Donations to One Life

Last month, January, I received an unexpected Pay Pal donation of £100 from John Neighbour who is the son of John neighbour who sponsors two of our children in South Africa for their educational needs.

Also in January i received a £60 donation from Michael Crompton who is a new child sponsor.

My grateful thanks got to John and Michael. We need all the support we can get and their money help the needs of the children enormously..

A donation for the New Year 2012

Today 17th January 2012 I have just received a cheque for £200. My next door neighbour and fellow trustee Debbie Pipe and her friend Anita held a New Year's Eve dance down in St Anne's church hall.

Half of the £400 profit came to my charity one Life and half has gone to Haven House, a very worthwhile charity.

My grateful thanks got to Debbie and Anita who for the last few years have held this New Year's Eve dance and donated half of the profits to One Life.

Computer contact with South Africa

At last after seven long months the computer in South Africa, for my contact with Nancy and Khanya, is up and running with just one minor problem, the scanner is playing up but hopefully will be sorted out today, January 15th.

Khanya is very excited to have this contact again and so am I as I have been waiting for such a long time for receipts, photos , information and queries.

The people who sponsor the children have been really patient so hopefully now I can catch up with the backlog of paperwork and photos needed and bring the charity up to date.

Donation to One Life

Today, 11th January 2012, my fellow trustee, Jean Spinks, gave me £100 for One life which she raised by selling her hand made greeting cards.

We so badly need donations at the moment so I am very grateful to Jean for all her hard work and support.

Result of Sponsored Walk.

The Sponsored Walk held on Saturday 17th September has raised approx £2,995, a wonderful amount.

A good half of that amount was raised by a Dr and Mrs Patel of Sidcup Kent and I am very grateful to them for so enthusiastically and caringly collecting such an amazing amount of money for One Life.

Their son, Dr Sanjay Patel and his wife Samantha were in South Africa at the same time as myself a couple of years ago and they met Nancy and Khanya and the children of the township who One Life supports.

They know very well of the difficult lives the children and their carers lead and they are in full support of the work which Nancy and Khanya do.

Result of Auction/pledge/Supper Fund Raise event

On Saturday evening, October 15th the Auction/Pledges/ Supper/Fund Raise event was held in St Anne's church hall.

The evening was wonderful and finished around 10-30pm due to the time it took to work through all the many pledges and goods received in order to make this such a successful event.

Approx £2,000 was raised and this is to be shared between St Anne's parish Church and my charity One Life.

I am very grateful to all who took part in supporting this event and particularly to the organisers and the helpers who through their hard work made this such an enjoyable and worthwhile evening.

Charity/Pledge Auction/Supper

On Saturday, 15th October, a Charity/Pledge Auction will be held in St Anne's Church hall. Entry is £10 per head and includes a hot supper. A raffle will also be held.

You are requested to bring along goods in great order to auction or something new to raffle.

The evening should draw to a close around 9-30pm.

Update on Nancy

I am in constant contact with Khanya (Nancy's daughter). Yesterday 21st September Nancy went for the results of a biopsy on her spine, where the tumour was.

At the moment she is clear of the cancer but is suffering from chronic kidney failure, the result of diabetes. She may have to go on dialysis in the near future. Also, because of pressure on her spinal discs, for the present moment, she is still in a wheelchair but hopefully this is not a permanent situation.,

Nancy is now on insulin instead of just tablets and for the first time in a long time her sugar levels have settled down. Nevertheless she is not a well lady and we need to keep her in our thoughts and prayers.

Update on Sponsored Walk

The sponsored walk held last Saturday September 17th went well. The weather was very kind to us and we managed to have a lunch break sitting in deckchairs in the sun.

The donations always take a while to be collected up and sent to me but I did have a phone call from a Mr Patel and his wife who joined the walk, to say that already he had collected £1,000 and it is possible that he may collect as much as £500 more.

This was such a wonderful surprise and filled me with gratitude as right now the needs in Africa are many especially funding for food and also I wanted to send funding again this year for Nancy to hold a small Christmas party for the children. They get so little that this, for them, is the highlight of the year.

Also since the rand to pound exchange has dropped so much, each year there is not enough money to buy the school stationary which the children need. I try and send extra to cover this but this year I am short of funding but now, thanks to Mr and Mrs Patel and the generosity of the people who have sponsored them I will be able to provide the money.

I am very grateful to all the new people who joined us on the walk this year and to the people who continue to do so year after year.

One Life Annual Sponsored Walk.

The yearly sponsored walk will be held on Saturday 17th September.

We will meet between 10-30am and 10-45am at the coffee shop in Trafalgar Square and at around 11am walk to St James Park where we will do four laps of the park with a lunch break after two laps.

If you are interested in joining the walk and for more information contact Elena at elena@onelife-online.org.uk or phone on Tel No. 020 8926 2431.

Further news from Africa

When Khanya emailed today, August 6th, about her mum Nancy, she also told me about the young boy in Africa, fighting for his life due to a tree crashing down on the shack he lives in, killing his young brother and leaving him fighting for his life with terrible head injuries. He has had an operation on his head and so far appears to be doing well.

Please also keep this young boy in your thoughts and prayers.

We so badly need funding in order to strengthen all the shacks in order to prevent more of these terrible accidents which happen all too frequently.

Heavy rains and winds destroy so many of these fragile homes. Fires are caused due to candles being knocked over due to the lack of electricity or by fires being brought inside when the weather is too bad outside to cook food. It is going to take a long time, and much money to sort out many of these ongoing problems.

More news from Africa

Today, August 6th, I heard from Khanya in South Africa.

Her mum Nancy has had her operation, a few days ago, for the lump on her spine. It was a tumour and had been pressing on the spinal discs (hence the severe pain which Nancy was in) and sadly has damaged some of the discs. Because of this it is thought that Nancy will now have to spend up to a year in a wheelchair.

Within the next couple of days I will be sending funding to Africa so that Nancy can purchase the much needed wheelchair.

Nancy will continue with the work with the children as she will have the support of her daughter Khanya, her husband and her son plus the invaluable help of two volunteers.

Please keep Nancy in your thoughts and prayers.

News from Africa

Today,1st August, I heard from Khanya who is still trying to recover from a lung infection following pneumonia.

Nancy too is unwell and has been for over a month now with kidneys problems related to diabetes and a very high blood sugar count which will not come down. Tomorrow, August 2nd, she is having an operation to remove a lump from her back. the lump came after an injection and Nancy is in terrible pain.

It seems so unfair that Nancy and Khanya, who spend their lives helping the children in need have themselves to undergo so much sickness and suffering.

Khanya went on to tell me that they had terrible snow storms and gales last week and a tree came crashing down onto one of the shacks, killing a small boy and badly injuring his young brother who is now in hospital fighting for his life.

Please let us keep this family, all the other children and carers and, of course, Nancy and Khanya in your prayers.

One more donation and Appeal update.

Today, July 10th, whilst down at St Anne's Church, I received a £25 Appeal donation from Mrs E Eley, one of the parishioners. My sincere thanks go to her.

To date, the results of the appeal have risen to £6,111, an amazing amount. The majority of this is now on its way to Africa and will be such a wonderful support for Nancy and the children.

A Very Unexpected Donation

Yesterday evening, 9th July, an envelope was put through my door. When I opened it I found a letter and a cheque for £5,000.

I honestly felt like I had received an electric shock, that was how my body reacted on seeing this cheque and the vast amount of money it represented.

The letter stated that firstly the donor wished to remain anonymous and secondly that the donor would like me to consider using the funding in two ways, 1). towards college fees for a young person who was greatly motivated and so would greatly benefit from this opportunity and 2). that what was left of the funding would help towards improving infrastructure and communications with the UK and also that it should be used for the basic necessities needed eg goods that Nancy could purchase in bulk saving a vast amount of money in the long run.

