Governance - Proposal for Funding

Our Story

Yenzani was founded in 2002 by Sanne Mirk, a business woman who, two years earlier, followed her heart and volunteered at a child abuse organisation.   Her experiences there led her to challenge her concern for children ‘returning’ to their perpetrators.
Destiny led her to Barry Bouwer, who offered his home in Midrand rent-free; on one condition - that it be used to help children in crisis.

Having secured the home, Sanne met with the Child Protection Unit of SAPS & the Dept. of Social Development to establish their needs, which was for a place of safety/children’s home.

Sanne, with moral support from Donna Meyerson, formed “The Making it Happen Children’s Project” t/a “Yenzani”. A Section 21 Company, Non-profit Organisation was established, pro bono auditing services secured, networking with stakeholders and fundraising began.  Jacob Mphiwe was employed and began repairing the house, a health certificate was granted and donations of second hand household goods started to roll in. Gary Bailey pledged his financial support (later becoming our patron), as did concerned citizen Andre Pienaar.

Andrea Van Der Westhuizen, a registered nurse, volunteered her services to promote Yenzani and Gladys Leballo was employed and joined Jacob as a caregiver.  The staff had domestic, police, child protection, CPR and emergency first aid training.  Ongoing staff training is a priority and includes computer, time management, cultural, child care/protection and driving.  Connie Motsetla & Ntsehiseng Leballo locum as house parents cum domestic workers.  Ryan Cooper (Psychologist) and Leone Kontominas (businesswoman) complete the committee.

Yenzani was officially opened by the MEC for Safety & Liaison, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, on 4 September 2003.
Yenzani is a registered Children’s Home and a founder member of The Greater Midrand Children’s Forum and a member of SASPCAN & NACCW.

On 4 November 2004, Amos Masondo – The Mayor of Johannesburg – presented Yenzani with a Certificate of Recognition for services rendered to the Citizens of Johannesburg Regions 1 & 2.  

The Need

South Africa has extremely high levels of child abuse and overextended NPO’s are often too multifaceted to focus on their original goals.   Yenzani is totally focused in the safe housing of children.  This is achieved by targeting our resources to the welfare of children placed in our care and protecting them from secondary abuse. 

Our approach to healing children is simple – quality over quantity.  Each child is made to feel like part of a family and immediately has their physical and emotional wounds attended to by a multi-disciplinary team.  This includes doctors, psychologists, group therapy and loving caregivers to repair their self worth so that the child does not emotionally implode in the future.
Children who have been subjected to abuse often have blurred boundaries insofar as their self esteem and emotions are concerned.  It is critical that we validate them through healthy and purposeful expression re-integrating them into society striving for healing rather than perpetuating the abuse cycle. Social interaction is an important part in children’s development and we actively enlist the services of volunteers with homework, fun & cultural outings, Art of Living, holiday camps, Church youth groups & services.

Admission:

Yenzani is open to children aged between 4 and 17 with flexibility in cases involving siblings.
Children are brought to Yenzani by SAPS and/or Social Services on Form 4 offences - procedure in accordance with the prevailing legislation.

Governance:

We are a fully compliant Public Benefit Organisation and a registered Children’s Home (with the Department of Social Development).  We are also a registered NPO number 020-183NPO.
We have a ‘hands-on’, dedicated auditor and have a policy of transparency regarding our financial matters. Our committee members are proficient in many fields and we have the pro bono services of lawyers. Stakeholders are invited to our AGM’s and their opinion is encouraged so that we maintain the highest standards.

Goals & priority needs:

Caring for children’s physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs, helping them rebuild their sense of self and purpose - is our main goal.

Corporate sponsorship for the following is desperately needed:

1. We need to increase the number of children we home as a matter of urgency.  We are constantly turning away children due to the lack of space in our small home and this is extremely disturbing.  We feel that an ideal number of children would be about 26 so that we can continue our ‘home’ rather than ‘institution’ approach.
    
2. To accomplish the above, we need corporate funding to purchase the land, offered to us at a very reasonable price, and extend the current building.  We have already secured the services of @126 Architects at no charge and we currently have savings on call to sustain the project.
    
3. When the land is purchased, we will sub divide the 6 acres into three portions; sell two and use the proceeds to further the goals of the project.  The third portion of 2 acres with the existing house will remain exclusively for Yenzani. Funding for sub-division is required.
    
4. We are going to need all the building materials, plumbing and electrical requirements when we start extensions to the existing building. Corporate funding is required for building.
    
5. Education is major concern as (a) most of our children have large gaps in their education due to being neglected or forced onto the streets and (b) the level of education available at local schools. Education is the most valuable gift we can give our children to ensure a better future to break the cycle of poverty and abuse of the past.  We are looking for companies or individuals to sponsor a child’s annual schooling.  Apart from school fees, Saturday school fees, transport, books and clothes, we need teacher/mentors for each child to assist with homework, learning in general and to fill the gaps in their education. We need to hire students for this purpose.
    
6. None of the children are computer literate!  We need to build a mini study/media centre and hire teachers or students to train them on the basics of computers and how to access the Internet. This centre would need to be equipped with computers, Internet etc. This centre could also be used for the SAPS, Social Workers and for community activities.
    
7. The National Lottery donated a commuter vehicle to us and we need sponsorship to run and insure it.  We also need the funding to hire a part time driver.
    
8. One vehicle is not enough to cover our existing transport needs and therefore a donation of a good condition second hand bakkie or car would take care of our short to medium term needs.  Long term, we will need another commuter vehicle.   We currently use the services of a local taxi company and our monthly transport costs are staggering.
    
9. Funding is required to install a new state of the art borehole.  We also need to install irrigation to our flower garden.
    
10. Staff training on care-giving and child protection, costs in excess of R5000, 00 per person PA and is vital to the ongoing success of our project.
     
11. R13,000 per month is needed for the part time services of a social worker, driver and PA/admin clerk.  Government social workers case loads are extremely high and as result our children’s cases are sometimes delayed for years.
     
12. We need the electricity at checked and rewired and upgraded where necessary.

Volunteers:

We always need help with homework, cooking, transport, gardening, sport activities and outings.  We need dedicated volunteers to develop regular social activities, relationships and outings for the children. Ad hoc volunteering is not beneficial to children who have been let down by adults in the past. We also desperately need volunteer fundraisers.

Wishlist:

Our “wish-list” is updated regularly on our donated website www.yenzani.org and includes items such as food, cleaning products, general maintenance, filing cabinets, pressure pump for our borehole, electronic gate, everyday household items and furniture.

Our boys have started a Yenzani soccer club, recruiting some of the neighbourhood children to the team, to play against anyone brave enough to take them on.  We will need funds to grade out a pitch on our unused land, will need kit, boots, training and are looking for a dedicated sponsor to support the team. Think 2010!

Dreamlist:

Most of our children and staff have never been on a plane or seen the sea – sponsorship of a trip to Durban would be a dream come true.
 

Stakeholders, Associates and Funders

Andre Pienaar	Gary Bailey
Art of Living	Multirisk Managers
Dept. Social Development	XBC – Xerox Midrand
Firmenich S A	Executive Woman’s Club
Paton Personnel	The Gift Dinner Club
Jubilate Primary School	Stephanie Moss Solutions
Nu Metro Film Distribution	Syndicate Personnel Specialists
Missing Link	Shirley Coetzee
National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund	The Invitation Dinner Club
City of Joburg	MySchool
Ebony Park Primary School	Midrand High School

Our Mission

The safe housing of children in crisis, protecting them from secondary abuse and defending all their rights.

Our Details

Making it Happen Children’s Project t/a YENZANI CHILDREN’S HOME
Association incorporated under Section 21 # 2002/011257/080

Non Profit Organisation # 020-183-NPO

Public Benefit Organisation: SARS # 930 006 865
As per Section 18A of The Income Tax Act, all donations are tax deductible and exempt of donations tax.

Postal Address
P O Box 2687, Rivonia, 2128

Physical Address
309 Potgieter St, Glen Austin, Midrand

Contact Numbers
Office: 011 465 5212
Mobile: 083 327 7757
Home’s Tel: 011 314 5645
Fax Number: 086 670 6292

E-Mail: sanne@yenzani.org  / www.yenzani.org

Bank details:

Nedbank - Rivonia
Branch Code - 196-905
Current Account No.: 1969 176113

Patron: Gary Bailey
Probono Auditors: SW Feinstein & Company
Probono Legal Firm: Bowman Gilfillan - Sandton
Prodeo Doctor: Clare De Groep

Our Committee

Directors:

• Sanne Mirk (Executive)
• Donna Meyerson
• Andrea Van der Westhuizen

Members:

• Ryan Cooper
• Ditshele Jacob Mphiwe
• Gladys Pelokholo Leballo
• Leone Kontominas