Nurturing home-grown development in South Africa

www.thatu.org

Autumn in the UK means spring in South Africa

Thatu has just celebrated its second birthday. Our four SEED Cape Flats school gardens are making great progress, as is Lotus Gardens in Gauteng. We are very proud of the efforts everyone has put in to overcome the glitches inevitable in new projects. Our regular contact via emails and telephone calls gives us confidence that they will achieve the long-term sustainability that we seek.

Set for a self-supporting future

With its new committee of volunteers and a school representative, Lotus Gardens school is set to open a bank account for the income from sales of surplus produce that will fund the garden's future development when Thatu moves its support to other projects next year.

Summer in South Africa with its long school holidays in December and January, and unpredictable weather patterns will be a testing period for all the projects. With the structures that have been set up, and the enthusiasm and commitment of all concerned, we are confident in their future.

Sustainable prospects

Thatu's business plan for 2007 includes two possible new projects. We have had a proposal for support for a community food garden to feed HIV patients in a hospice and their families. Nutrition is essential if AIDS patients are to be able to benefit from anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, and for others to stave off the development of full-blown AIDS. So our fundraising efforts to raise money from UK trusts and organisations are being stepped up. We are thrilled that Allied World Assurance Company has followed their first £500 donation to us with another similar donation as the result of the feedback we have given them.

But most of our funds still come from you and people like you. So once again we ask you to look at the list below, and think about ways in which you can encourage others to join the Thatu Friends.

Giving a Thatu Christmas present
Look on the Thatu website for gifts you can give to your family and friends that will really make a difference. We will send the recipient a card telling them of their 'present'. We have gifts ranging from £5 to £250. Do you know any businesses that give clients corporate gifts? We can offer attractive opportunities for doing good whilst showing appreciation.

Giving away a Christmas present for Thatu

No need to be disappointed by a Christmas present that didn't quite suit you.

Sell your unwanted or surplus presents on ebay for Thatu. See website for full details.

Stocking fillers
The Thatu Shop on the website has great ideas for little presents. For a green example, take a look at the Thatu recycled re-use envelope labels.

Collect used postage stamps
Please don't forget to save the stamps from your Christmas cards. See www.thatu.org/stamps_fset.htm

Christmas fairs
Let us know of any Christmas fairs in your area where Thatu could be represented.

Thank you for all your support and enjoy the holiday season.

If you would prefer to receive a hard copy of our newsletter, or no longer wish to receive one, please email us at info@thatu.org

Thatu is a UK Registered Charity No. 1108655