The donor was also very happy that some of the funding would be used to pay for the young Down's Syndrome child's next year in the residential special school, whose funding was paid for for this year by my charity One Life.

After having such a wonderful response to the appeal, to receive such a vast donation was the last thing I expected to happen and the possibility of having an opportunity to again place a young person in college is something I thought would never happen again.

I feel truly grateful to the person who has made this happen but I do find it extremely difficult to express in words how I feel and a "thank you" seems so inadequate but are the only words I can find to use, so from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of Nancy and the children "Thank you so very much"

Two large unexpected appeal donations

On the 6th July I received two, large unexpected donations in response to the appeal.

Nick Carroll of Hertfordshire transferred a wonderful £500 in to the charity account and a Mrs E V Veckranges of Walthamstow, East London donated, by cheque, a further £500.

After the appeal reached an amazing £5,000, I thought that was the end of donations coming in and I was delighted with the results of the appeal so when this last £1,000 arrived I was shocked and delighted as funding is needed so much and now we can make a big difference to the children and the difficulties in their lives.

Nancy and the children, at the moment, are solely dependent on my charity for all their needs, ie education, food, shack repairs, blankets, medication etc so the need for funding is never ending.

I am full of gratitude to all who have given so generously for the children and their needs and today the 7th July, the final donations have been transferred to the bank account in Africa.

Two more donations for the appeal

Today, July 4th, I have received two more donations for the Africa Appeal.

I have received £50 from Niki Gregory of Birmingham and £500 from Nick Carroll of Hertfordshire.

I am delighted that responses to the appeal are still happening, that funding is still trickling in and I am so grateful to everyone for their caring and generosity. The response has been wonderful and is already doing so much good.

We are now in a position to send extra money to South Africa which enables Nancy to help the small boy needing spectacles and the girl who needs a deposit for a wheelchair and for the many other needs which arise almost daily.

It just feels miraculous that the response to the appeal has brought in so much money.

My thanks go to all who have responded in such a caring and generous way.

Two Appeal Donations

Today the 12th June, whilst attending the morning service in St Anne's parish Church, I received a cheque for £25 from Margot Ilsley, one of the parishioners, and Valerie Black, another parishioner, pledged £100 for the Appeal.

I cannot believe that money is still coming in. This is wonderful and is helping the orphans so very much.

Appeal Update

The appeal money is still coming in and the total from today the 9th of June has now risen to a magnificent £4910 with a little more to come at the end of the month.

This is so far beyond anything I could have expected and is going to make such an amazing difference to the children's well being. There will be enough funding for food for about four months, maybe more, and many shacks can now now be repaired or rebuilt.

This is truly wonderful and I am so grateful to everyone who made this miracle come about.

Appeal donations still arriving.

Today 9th June, I received an email from Ms Emily Tomalin to say she is transferring another £1000 into the One life account for the South Africa appeal. This donation is from both Emily and her husband David.

I am overwhelmed at their generosity. The first £1,000 came as a wonderful surprise and now to receive another £1,000 from the same people is amazing.

I also received today a cheque for £25 from a Ms M Raymond and my grateful thanks go to her too.

Four weeks ago I was so worried about Nancy and the children my charity helps and now we are able to send funding for over four months of food and enough to repair or rebuild many of the broken down shacks and mud huts.

This is indeed wonderful and I am very grateful to all who have responded to the appeal.

Another Donation for the Appeal.

On the 6th June Caron Keeley transferred into the the One Life bank account the sum of £110. This donation is for the appeal bringing the amount so far to an amazing £3,810 with a little more to come at the end of the month.

Caron emailed me and told me that this donation has come about due to an endowment policy. £10 of the the donation was given by Caron's son Stefan, aged 10 years, from his pocket money. Even as a much younger child Stefan has been interested in One Life and in the past has questioned me about it and enquired as to how the charity was progressing. This was done with a maturity and insight far beyond his young years.

Stefan is a very special young boy who raises money for One Life at school and also by joining the annual sponsored walks.

Thank you both, so very much, Caron and Stefan. It is wonderful to have the support of you both.

More funds to South Africa

Tomorrow,8th June, £1,500 is being transferred to South Africa. the majority of this is for the much needed repairs and rebuilding of the shacks and mud huts so badly damaged in the latest bouts of flooding.

Many of our children are quite unwell due to the Aids Virus and their carers are mostly aged grandparents or older siblings or just occassionally a living parent. Sadly these parents are mostly terminally ill. To live without electricity and running water, to be with out adequate clothing, bedding and sometimes food, makes life extremely depressing and difficult.

Thanks to the wonderful results of the appeal we now can make the shacks and huts safe and dry and help to make these difficult lives more bearable.

Appeal Update

To date, 8th June, following the latest appeal, £3,810 has been received by the charity

My grateful thanks to all who have given so generously.

A large amount of this money has already reached South Africa and more is being transferred tomorrow. This last amount being for shack and mud hut repair, so badly needed by our children and their carers.

What a difference this will make to the lives of the children.

An Appeal Donation

Today, 7th June, Jean Spinks gave me the sum of £110 for the appeal. This was raised by Jean selling her hand-made greeting cards and also included some money donated for the appeal by associates of Jean.

My grateful thanks go to her for her ongoing support and for continuing to make and sell her lovely cards in order to raise funds for One Life.

One More Surprise Appeal Donation

Today, 6th June, I received a very unexpected donation of £100. This, after the recent donation of £1,000 felt like another wonderful miracle. A lady called Joan Maharaj of Chingford brought this money to my house this morning. She told me she always used to work with children, being a speech therapist and whilst living overseas was involved with orphans and street children.

I was talking with Nancy in South Africa yesterday evening and she told me how one little boy's carer had been to see her and asked if she could give her the money to buy the little lads glasses which he desperately needs. Nancy had to say no as she hasn't got any money with which to help the child. Today the unexpected donation of £100 arrived -indeed another miracle, and now the little boy can have his glasses.

My grateful thanks go to Joan for reading the latest newsletter and being moved by what she read and then doing something wonderful to help.

My little charity is indeed blessed.

ARV Drugs and other necessary drugs no longer imported in to S Africa.

Today, 5th June, I was talking by phone with Nancy in South Africa and also to Khanya, her daughter. They told me that the all important, life saving Anti Retro-Viral drugs are no longer imported into the country.

This is having a devastating effect on our children who rely on being able to take these drugs on a daily basis, for their very survival. One of our young teenagers is terminally ill with the AIDS Virus and is in immense pain and is suffering greatly and there is nothing we can do.

The drugs she needs are no longer available and any others are £90 per month for life. This family consisting of an aged grandmother and 13 children have no income and neither Nancy nor I are in a position to help.

It is heartbreaking to think of the suffering of these innocent children. I feel so helpless at being unable to help more.

Nancy, herself, is in terrible pain with her legs and feet and is once again using crutches to enable her to walk. She is terrified of going back into a wheelchair. The drugs she was prescribed were helping then suddenly as with the Anti Retro-Viral drugs they are no longer imported into the country.

Her next appointment with a specialist is not until September and she has been told there is absolutely no chance of getting an earlier appointment. So, in the meantime, she has to continue to suffer and at the same time see to the needs of all the children who depend on her on a daily basis.

More Funds to Africa

On Wednesday the 8th June, £1,500 will be sent out to Nancy in South Africa. This is specifically for shack and mud hut repair.

I spoke to Nancy this morning, 6th June, and she said that with the last lot of money sent out they had attempted to patch up the worst huts but as soon as one side was done the other collapsed.

What was needed was for the inside walls to be cemented then this will hold everything together and make the huts far more sturdy and more able to withstand the storms. Now, because of yesterdays unexpected donation of £1,000 this work can be done.

Nancy was overwhelmed with joy and very relieved to know we are now in a position to repair quite a number of the shacks in this way.

Once again, my sincere thanks go to the person who made this very generous donation to the charity and made this repair work possible.

