The Grinding Issue: February 2024 Edition
IT IS OUR STORY!
As the Communications and Media team, we sat down and wracked our brains trying to crystalise our mandate.
How will history judge us as citizens of this country? How will we be judged as sons or daughters, mothers or fathers and colleagues or friends. Well, let us start with history, the study of events in the past but more importantly an account of our story here on earth.
It is in the telling of stories about our people, projects and stakeholders that we believe we can facilitate deep connections and energise our collective efforts in touching lives.
Before we delve into the relaunch of The Grinding Issue, we want to thank Sandile Malinga for setting a high standard in the quality of this newsletter. We will do our utmost to maintain and lift.
The Grind Foundation & SA Election Cycles – We tell a better story!
The story of Maropeng:
In the north-eastern swathes of Limpopo province, amidst the undulating prairies of Bopedi, Maropeng was born in the year 2004 in the village of Phokwane. Her arrival marked a beacon of hope and promise for a brighter future, reminiscent of a people standing on the threshold of their prophesied land.
Maropeng's narrative begins with Dineo, her valiant single mother, who, despite the setback of an unfinished matriculation, harboured unyielding aspirations of prosperity and hope for her beloved daughter. With love as her compass and resilience as her sail, Dineo ventured to Gauteng, seeking a better horizon for their lives. They settled in the Westrand, where they led a modest existence, buoyed by the belief that perseverance paves the path to triumph.
As the nation welcomed a new president, Jacob Zuma, in 2009, it also witnessed the inception of the Development & Planning portfolio, spearheaded by Trevor Manuel. This initiative aimed to craft a National Development Plan (NDP), heralded by the poignant tale of Thandi in 2011. A narrative reflecting the nation's tragedies and the stark realities faced by its people. The NDP sought to be the remedy to South Africa's vibrant yet challenging dilemmas.
Maropeng's story, however, charts a divergent course. As she stepped into adolescence in 2013, her family faced the dire predicament of affording sanitary products, a necessity that threatened her education and social wellbeing. This year also marked the founding of The Grind Foundation, a collective endeavouring to bridge the chasm between the NDP's vision and the resource-stricken populace of South Africa.
Amidst the political fervour of the 2014 general elections and the escalating narrative of 'State Capture', Patricia Ogle established the Ogle Foundation in 2016, focusing on aiding underprivileged children. It was this confluence of paths. Maropeng's, The Grind Foundation's, and Ogle Foundation's that would illuminate her journey forward. Through the Ogle Foundation's sanitary pads project, Maropeng received the support she needed to continue her education uninterrupted.
The ensuing years brought unprecedented challenges, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted educational norms and instilled anxiety among students, including Maropeng. In response, the Fun Learning for Youth (FLY) program and the Grind Foundation's contributions significantly mitigated these disruptions, enabling her to excel in her studies.
As the nation grappled with the ramifications of the pandemic and the government's pledges of renewal and progress, Maropeng's story unfolded as a testament to resilience and collective effort. The donation of tablets and data cards by The Grind Foundation ensured her continued academic success, culminating in a matriculation with a bachelor's pass and the opportunity to pursue engineering at WITS University.
Maropeng's journey, distinct from Thandi's as narrated by Trevor Manuel, underscores the profound impact of collaboration and perseverance. The Grind Foundation's pivotal role in facilitating her academic and professional aspirations exemplifies the transformative power of collective action.
This narrative, while partially fictional, truthfully encapsulates the essence of the contributions made by Ogle Foundation, FLY, and The Grind Foundation to the lives of South Africa's less fortunate. As we stand on the cusp of the 2024 elections, the narrative of Maropeng and the instrumental role of these organisations highlight the imperative for continued collaboration and dedication towards fostering change and hope in the face of adversity.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
From The Poetry of Robert Frost by Robert Frost.
