Hosting a virtual SASTA congress for the first time in 2021 brought an unexpected positive. During ‘live’ congresses, an authors’ dinner is usually held to thank the paper authors for their contribution, and a gift is usually presented to each attending author. The money allocated to these gifts was now going begging, and SASTA happily chose to donate it two organisations involved in charity work.

The first recipient, the St Joseph Child and Youth Care Centre in Mbongolwane, responded as follows:

Dear 2021 SASTA Congress Author,
A heartfelt THANK YOU!! for the most generous donation of R20 000 to us at St Joseph Child and Youth Care Centre in Mbongolwane, near Eshowe. We heard that, with your 2021 annual congress having been held virtually (rather than in person), the money budgeted for authors’ gifts was, instead, donated to charity – and we were the happy recipients.
We were delighted to receive this very big cheque, and enjoyed a morning of cake and dancing to celebrate. Money is always in short supply, with 30 girls and boys between the ages of 0 and 12 years being given a safe home here. These children come from difficult backgrounds of domestic violence, abuse and neglect. Here at St. Joseph, we find love, education and security.
Thank you again for your great generosity!
With love,
The children and staff of St Joseph Child and Youth Care Centre
PS Please see our website to read more about SJCYCC – including the SASTA Giant Cheque visit.

A further R20 000 was donated to the KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) who used the SASTA funding to fund provisions for two child-based organisations in Impendle. The Mafakatini Home Based Care – an orphanage run by Mr Paul Sithole – is situated very close to the CAPRISA Aids Clinic, and supports up to 60 children. The Sithokozile Créche, based in the Impendle Municipal Hall, also received funding. This créche feeds up to 80 children between 3 and 6 years of age.

SASTA is grateful to have had this opportunity to help children in need – and we hope to be able to support charities such as these again in the future. Thank you to all the authors!

By Ruth Rhodes
SASTA Council Member
Soil Scientist, Sugarcane Farmer