A Wonderful Donation for the Appeal

Today, 4th June, I received a phone call to say I have two cheques to come for the amazing sum of £1,000 each. These generous donations have been given by Emily and David Tomalin of Cookham and it is part of money inherited from Emily's grandparents Kath and Emile Delavenay who, all their lives, were concerned about social justice.

This has come at a time when the need for shack and mud hut repair is so necessary.

From January this year and several times last year, unexpected and unseasonal storms and floods totally devastated many shacks and badly damaged others.

It is the beginning of winter now and for our children and their carers the state of the shacks combined with the lack of even the basic facilities for life is making day to day existence abysmal. Imagine living without electricity, running water, warmth, sufficient food, lack of adequate bedding etc and you can get a feeling what their lives are like.

Most of the funding from the appeal has gone to Africa for food with just a small amount for shack repair but now, with this wonderful donation, we can make an enormous difference, by making the shacks safe and waterproof.

It is unexpected donations like this that fill me with wonderment. When I feel helpless and don't know where to turn next and then this happens I feel overawed and full of gratitude.

My heartfelt thanks go to Emily and David, what a difference there donation will shortly be making to the homes of our children.

My thanks also go to all who responded to the appeal and everyone else who sponsor the children, donate or fund raise for One Life.

What a privilege to see, that with your help, One Life is able to help these children who live so many thousands of miles away but who I feel so very close to, so once again, thank you all so very much.

Update of Appeal

To date, 2nd June, just over £2,500 has come into the charity, from the appeal, with just a little more promised at a later date.

This is a wonderful and unexpected amount and I am so grateful to everyone who was able to respond to the appeal.

It is hard to imagine living in a broken down shack or mud hut without electricity and water on tap. We all know that being cold can be depressing if it carries on too long but for our children and their carers this is everyday life in the wintertime with no chance of a warm drink or a hot bath and many people still cook in one black pot on an outside fire. It doesn't bear thinking about and yet I cannot stop thinking about it.

We need, at the very least, another £700 to £1000 to make any real impact on the amount of homes which need repair. How to get that money, right now, I just do not know. I just continue to hope and pray that we have a minor miracle shortly, before the African winter really takes its grip on our families and causes more sickness and hardship.

Newsletter for June 2011 now available

The latest newsletter can be viewed downloaded from the link below.

Newsletter for June 2011

Sad news from South Africa

This afternoon, 15th May, I received a text from Nancy and Khanya in South Africa to say that Sr Emmanuel passed away suddenly this afternoon at 4-30pm. I have know Sr Emmanuel for 40 years and she was such an individual, liking to horse ride and even camel ride, swing in a hammock and doing many other things which perhaps you cannot imagine that a nun would do. Sr Emmanuel had a great love of God and a total trust in God, in fact everything she did she did in God's name, even her sense of love of life was all ultimately for God. She gave a lot of herself and near where she stayed she was fondly known as "God's own beggar" the reason being she was always asking for things to help the Africans in need. She was also called the Mother Theresa of Empangeni, the town where she stayed with other nuns in a small convent. Part of her life was spent as a teacher and she had a great love of children and she spent her last couple of years, when partially disabled, sitting on a bench and talking to school children and their parents as they passed her on their way into school in the mornings. She had a little dog, one of many over the years, and she and this dog as with all the other dogs, were devoted to each other. She wrote poetry, even had a book of poems published, loved cappuccinos, was very sociable and most of all she was full of stories and loved talking and sharing her stories with anyone who had the time to sit and listen to her.She was an unforgettable character who I know will be greatly missed.
A few months ago she had to be transferred to stay in Pietermaritzburg where she could be looked after by younger and healthier nuns. It is beautiful there, I visited in the year 2000. She was unable to take her little dog with her and she missed him dreadfully as he did her. She also missed the sisters and she greatly missed all the children she so loved to talk to each morning. She was happy and settled well in Pietermaritzburg but dreamed of being strong enough to return to her little dog and the children in Empangeni but that could never have happened as her spine had crumbled, she was in a wheel chair and also in great pain much of the time.
In the early days of my charity, while her health allowed her to, she was very much connected to my charity One Life, in fact it was Sr Emmanuel who first introduced me to Nancy in the year 2000, my first trip back to South Africa after 30 years. She has helped Nancy and the children and countless other Africans so very much and will never be forgotten.

Whatever your faith or religion, do give a thought for Sr Emmanuel who died today, who filled her life with love and dedication to the God she so believed in. I am happy for her as she always said she would be happy to go from this earth when her time came, in fact, looking forward to it and I guess that is the gift of her faith and she surely had that.

This really is a tribute to a great lady who I, personally, will miss and is why I am left here today with this great sense of loss.

Funds to Africa

On Tuesday the 17th May £1,800 is being transferred into the account in Africa.

£1,500 is for food and transport and will ensure that everyone has food and the ability to collect their ARV drugs and other medication from the hospital for the next three to four months.

The other £300 is to be used for repairs to the worst damaged shacks and mud huts.
It is raining most days and cold and with out electricity and running water, life is very difficult for many children and their carers.

The remaining money from the appeal has been put to one side in case of unexpected emergencies cropping up which inevitably do from time to time. So the appeal money, upon arrival into the account in Africa, will be well spent and has put my mind and Nancys at rest for a little while.

More Charity Appeal results

The donations to the Appeal have continued and have raised to date, 14th May, an amazing £2,300 approximately.

I never dreamed we could possibly raise such a vast amount and this feels like a small miracle and has insured that Nancy and the children have food and transport to hospital for the next three to four months.

This is indeed wonderful and Nancy is so grateful. I spoke to her only this morning on the phone and she said she and all the children are totally reliant on One Life for everything they need.

We would really benefit from another £1000 as many of the mud huts and shacks are badly in need of repair or rebuilding due to the terrible floods they have endured since January this year.
Now, we really do need another miracle in order to help in this area although a small amount of the appeal money is going to repair the very worst shacks.

Again,my grateful thanks to everyone who responded to the appeal and I would like everyone to realise that their support has truly been life saving.

Result of Appeal

Up until today, May 5th, the appeal I sent out for help for the orphans we sponsor has had a really good response and has raised for the charity approx £1,500.

I am delighted and very relieved at this wonderful response and very grateful to all who responded so generously and quickly. Thank you all so very much. At least we know now that Nancy and the children who she cares about and feeds twice a day, are assured of food for the next two to three months.

Eventually, when I know for sure, I will post on the website, the exact amount raised.

An Appeal for Funding

Today, 1st May I sent out this appeal by email and post.

To all supporters of One Life and the orphans of Kwazulu, South Africa.

Last Year I sent out an appeal to people with email access and was extremely relieved and grateful for the wonderful response I received. This year I am again asking for help but this time from everyone connected to my charity One Life.

Life in Africa for Nancy and children does not get any easier and to make matters worse they have been without electricity for one month now. We lost all the frozen and cold food stuff that was being held for the many children who come to Nancy for food twice a day, winter is upon them and cold food is all that Nancy can supply until the electricity is sorted out.

Since the problems with corruption and the loss of The Thandukuphila Centre Nancy has been functioning from a large double garage kitted out by One Life and she and the children have been totally dependent on One Life for the monetary support they need for the food they eat. Right now there is very little funding left in the charity as the all demanding needs in Africa have been so great and Nancy and the children are in danger of running out of food quite soon. I have sent all the money I can send and am really worried about what will happen when the food does indeed run out.

If any of you are financially able I really do need your support right now. If you could donate just a few pounds that would be wonderful and would make such a difference to Nancy and the children. I cannot even help with shack repair at the moment as any funding I have goes to feed the children. As I said earlier, winter has come early this year for the children, Nancy says they are all so very cold. Many of the children live in broken down leaky shacks and not being able to help repair them is very difficult and worrying as many of the children and their carers are in bad health. Food, though, has to be a priority.

If you have any questions please do contact me by email or phone and I will be delighted to talk with you and answer any questions you may have.

Do help if you can, I really do need all the help you can give me so that I can keep Nancy and the children as healthy as possible.

It is not easy asking for money but I just don't know what else to do. I realise some of you will not be in a position to help and that is fine and I would not expect you to but for those of you who can, no amount is too small and added to other small amounts can be life saving.

Thank you all for the support you already give me.
With Warm regards
Elena.

A Donation from Larkswood Primary School

Today, 13the April, I received a cheque for £105 from Larkswood Primary School here in Chingford.

This money was raised from the sale of tickets for the Year 3 production of "Glint of Gold".

My grateful thanks go to Larkswood Primary School for their support. Funding is needed so much and will make a big difference to the children we are helping in South Africa.

Surprise donation to One life

Yesterday,3rd April, I received an unexpected and very welcome donation of £300 for the charity. This money was donated by Jenny Harwood a member of St Anne's Parish Church, Chingford.

Jenny specifically asked that this money be used to cover the postal charges incurred due to the many goods we send out to South Africa on a fairly regular basis.

Always, when posting goods out to South Africa, is the worry of running out of money to continue doing this. Many of the goods sent are donated except for the torches and radios so the main expense is with the postage so Jenny's unexpected donation came as such a welcome surprise.

I have been posting out quite a lot of parcels lately as the wind up torches are urgently needed in the attempt to prevent more shack fires due to the frequent use of candles.
Bras are also needed and various other goods.

My grateful thanks go to Jenny for this wonderful amount of money. Whenever I worry about lack of funding something tends to crop up to help us out and I am always touched when this happens.and give thanks for the many unexpected acts of kindness and caring which frequently come to the charity.

Funds to South Africa

Today, 3rd March, I have just transferred money out to South Africa. Some of the funding is for the purchase of an all important scanner for the computer then, hopefully, after a very long time, we will be all set up again to resume emailing, receiving receipts and other documents and photos of the children.

It has been a very difficult and frustrating few months trying to run the charity properly without this form of communication.

We are lucky now as Khanya is in contact with a technician at Zululand University who said he will give us all the help we may need with the computer in the future, free of charge, as he was brought up in an orphanage then later was helped from a project just like Nancy's so he understands how important it is to be able to have the computer connecting myself with the project in Africa. So if, in the future, any problems arise with the computer, we have only to contact him and he will come and help us. I am so grateful to this man for his caring and kindness and having his help will make so much difference to both myself and Khanya.

Other money is to be used to replace the Anti Retro-viral drugs which were stolen from the homes of the children and other money is for the wholesale purchase of sanitary towels etc for the girls.

In the creche is a five year old girl called Ziyanda. With supportive funding she will be able to go to a residential home where she will be taught skills in order to develop to her full potential and, hopefully, one day be able to live, with some support, an independent life.

I felt that this would be a very worthwhile way to use some of the funding. Also, this will give her young mum of 18 the opportunity to resume her education as since she was raped at the age of twelve and gave birth to this little Down's Syndrome girl, she has been unable to go to school. Also at the age of twelve both her parents died leaving her totally responsible for her four very young siblings.

This girl is so excited to have his opportunity of finishing her education and I am very happy that by helping the little girl we are also enhancing the life of her young mother and that of her mother's siblings.

A change of name for the Thandukuphila centre

I heard from South Africa today, that because we are no longer based in the Thandukuphila Centre, but are now functioning from a double garage, our new official name is the Sinikithemba Care Centre.

I am hoping to find out the meaning of the word Sinikithemba and when I do this will be published here on the website.

Bad News From South Africa

On the 26th of February I received a text then an email from Khanya telling me that she had been mugged at gunpoint, by two men, outside the hospital where she and and a little boy who Nancy cares for had gone to collect his all important Anti Retro-viral drugs for his HIV condition.

The men took the drugs and Khanya's bus fare home. She went back into the hospital but they said as the mugging took place outside their premises they could not help and the police said that as this happens frequently there was nothing they could do either and were not helpful at all.

Khanya went on to tell me that six of the children who are sponsored by people here in England have had their shacks broken into and their Anti Retro-viral drugs stolen.

The hospital will not replace the stolen drugs because of the amount which are regularly stolen and the expense of the drugs.

Nancy told me that to replace the drugs costs £70 per child per month and of course she has not got the money to do that but the children must not miss a single dose of the drug as it is life saving so she was extremely worried.

I am very shortly sending money to Nancy so she will be able to replace the drugs for the children and she is hoping to arrange to keep the drugs in her house rather than in the broken down shacks which are so easy to break in to and she will give the drugs to the children each day.

Life for Nancy and the children is full of difficulties and Nancy says the children live in constant fear of break-ins, floods and fires. It seems so wrong that little children should be so frightened on a daily basis.

Gift Aid Tax Return

Today, 23rd February 2011, I received notification of this year's Gift Aid Claim for the year 2010.

This year the tax return comes to £4,639.47 which is approximately £800 more than last year and a wonderful amount for my small charity.

This money will be put to very good use with some of it being used for the all important shack repair, some for basic essentials and some I will put aside for goods and postage to Africa. I also will keep some money back for any emergencies which may crop up in the future.

I am very grateful for all the people who fill in the Gift Aid Forms., This money really does make a difference to what One Life endeavors to do.

A Donation with a difference

On Sunday, 6th, February, Jayne Harrill who sponsors three of our children, came to my house with a donation of £100.

Jayne and several local friends had got together through their love of singing and made a CD which they are selling for £5. Of this, £3 covers the cost of making the CD and the other two pounds is to be split between my charity and another local charity.

What a wonderful thing to do and i was very touched when Jayne brought me the £100 and a copy of the CD.

The CD is called The Rose and Crown Singers and has songs on it like Bridge over troubled waters and similar. It is a very enjoyable and delightful CD and worth buying.

If anyone is interested in purchasing this CD please contact me, see Contact Details under About One Life on the right hand side.

Donations to One Life

Yesterday, 29th January, I met up with friends in Covent garden. Whilst there my friend Hazel donated thirty pounds to the charity and Jean gave me forty pounds.

All donations are so badly needed and this money will go out to Africa
with other donated money and the gift aid return as soon as the latter is received.

I am hoping that apart from the money sent for food, medication and bills that we may have enough to repair some of the worst shacks which have been badly damaged due to the latest bout of flooding.

All donations are received with gratitude and my sincere thanks go to both Jean and Hazel for their continuing support.

A donation for Nancy's medication.

Today, 24th January, I received a phone call from a friend of mine who wishes to remain anonymous. She has transferred £1,200 into the One Life account and this money is to be used solely for Nancy's medication which costs an unbelievable £150 per month which, of course, Nancy does not have so she pays a little on account each month building up a large debt.

Because the medicine is so expensive, Nancy cannot afford to take the full dosage and all too frequently suffers the results of this by becoming very poorly.

One Life will shortly be receiving their annual Gift Aid Return and some of this money will also go to help with Nancy's medication, leaving Nancy able to take the full daily dosage prescribed and also leaving her free of this medical debt she has built up.

Hopefully, with the extra funding shortly being sent, she will start to take the full dosage and feel much better. Without her I do not know how the children would cope or indeed if One Life would be able to continue. We all need Nancy to be well, for her own sake, but also for all the children in her care.

My most grateful thanks go to this friend of mine for her continuous caring and support of Nancy and the children in South Africa. Her donation will be life extending for Nancy, who in the past almost lost a foot due to the diabetes and twice became so poorly it was questionable as to whether she would survive.

Flooding in Africa

Yesterday, 18th January, I was talking with Khanya (Nancy's daughter) in South Africa.She told me that although it is extremely hot there, there is constant rain and once again much flood damage.

This is terrible news as many of the shacks are down again and the people are trying to rebuild and also repair them with mud and stones. it is so hard to envisage that in this century people are still living like this with less than the basic necessities for life. Even the schools have been affected and many are closed this week as the teachers try to bail out all the water.

I cannot really imagine what it must be like and it seems that there is world flooding right now with Australia, Brazil and even our own country being affected.

I cannot help everyone but shortly I will be receiving Gift Aid Tax Relief, so some of that together with the money raised last Saturday evening at the Fund Raise Event, will go towards helping with shack repair along with the purchase of food and medication etc.

I just hope and pray that donations keep coming in so that when emergencies like this arise we are in a position to help, even if it is just in a small way.

A New Year's Eve Dance Donation

Today,17th January, I received a cheque for £380. This donation came from Annette Cowell and Debbie Pipe and is the profit made from a New Year's Eve dance which they held down in St Anne's church hall.

This is a wonderful amount and I am very grateful to both Annette and Debbie for their hard work involved in this event and for donating the profits to One Life.

A Pay Pal Donation to One Life

Today, 16th January, I received notification of a Pay Pal donation, to One Life, of £25.

This came from a new supporter to the charity who wishes to remain anonymous. I was contacted by email during this last week and this lady has shown an interest in continuing to support us again in the future.

It is wonderful and reassuring for the charity to receive supporters like this and my appreciation goes to her for her caring action and the interest she has show in the charity.

Wonderful Fund Raise result.

Yesterday evening,15th January 2011, our Fund Raise event held in St Anne's Church hall, in aid of One Life, raised a wonderful £1,020 for the charity.

This was an unexpected and exceptional amount which resulted from a very enjoyable evening with the very talented Cantando Chorale, a three course meal, raffle and small sale of goods.

My most grateful thanks go to Penny and David Rolfe for their hard work in organising this event and also to their son Stephen who, along with Penny, was on his feet all evening, behind the scenes, in the kitchen. Unfortunately, on the night, David Rolfe was unable to attend due to a knee injury and just that day being released from hospital. John Williams with his usual talent for capturing the audience stood in for him with all the announcements which were needed throughout the evening.

We had an array of willing and wonderful wonderful helpers setting up, cooking, clearing away and all the other things which an event like this entails. My sincere thanks go to them for all their hard work and cheerfulness despite, at the end, sheer exhaustion.

Result of Sponsored Slimathon

Today, January 15th, I received a cheque for £112.50p from Rosemary Faupel on behalf of her daughter Sarah who very kindly organised a sponsored slimathon for herself, to finish at Christmas, and pledged all monies raised to One Life.

Sarah managed to lose a stone in weight and our congratulations go to her and also our sincere thanks for the cheque received this morning.

Donation for fund raise of January 15th 2011

On January 13th John and Karen Walker donated £50 in support of the fund raise event taking place on Saturday the 15th down at St Anne's.

My thanks go to John and Karen for their ongoing support.

Two surprise donations

Today, the 2nd January, a brand new year, I received two donations from members of St Anne's Church.

Lily Burnett donated £20 in support of One Life and Penny and David Rolfe donated a cheque for £100. Penny's Family decided not to give gifts at Christmas but instead to donate money to charity and Penny and David chose my charity.

I am very grateful for both these donations,particularly now when I have just heard that our funds in Africa are practically used up and I need to get funding out there as quickly as possible.

A fun day for the children in Kwazulu.

When I phoned Nancy and Khanya in Africa to wish them and all their family A Happy Christmas I heard about an Indian couple who happened to come across Nancy and the children in the garage. They approached Nancy and asked about what she was doing so Nancy explained about the children and what she was trying to do for them.

A few days later, just before Christmas, this couple turned up at the garage with an amazing amount of food and sweets for everyone and bouncy castles for the children and face paints. Apparently the children were so happy and excited and instead of just having one plate of food they could eat food all day long when they wanted it and enjoy a rare day filled with fun and laughter.

What a miraculous thing to happen for these children and so unexpected.

I was very moved by this story and I hope this couple realise what a wonderful and memorable thing they did for these orphans and also for Nancy and her family.

In the same phone call I heard that Khanya has a badly dislocated kneecap and her leg is in plaster and will be for the next three weeks.

We wish Nancy, Khanya and all their extended family A Very Healthy and Happy New Year from all of us here.

Belated Sponsored Walk money

Today, 15th, December, I was given a donation of £60. This money was raised by Stefan Keeley age 10 who, unable to join the official Sponsored Walk in September, did his own sponsored walk round Hyde Park shortly afterwards and raised this wonderful amount of £60.

Stefan is a special lad who, since a much younger age , has been interested in the plight of the orphans in South Africa and also in my charity One Life. Each year he has contributed to the charity by walking or doing some other activity. I remember when he was a very small boy he insisted on emptying his money box and donating the contents.

Our thanks go to Stefan, a very caring young man who I know his parents are very proud of.

Well done Stefan!!

Two Christmas donations

Today, 20th December, we received two Christmas donations.

Pauline Walshaw of Gildersome, W Yorkshire, donated £10 and Phyllis Noakes of Southampton donated £20.

Our grateful thanks go to both these ladies for remembering us at Christmas, this very special time of year.

Another Pay Pal donation

Today I received a £10 pay pal donation for Christmas from Hazel Waghorn of Rayleigh, Essex.

Our grateful thanks go to Hazel and the donation will be added to other donations in order to purchase goods for Africa.

A Paypal donation for Christmas

Today, 19th December, I received a pay pal donation of £50 from Ros Purcell. This will go, with other donated monies, towards the purchase of torches, radios and basic essentials needed right now in South Africa.

My grateful thanks go to Ros and all the people who have so kindly donated money for the children in S Africa.

Another two Christmas donations.

Today, 18th December, through the post, I received two more donations for Christmas.

Mrs Sue Harrison of Sussex donated £25 and Ms EV Veckranges of Walthamstow donated a wonderful £500.

I am so grateful for these two donation as just lately I have been buying wind up torches/radios and many other goods for the children and their carers in South Africa.

I have also just bought deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrushes, facecloths etc and these will be posted out to S Africa early next week.

Once again, my grateful thanks go to all the people who have remembered us this Christmas time and donated so generously to the charity.

We are making such a difference in the lives of the childrearing and none of it could be done without the support we now regularly receive.

Two Christmas donations

Today, 15th December, I was invited to Larkswood Primary School coffee morning and carol singing event.

This was a really wonderful event full of talented and enthusiastic youngsters singing their hearts out and playing some accompanying bells and other instruments. They were accompanied by Mr Spellman with his guitar. He is the husband of Madeleine Spellman, one of the teachers at the school. he was as equally enthusiastic as the children which made this such an enjoyable occasion.

After the event I was presented with a cheque for £73 which is part of the proceedings the children raised last Thursday singing carols outside Sainsbury's supermarket.

When I arrived home, the postman had been and in one of the Christmas cards from Mr & Mrs Eluned Rees of Wales was a cheque of £100 which was gratefully received and will go a long way to helping these children we care so much about.

My grateful thanks go to Larkswood Primary School and Mr and Mrs Rees for their thoughtfulness and caring of the children in Africa who are living in poverty.

A surprise phonecall and donation

Today, 14th December, I received a phone call from Tayo Olagunju, recently married. She told me that she had just had a church blessing and thanksgiving service for her family and donations which amounted to £276 where given. This money she is generously donating to One Life.

This came as such a lovely surprise especially right now as we are busy buying underwear, deodorants, toothbrushes, toothpaste,face flannels,torches and radios which will enhance the young peoples lives and give them the basics which we take for granted.

With Christmas money sent by One Life Nancy has been buying the basics of soap, a face flannel, toothbrush and toothpaste as a Christmas present for the teenage girls and boys.

The underwear I sent out a short while ago arrived safely to the delight of the teenage girls and I now need to purchase some for the boys.

Our grateful thanks go to Tayo and all the people who have donated money this Christmas time and have helped to make such a difference in the lives of the children.