Projects
Ogle Foundation
Ogle Foundation is a NPC led by Patricia Ogle with the support of a few dedicated volunteers who aim to provide support, help and development opportunities to less fortunate members of the community. Some of the major components of the Foundation are:
Provision of sanitary towels for school girls
Fund Raising Distribution of food parcels
Comfort / Critical Kit Programme (distributed to SAPS Child Protection Unit)
Up to 7 million South African girls do not have access or cannot afford sanitary products and have no option but to miss school. The Grind Foundation found that the ongoing sanitary towels campaign by the Ogle Foundation was the most appealing to our ethos and has to date had a significant impact on promoting menstrual hygiene and addressing period poverty. From inception to date the partnership has been able to reach over 16,000 girls.
Through the distribution of sanitary towels, the campaign has increased access to menstrual hygiene products for individuals in need, thereby empowering them to manage their periods with dignity and participate fully in daily activities, namely attending school. The effect of not having access to sanitary pads is a major deterrent to theses young girls attending school, due to the ramifications of not having access to sanitary wear over this period of the month. Additionally, initiatives like this contribute to raising awareness about menstrual health and destigmatising menstruation within communities, and lastly also create awareness and a platform for other individuals and institutions to step up. In addition to providing pads, the outreach is also conducting educational workshops on menstrual health and hygiene.
These sessions not only empower girls with knowledge but also help break the stigma surrounding menstruation, fostering a culture of openness and acceptance.
Some of the highlights of the Ogle Foundation are stated below:
July 2018: Sanitary towels donation to Fleurhof Primary School.
October 2019: Charity starts at school - Sanitary towels donation to Florida Primary School.
March 2020: The Ogle Foundation’s Sanitary Towel Drive reaches learners at Die Ruiter
September 2021: Local NPO wants to keep young girls in school - Each one of the 104 girls in attendance was gifted a pack of 20 sanitary pads.
September 2022: Ogle Foundation visits Princess Primary – Donated towels to grades 5, 6 and 7 girls. Approximately 180 girls were in attendance. Also in August 2023, sanitary towels were distributed to about 300 girls in grade 8 and 9 at Princess High School.
October 2022: Ogle Foundation visits Discovery Primary September 2023: The Ogle Foundation handed out 360 packs of sanitary towels to grade 4–7 learners at Lantern School as part of its mandate to empower the girl-child to stay in school.
October 2023: Ogle Foundation educates girls on the importance of feminine hygiene at Laerskool Florida.
November 2023: Ogle Foundation spreads hope at Molepi Rising Stars, distributing sanitary towels to grades 4-9 girls.
To date Ogle Foundation has reached 16,000 girls. The Grind is grateful to be part of this much needed initiative.
The Grind Foundation has contributed a total of R151,828.00 since 2019 of which R39,000.00 was in 2023. The Grind Foundation is currently the only full-time sponsorship to Ogle Foundation enabling the Foundation to fulfil their commitments and promises that the girls so eagerly await and need. Our hope is to find ways to provide more support to the Ogle Foundation and enable the Foundation to reach more needs. As members of the Grind, your unwavering support and dedication continues to be the driving force behind every initiative we undertake, and we are immensely grateful for your generosity and belief in this specific project.
Quarterly Financial Update
Financial Performance and Position
We are two months into Q1 2024, so far we have received donations of R27 600, or an average of R13 800 a month. This compares to average donations of R28 500 in the previous quarter (Q4 2023) and R17 200 a month for the Q1 2023 and is the lowest monthly average in 2 years.
That said, the Trust is in a better financial position than at the same time last year and is able to make the scheduled Q1 disbursements.
Q1 2024 Disbursements
So far, we have not made any disbursements for the quarter, but we will be making significant disbursements in March. These should cost approximately R140 000 – depending on the number of FLY tablets – the budget is based on 25 tablets.
This is based on, distributing the 25 tablets already in inventory (R92 000) plus spending R46 000 out of cash for monthly data and other costs for the tablets (R13 000) plus disbursements of R13 000 to Ogle Foundation and R15 000 to Dignity Life.
Please see the full graphic below:
