictates the amount of notes a teacher can give to her class in a day.

These children live in shacks with limited access to electricity and running water. The government does not provide an adequate learning environment, school supplies, or current teaching materials. Unless these children are granted the opportunity to obtain a decent education, the poverty cycle of Khayelitsha will continue.

Please help by donating any amount you can. Even $5 makes a big difference and the donation is tax deductible.

The teachers at Council Rock's Welch Elementary and Richboro Middle Schools hold dress-down days to help with shipping costs. The parents at Childtowne Montessori Pre-School donated books, school bags and underwear. Any little bit helps.

This is an opportunity to impact some of the nearly 250,000 lives in Khayelitsha and alleviate the poverty in one South African community.

Donations can be sent to:
Miss Vicky's Children's Education Fund
c/o Debra Marra
411 Foxcroft Drive
Ivyland, PA 18974-1671

In advance, we so appreciate your financial help.

Tax ID: 26-4214949

Vusamanzi Primary School

Vuzamanzi Primary is in Site C in the Khayelitsha informal settlement. First established in 1985, the school has served the community as a community hall for meetings and a hiding place from police raids at the height of the apartheid era as well as a place to educate the youth. Over 75% of the parent community of Vuzamanzi Primary are unemployed and illiterate, many eeking out a living in the informal sector where they sell fruit and sweets at the taxi rank and station. Naturally, there is a high percentage of non-fee payment by these parents who simply cannot afford school fees and the school has now been identified as a pilot school for the no payment of school fees in the Western Province.