A donation at Christmas time

This morning, Dec 12th, I was down at St Anne's church for the Sunday morning service, whilst there Eira Endersbee gave me a cheque for £200 for the children in Africa.

Over this last year Eira has given me numerous donations to help with the needs of the orphans and I am truly grateful to her, so thank you Eira for your continuous kindness and support, you are helping make a big difference in these children's lives.

Three donations received

Today, 9th December, I received a donation of £20 from Pauline Warner of Chingford, a donation of £10 from Mary Smith of Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire and a donation of £120 from the tour operators Lynden Swainston Ass. Ltd. of London.

These three donations were quite unexpected and gratefully received and will be used for the purchase of wind up radios and the postage involved in sending them out to South Africa.

My grateful thanks go to these three donors.

Fund raising event

Penny and David Rolfe are holding a fund raising event on behalf of One Life next year January 15th.

This will be held in St Anne's church hall and begins at 7-30pm.

Cantando Chorale will once again be presenting a fun musical evening and supper will be provided.

For further details please contact Elena on Tel No: 020 8926 2431.

One Life Newsletter for December 2010

The One Life newsletter for December 2010 is now available at the following link:

One LIfe Newsletter December 2010

A Christmas donation

Today, 7th December, I received a cheque for £30 in support of the children in Africa.

This lovely and much appreciated gift was donated by Christine Stead of Earlsheaton, West Yorkshire.

This money will be used for the purchase of more wind up radios for the children living in shacks without electricity. I think it is very important to bring some joy and enjoyment into their lives, to let them know that people do care about them and the sad situation they find themselves in.

My sincere and very grateful thanks go to Christine for her kindness and caring.

A welcome donation

Yesterday 4th December a donation of £100 was received by the charity.

This donation enables us to purchase more wind up torches and radios which help to make life for our children and their carers easier and also enjoyable and will also go towards the postage costs.

I am so grateful for any donation given as all donations enhance the children's lives.

Arrival of goods in S Africa.

Have just heard from Khanya, this afternoon December 2nd, that parcels of goods have just arrived from Rosemary Faupel and myself.

In the parcels were the shipment of bras urgently needed plus soft dolls and books and from Rosemary, gifts for her sponsor child and his cousins and a big rescue truck and other goods for the children in the crèche.

This is very exciting for them and equally exciting for Rosemary and myself to know that the goods we send are still arriving reasonably quickly and safely.

Another very welcome donation and a future gift for One Life.

Yesterday, 1st December, I received a donation of £50 for the charity, this came at a point where I was praying for a donation to help with the postage of wind up radios to South Africa.

My grateful thanks go to the donor of this gift.

This same person told me that they have just made out their will and have left the sum of £5,000 to One Life Charity.

This is a magnificent gesture and came quite unexpectedly. I was very moved to hear what this person had done and actions like this make me realise how established a charity we have now become and how much people support and beleive in what I am trying to do for the AIDS orphans.

Sad News from South Africa

Today, 28th November I heard from Khanya in South Africa that due to the electricity cuts some of our shacks have again burnt down.

This is due to the use of candles and is a terrible danger for the children as these kind of accidents happen all too frequently.

I am still waiting to hear if any of these accidents are connected to the children we sponsor.

I don't know the answer to this problem because even if the shacks have electricity installed, cuts happen every few days and then candles are the only source of light.

When we have to endure electricity cuts in this country we find this extremely inconvenient but luckily it is a rare event, how blessed we are that it does not happen on a weekly basis.

Life is frequently very hard for the children we try to help and for the many other people affected in this way. I know of hospital wards full of children who have been burnt due to these kind of accidents and I have seen children with horrific scarring resulting from them.

Arrival of goods in Africa.

I have been receiving texts from Khanya due to the fact that we are still waiting for the computer, out in Africa, to be mended and returned. Texting and phoning is our only means of contact at the moment.

It appears that all the packages Rosemary Faupel and myself have sent out recently for the children are arriving day by day. Today, 26th November, the wind up torches arrived. Apparently, as I write this article, there is an electricity cut in the area where Nancy and Khanya live so she has just sent me a text to say what excitement and pleasure they are getting from the two wind up torches which I sent to them a short while ago.

The torches which arrived today are going to the child headed families to try and cut down on the amount of accidents which happen though the use of candles which for many of the children are their only source of light.

Unexpected donation

Today, 26th November, I received a cheque for £20 from John Charcol Associates of London.

I have never heard of this firm so the cheque came as a complete surprise and was received with gratitude. I am using it to post out much needed goods to the children in Africa.

Result of the Sponsored Walk

The final total of donated money for the sponsored walk comes to £1,585.

My grateful thank go to all who joined us on the walk and also to the people who sponsored us.

Goods arrived in South Africa

Today, 18th November, the shipment of goods sent out by DHL Courier for the children we sponsor, at long last reached Richards Bay.

This EXPRESS shipment has taken over three weeks to arrive and has cost us an extra £140 making the total of shipment and customs charges £310. This is terrible for my small charity and I will never send goods out by courier again. Luckily we were given a donation of £200 for the shipment and another £100 also for postage and it was this that made this shipment possible.

Usually goods are sent out to Africa through Royal Mail and this is the way any future goods will be sent. I am, though, relieved that the goods have eventually arrived as it has been a most stressful time from beginning to end.

Nancy is now registered

I heard a couple of days ago that Nancy has now received her registration papers to do the job which she is doing. She was registered before but had to re-register due to breaking away from the corruption of the department she was working with to work on her own.

Hopefully now that she is again registered she may be able to receive help with the work she has continued to do with AIDS orphans. Before, she used to get some help with food provision for the children and for their carers so we are hoping that this will now resume and if so it will make a big difference to Nancy and the children. It would also mean that some of the funding I send can be used, as before, for shack repair and other necessities not only for food.

Since the trouble Nancy had with corruption and the loss of the centre she has relied almost totally on any funding I have been able to send. This has had to be used for equipping the garage for use and for food and education resulting in any shack repair etc being put on hold.

Let us pray now that things improve for Nancy and the children and maybe one day we can move into larger premises which we so badly need.

Goods to South Africa

Over the last couple of months we have been sending out lots of goods to Nancy for the AIDS orphans in South Afrioca.

These have included over 100 knitted hats, some jerseys, t shirts, books for Christmas for the crèche, wind up torches and a 21 kg package sent by courier at the end of last month (October).

This package contains many pretty dresses for the girls, some books, boys clothing and 4 wind up torches. Unfortunately this package is being held in Johannesburg due to a clearance delay. The goods have been there about 12 days now and I find this frustrating and quite stressful as I am unable to find out the cause of the delay and I am left wondering if the goods will ever be delivered at all.

I gave Khanya the tracking number of the package and she is making enquiries about it from her side.

I do hope that this package arrives as the goods will be most useful for the children especially now as all the goods are for summer wear and it is summer time in South Africa right now.

A welcome donation.

Today Nov 3rd I received a cheque for £100 from Christine Foster of Walthamstow.

Christine said that this donation may be useful to help with postage of goods to South Africa.

I am in the process of getting together a parcel of children books to sent out as a Christmas gift to our crèche so this money will come in very useful for this postage.

Throughout the year we send out a steady stream of goods to South Africa, knitted hats and jerseys, books, toys etc so we are always grateful for donations given specifically for this purpose.

Our grateful thanks go to Christine for her kindness and her support of One Life.

A very unexpected donation

Last week on October 12th I heard I would be receiving an anonymous donation of £1000 for the charity in aid of the children in S Africa.
I am overwhelmed at this generous gift and what a difference this will make at Christmas time for Nancy and the children in her care.

It is people like this who are the backbone of the charity and who enable me to carry on despite all the problems and frustrations which can occur when running a charity for Africa.
Our grateful thanks go to the person who is donating this wonderful sum of money.

Sponsors urgently needed for the children orphaned by the AIDS Virus

More sponsors are urgently needed for the children orphaned by the AIDS Virus.

