The candles of Chanukah and the togetherness of Christmas provide light and hope for 2023, putting aside the challenges we continue to face with Covid, the catastrophic invasion of Ukraine triggering a worsening refugee crisis and a domino effect on energy prices, food supplies, inflation and interest rates - with massive implications for developing countries in health, education, employment and food security.
Where do you and One to One fit into this macro context?
Simply by doing what we do best – reducing the challenges to a micro level and dealing with affected individuals and communities one to one.
Here are some examples of the impact we have made on the lives of children, families and young people this year.
Convened forums and disseminated best practice across our JRAN refugee action network of more than 50 organisations in dealing with the refugee crisis and access to mental health services for young refugees.
Trained 26 young refugees on our innovative Future Leaders programme, to become role models and leaders in their communities with 45 Future Leaders alumni now supporting each other
Trained more than 1000 parents and caregivers in a groundbreaking toy and book play learning initiative - an essential new component in our high impact Enable HIV and community health programme in the Eastern Cape
Ensured that more than 70% of the adult population in the Enable area were vaccinated for Covid
Ensured that the most vulnerable and child-headed households receive regular food supplies
Trained more than 100 families (including all our Mentor Mothers, HIV Support Groups and others living with chronic diseases) to plant food gardens, supplying seeds and seedlings to provide a nutritional diet.
Maintained house to house visits, providing proactive HIV healthcare to more than 4,000 mothers and children
Here in the UK, we were delighted to introduce you to our One to One Africa director, Gqibelo Dandala, to guide you through our immersive Mentor Mother exhibition at the Bernard Jacobson Gallery, while launching our iThemba women’s circle and once again beating our Triple-It target were wonderful end of year highlights.
Here, award-winning journalist Hazel Friedman brings our Mentor Mothers’ work to life through the eyes of Thandie, our local project manager who is responsible for delivering these projects in the field.
Huge thanks for joining us in achieving these milestones, which means we can expand the amazing work of our Mentor Mothers, further reducing HIV transmission in the Eastern Cape and supporting healthcare for vulnerable families in these last-mile communities.
The entire One to One team are excited to hit the ground running in January and we all look forward to sharing our/your impact with you in the coming year.
Warmest wishes to you and your family for the festive season and wishing you a New Year of good health, fulfilment and light!
David
Executive Chairman, One to One Children’s Fund