About Keep The Dream 196
Keep The Dream196 is a non-profit organization (NPO) based in Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM), Limpopo Province in South Africa.
Our Mission
Our mission is to assist children to overcome difficult life circumstances by building resilience physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically, using a Right’s-based framework, so they are able to realize their full potential and contribute to the building of South Africa.
Our Vision
To see all children enter adulthood with holistic skills and abilities necessary to contribute effectively to the development of South Africa
Listen to our Podcasts
Listen to our EDGE PODCAST | Keep the Dream 196: South Africa
The KTD196 leadership of today is growing solid leaders for tomorrow as well, in ways that I could hardly believe could ever become a reality in Limpopo.
Who we are & what we do
Keep The Dream196 is a non-profit organization (NPO) based in Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM), Limpopo Province in South Africa. Well that’s where we are, who we are and what we do is another story. I want to take you on a journey of discovery, I think we start with why KTD196 is necessary!
KTD196 started unofficially in 2003 after a focus group with 180 Home Based Care volunteers who were very stressed about the problems facing the orphaned and vulnerable children of their villages. The problems that faced the children included: increased teenage pregnancy (13% in Limpopo) and also increased HIV/AIDS infections rates (23% in Limpopo) amongst 15-24yr age group; children dropping out of school; failing at school; not having the parental support necessary; teenagers getting involved with gangs and crime; substance abuse and suicide (12.9% nationally).
So, after much research and questioning the children we started the bones of our program in November 2003 with 13 girls. In 2004 we trained 50 new volunteers and by the end of the year we had over 1,100 children in the program.
In 2007 co- founder Elizabeth Mabuza and I (Louise Batty) realized that our model was working so well and the impact was already being identified, we decided it was time to give up our secure day jobs and invest in these amazing children full time – KTD 196 was officially registered as an NPO in 2007.
We see the impact of our work every day and it is so encouraging to see, our kids have a sense of hope, destiny and the life skills to be able to achieve their DREAMS but you will be able to read about that under – ‘The Voice of The Child’ button below.
The children that go through our program now have a sense of hope for their future!
Our Impact
The impact we have been able to generate includes:
1. Teenage Pregnancy reduced from 13% to 0.07% in our program. Only 12 girls in 19yrs with over 9,000 girls going through our program have become pregnant. We have saved the government R86Million in not having to pay Child Support Grants only.
2. Our children and youth tell us they are abstaining, this is being verified by the dramatic reduction in teenage pregnancy, however we do not ask the children to take HIV tests. The bottom line we have had in excess of 16,000 children through our program that have not been involved in high risk behaviours and I believe we are contributing to the decrease in HIV infection rates.
3. To participate in our program we have actually had kids drop back into school to be a part of our program. Please read Hlulani Homu’s testimony as an example
4. We have a 91% matriculation pass rate sustained for 15yrs, Limpopo Depart of Education average is 62%. Our kids go primarily go to government schools however they have learnt to study, to persevere, to ask questions, to interrogate if they don’t understand.
5. We also work with parents of the children training them in parenting skills and providing the much needed support and guidance required by young adults as they face an uncertain world.
6. None of our children are involved in Gangs, instead we have created our own positive gangs called patrols. The children have a sense of belonging, identity, support and encouragement in these small groups. They plan their own activities and create opportunities for community service and learning
7. Our children are constantly exposed to various drugs i.e. alcohol and drugs, however to this point there have been no reports of Substance Abuse. We have had one child involved with the police regarding a crime in over 16,000 children in 19yrs where 70% of all youth are victims and/or perpetrators of crime in South Africa you would agree this is amazing impact.
8. We have had no deaths through Suicide since starting our program. Fact 34% of black youth believe suicide is a viable option and 29.1% have attempted suicide that required seeing a doctor.
9. We have started Self Help Groups which is a voluntary savings program for the poorest of the poor. These groups will eventually develop into small businesses as the ladies will be trained in small business skills and have the cash flow to meet their own needs. Currently, we have 5 groups but at the end of 2022, we have a target of 30 in total.
Latest News
Stay up to date with our latest blog posts and news articles, where we delve deeper into our mission of training and empowering families and communities. Discover valuable insights, success stories, and helpful resources that showcase our commitment to making a positive impact.
I am so VERY VERY EXCITED! On Sunday we are celebrating 20yrs of Scouts in Limpopo! We will be having a return of young people that you have been introduced to over the years, they are coming together with the Court of Honours (the leadership committee for each group) from each troop to celebrate this victory. 20YEARS!!! Who would have thought it would happen! Let me give you the back story just in case you don’t know it. In 2003, I came to South Africa to work with the Department of Health and seconded to another Non Governmental Organization in Tzaneen. It was there I met Zabe (Elizabeth – our program manager). After a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats Analysis) with approx. 200 Home Based Care Workers, I was tasked to “Do Something” for the kids of Greater Tzaneen. You see these Home Based Care Workers identified that the children’s plight was so soul destroying, that they struggled with the sense of hopelessness. They felt they could do nothing. This was during a peak HIV/AIDS pandemic, so the kids were reacting to what was happening at home, at school, in their communities, they were not coping. There responses where […]
It is so exciting to see the children grow and develop, I have an amazing job!
The end of the year is rapidly approaching; it is barrelling down the hill and there is still so much work to be done, because of you!