Some of our children miss years of schooling through their tragic circumstances and this leaves them without a glimmer of hope for the future. Other children are orphaned and live with aged grandparents or out of work siblings so school is not an option as there is no money coming into the family.

For instance we have one young girl of 17 who was badly raped at the age of twelve resulting in the birth of a multi disabled child who is now five years of age and is in our crèche. Because of this and the trauma and lack of family this girl has not received any schooling since the age of 12 years.

Nancy is trying to get a school place for this girl so she can resume her education and Rosemary Faupel has offered to sponsor her educationally which is wonderful as this will now be the fifth child that Rosemary sponsors.

We have a family of eight children living with an older sibling in a small shack, there are no other relatives and no money coming into this home as the older girl cannot find work. We are trying to help them and we have another family of children living with a 92 year old grandmother also in need of our help.

So please, if you can, do come forward and sponsor one of our children, it is such a rewarding thing to do knowing you have helped to change a child's life.

To sponsor a child please go to the link "Sponsor a child" in the right hand column.
Thank you.

Gifts from UK arrived in Africa

Warm hats for the winter timeI have just received photos from Africa of some of the children with gifts send out by sponsors here in the UK.

Many parcels of warm hats knitted by Eira and Jenny from St Anne's Parish Church have now arrived for the children in S Africa.

The gift of a dollA large parcel of summer dresses, a beautiful big black doll and other gifts have also arrived sent by Rosemary Faupel.

Andile with the jigsawA large interlocking jigsaw sent by Hilary Brody for the little boy she sponsors has caused great excitement.

All gifts are very welcome and give the children such joy.

Christmas and birthday presents do not play a part in these children's every day lives so to receive a gift is a very special event for them.

Sickness in S Africa.

I heard a few days ago on Sept 22nd that Nancy's husband collapsed and was rushed by his son and daughter to hospital where he was diagnosed with Diabetes, so now both Nancy and him are sufferers. Unfortunately whilst in hospital he also had a stroke, not a major one but nevertheless a stroke and he was then transferred to a hospital in Durban, about three hours from where Nancy and Khanya live.

This is awful as Nancy and Khanya have so much to cope with already with illness, their ever expanding family, the orphans and the premises for the care of the children still being the garage. Nancy's husband was a big support to her and now he is ill.

I pray that the stroke was mild enough to have no long term ill effects and that soon the possibility of receiving funding for better premises will come about.

Update on the Sponsored Walk

Today, September 25th, we held the charity's Annual Sponsored Walk in the city of London.

Having met up at Trafalgar Square.We met at the coffee shop in Trafalgar Square where we could greet old friends over a delicious cappuccino. We then walked down Horse Guards Parade into St James Park where we did the walk around the lake.

It was a most glorious day with warm autumn sunshine which enhanced the beauty of the park. After two and a half laps we stopped for lunch sitting in a big circle some of us in deck chairs and others on the grass. It was a lovely break, all together, just enjoying the day and each other. We then finished the four laps and separated each going our separate ways having enjoyed a lovely day raising money for the children in Kwazulu, South Africa.

My grateful thanks go to everyone who joined the walk, the regular walkers and the six new people who were with us for the very first time and hopefully will join us next year..

I

Sr Emmanuel has been transferred

On September the 13th Sr Emmanuel was transferred from Empangeni, where she has lived and worked for many years in the small community of Dominican Nuns, to Pietermaritzberg. Due to her age, she will be 86 next April, and to her frailty and the crumbling of her spine making her wheelchair bound she now needs looking after.

Her transfer to Pietermaritzburg means she will live with other elderly nuns who are now in need of care. I visited and stayed briefly with the nuns in Pitermaritzberg in the millennium and it is a most beautiful place set in stunning surroundings and a short walk from the amazimg and very tropical Botanical Gardens.

I spoke to Sister Emmanuel on the eve of her departure and she was very sad to leave the sisters of Empangeni, her little dog and her many friends. Every morning she used to sit on the bench where the children passed to go to the adjoining school. She used to be a teacher and has a great affinity and love of children and she will miss this part of her life very much and she in turn will be greatly missed.

In her lifetime she has done many great things for the African people, too many to mention here, but like with all others who have met her she has made an incredible impact on their lives.

I will phone occasionally to speak to her and all that remains now is to wish her much happiness in this new environment and hope she settles in quickly and easily.

An unexpected donation

Today, September 10th, I received a cheque for £1000 from Val Philpott of Bridlington.

Val is terminally ill with cancer and has requested that £400 of this money be put on one side to ensure the education of the two children she sponsors until they are of an age to leave school. The remaining £600 is for the charity to use in whatever way it is needed.

I was very touched to realise that Val who is terminally ill and coming to the end of her life has still, despite her own very sad circumstances, found the time and the love and caring to ensure the education of these two children in need in South Africa.

I met Val several years ago and we have stayed in touch by phone and letter although sadly we haven't had the opportunity to meet up again. She is an amazing lady and one who will stay in my heart and mind as a very dear friend and a shining example of what unselfishness really is.

Swansea Football Club.

Today, September 10th, Swansea Football contacted me to say they will post 30 football shirts to me for the boys in South Africa. After the disappointment of the 300 donated shirts having to be returned to Swansea due to the excessive cost of shipment I was delighted to receive their email offering a quantity of shirts which I can afford to ship out by courier due to the £200 donation, to be used specifically for postage, which I received a few days ago.

The football shirts will be sent out to the orphans shortly, along with donated children's dresses, knitted hats and jumpers, T shirts, football shorts and a few other bits and pieces.

My gratefully thanks go to Swansea Football Club for their kindness in taking the large amount back, paying for the courier to pick them up and then going to the trouble of sending me a much smaller quantity.

The Annual Sponsored Walk

The time has come around again for our Annual Sponsored Walk. This is to be held on Saturday September 25th.

As always we meet just before 11am in Trafalgar Square near the coffee shop. It is a great meeting place and time permitting it's a good time to meet a little early, enjoy a coffee together and take the photos before the walk commences.

We will walk down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace and at the bottom turn left into St James Park where we do two laps round the park then stop for a lunch break, most people bringing a packed lunch. We then, after a reasonable break, finish the last two laps and for those people who think four laps round a park is not much, well, try it. It is a good feeling to be starting the last lap.

At the end of the walk people are free to just go off and do their own thing but some of us meet up and , weather permitting, sit in the sun under the trees and just enjoy the rest of the day with friends.

It is always an enjoyable event and the outcome is more very necessary funding for the Aids orphans in Kwazulu, Natal.

Anyone is welcome to join us and for more information and the sponsor forms, go to Contact Us in the right hand column.

A wonderful donation

Today, !st September, I received an email from Yusuf al-Minji, a gentleman I have never met but who heard of my charity through a friend of mine.

He is posting a cheque to me today for £200, specifically to help with the posting of goods to S Africa.

About one year ago he also send a donation specifically to help with postage of goods to Africa.

I am so grateful to Yusuf as at the moment I am holding in my home, due to lack of funding, beautiful summer dresses donated by Rosemary Faupel, knitted goods from the ladies of St Anne's church and other articles of clothing.

Because of Yusuf's generosity I am now able to ship them out to the children who I know will be delighted with them.

Thank you so much Yusuf for your caring attitude, your kindness and your generosity.

Football shirts returned to Swansea F.C.

A few days ago Swansea Football Club very generously sent by courier to my house 300 beautiful football shirts for the boys in Africa. Unfortunately the cost of delivery to South Africa came to over £1,000 with possibly more money to pay at the South African border.

My charity is short of funding right now and any money I do receive goes for food for the children as we are in crisis at the moment and food and education are our priorities.

Yesterday, 31st August a courier collected the shirts to deliver them back to Swansea Football Club.

I feel deeply saddened by this as I know what they would have meant to the boys. I am also sad at the price a charity has to pay to send goods out to Orphans in Africa. This stops me sending out many things which would be of great help to the children.

A Sponored Slimathon

Sarah Pumfrey, the daughter of Rosemary Faupel, a very dedicated and loyal supporter of One Life, is planning to to a Sponsored Slim in aid of One Life.

This will start at the beginning of September and is due to end at Christmas.

All our good wishes and support go to Sarah and our thanks too for doing this in aid of One Life and the children in need of our help in Kwazulu, Natal, South Africa.

Thank you so much Sarah and GOOD LUCK, we will be spurring you on.

Result of the July Appeal

Thank you everybody for supporting the appeal of last month. I am delighted and touched too to tell you £1896 came in from the appeal and this has gone out to South Africa, mostly to be used for food for the children.

I did not know if anyone would respond so to have received so much support is unbelievable.

I hope you are all in good health and are enjoying the summer months.
In gratitude to you all
Elena

An update of the appeal of the 6th July.

By today, July 12th, £1,000 has been raised in response to the appeal put out on July 6th.

This is a wonderful amount, I had no idea that people would respond so much and I am touched at everyone's thoughtfulness and caring for these children in need of help.
My grateful thanks go to all who have contributed to this amazing amount.

Latest activity from Chase Lane Primary School

Today, July 10th, Caron Keeley, a teacher at Chase Lane Primary School, and her son Stefan, a pupil there, came to my house. They presented me with £76 which has been raised by the year 4 pupils at the school. This was done by decorating biscuits and selling them in order to raise the £50 school fees for the young girl Qiniso Msweli who the school sponsor educationally.

Going to school has already changed Qiniso's life. Her parents both died of the AIDS Virus and she lives with her grandmother. She was stolen and raped at the age of four and after this she never spoke or smiled or played just stayed huddled up silent and withdrawn. Since going to school she has totally changed. I went to visit her in her school on my last trip to S Africa and she was the most popular and outgoing little girl in the class. Educationally she was ahead of her peers and had a great energy and need to learn. She looked so happy.

Thank you Chase Lane Primary for helping to change this young child's life. With the money raised from the biscuits after the school fees are paid there is money over which I will ask Nancy, the African Project Manager of the children, to buy blankets and whatever else Qiniso's family need.

I know that many people give to needy causes but probably do not get much feedback re the money they have donated but because I am a small charity and know personally the people in Africa who care for the children, many of who I have met on my visits including Qiniso, I know that every penny donated to me is send out and is used for the purpose it was donated for.

I heard that the year 4 children have written letters to Qiniso which very shortly will be sent to her. After meeting and getting to know Qiniso I know how exciting it will be for her to receive them and I know she will be very happy to write back.

Many thanks Year 4 for your wonderful efforts to raise the £76 and gratitude too to the children and parents and staff who bought the biscuits.

Appeal for help for Nancy and the AIDS Orphans

Hello Everybody
I have never done this so directly before and I am sorry and find it extremely difficult to do it now but times are desperate out in Africa for Nancy and the children and so after much thought I am asking for a little extra help.

Due to the awful circumstances last year with the corrupt men, the court cases and ultimately our having to re-open in a garage so we can continue to feed the children and run a crèche, we have fallen on really hard times, including Nancy herself who at the moment has no income coming into her own family.

Nancy and the orphans and Nancy’s ever expending household, 13 now, are in need of funding for food for all of them, for electricity and bills and money for burials too. We just lost another grandmother last week, due to the extreme cold and lack of adequate clothing, bedding and housing. The little boy who she looked after has no other living relatives so Nancy has taken him to live with her. Nancy is also desperately trying to get donations in order to bury this lady. It is shocking and saddens me daily that they have to live like this.

Not having enough food to feed all the orphans who come twice daily is Nancy’s greatest worry. I send money as often as I can but I am a small charity and cannot keep up with all the needs out in Africa and I too am worried about them. Please help if you can. No amount is too small but will help enormously.

You have all supported me for a long time now and I am very grateful and I am asking now if you could please help me a little more in order to ease their lives. Because any money I send now goes mainly for food , I am not in a position any more, at the moment, to buy blankets or repair the shacks which took a desperate battering with the hailstorms and heavy winds and rains earlier in the year. We need help right now.

Thank you for your support and I send you all my best wishes. Donations can be paid through Pay Pal (see Make a Donation) or by cheque to be made out to:
"One Life"
and sent to:
One Life Charity
c/o Elena Utton
43 Alpha Road
Chingford
London
E4 6TD

An Anniversary Donation

Yesterday, July 5th, Rosie Faupel who lives near Cambridge, gave me a wonderful donation of £205.

Last week she celebrated her ruby wedding anniversary and had asked family and friends that rather than buy her a gift would they donate to One Life.

In these difficult times for Nancy and our children in South Africa this came as a most welcome donation and my grateful thanks go to Rosemary.

A wonderful unexpected donation

Today, June 20th, I received a wonderful anonymous donation of a much needed £500.

I feel so grateful at all the support received in aid of the children orphaned by the AIDS virus, many times it comes unexpectedly and is a great reminder of the goodness of people and what it means to really care about each other.

My thanks go to the donor of this unexpected money and to all who continue to support One Life and the children we all care about.

Money raised from the sale of Hand-Made Greeting Cards

Today, 20th June, I sold hand-made greeting cards down at St Anne's Church after the morning service. In just over an hour a wonderful £60 was raised for One Life.

My grateful thanks go to all the parishioners who continuously support my charity.

Donation

On June 10th I received a cheque for £30 from Rosemary Faupel. This was for the sale of a folding bicycle.

This cheque was gratefully received as we badly needs donation right now and our thanks go to Rosemary for her continued support of One Life and the children we care for.

Newsletter for June 2010 available

The latest newsletter for June 2010 has been uploaded. It can be downloaded or viewed at the following link:

Newsletter 12 - June 2010

Result of Chartity Auction/Ploughman's Supper

Yesterday evening, May 15th, we held the Charity Auction/ Ploughman's Supper down at St Anne's Parish Church in the hall.

Once again it was a wonderful, fun filled evening and a magnificent £1,358 was raised for the children in S Africa.
Our grateful thanks go to Penny and David Rolfe for organising this event and all the hard work involved also many thanks to John the who partners David in auctioning off the donated items. This was such great fun and everyone agreed it was a wonderful evening.
Thanks also go to the troupe of helpers who set up the trays of food and helped with the raffle.

This yearly event is something everyone looks forward to and makes such a difference to my small charity in helping the AIDS orphans of Kwazulu, South Africa.

Another unexpected donation

Today May 7th I received an unexpected donation of £500 towards the repair of the computer in South Africa or the purchase of a new one if the one hit by lightning really is irreparable.

The person who donated this most generous amount wishes to remain anonymous.

I was very concerned about finding funding for the repair or further purchase of a new computer so having received this donation is such a relief and fills me with deep gratitude. It is so difficult to run the charity efficiently without this means of communication.

News from S Africa.

I have just received a text from Khanya, Nancy's daughter in Kwazulu, Natal, South Africa.

The computer has been struck by lightning and is irreparable which is such bad news. Because it is an act of God it is doubtful that we will get a payout from the insurance.

I cannot manage without computer contact so pray that the fund raise on May 15th does really well as I will have to provide funding for a new one.

A few weeks ago I sent out £2,600 to Africa so that we could set up again but this time in a large double garage. We were going to use the church hall but this is not alarmed and there is always the danger of break-ins. The garage is alarmed and will be a much safer place for Nancy and the children. The money was for a cooker, fridges, water heaters, table and chairs etc.

We still are in desperate need of funding so please help us if you can. Thank you.

Unexpected Donations

This month, April, I have received two unexpected donation. One donation of £20 came from Lesley Worstencoft in aid of her cousin's birthday and the second donation came from Janice Collier, this was for £50 and was money donated by friends for her birthday.

My grateful thanks to both Lesley and Janice for their kind and most helpful contributions.