At our board meeting at the end of February, I asked the members to speak of their own individual “vision” for the future of KAS … and then, quite unexpectedly, I blurted out my own unrehearsed thoughts and was bowled over by the enthusiastic response !!!

It goes like this :

When our lease comes to an end in Randburg at the end of July, we need to look for the same type of large, secure, ground floor accommodation in Soweto and move there, hopefully at a substantial reduction in rent.  As it turns out we then discovered that we have never been asked to sign our current new lease in Randburg - and so I have already discussed with the landlord the possibility that we may leave BEFORE July, to which he has kindly agreed in principal.

Once we have secured the right accommodation, we will open a private bag (X) address at the nearest post office in Soweto and publicise it for future postal deliveries.  We will maintain the X900 Bryanston private bag address for the foreseeable future, as long as it is in use by contributors.  In other words there are NO plans to close this facility. 

(NB: Volunteers from this area who do not wish to go to Soweto will still want to carry on opening a few parcels in future as they and their groups love stitching up blankets.  We’ll plan accordingly and keep everyone informed as we go along.)

I will go to Soweto two or three times a week for volunteer days, gogo group days, distributions and whatever else is required … for the rest of this financial year to end February 2017, and then as a volunteer from then onwards.

Mabel, Wandi and Lindi are to actively seek suitable new board members with the right skill sets in order to take over the board of KAS SA from 1st March 2017.  This means that all white board members will resign, including myself.

All likely candidates will be interviewed and their suitability assessed carefully.

Excitingly, as pointed out by Wandi, Lindi and Mabel, the moment KAS SA is a formally registered, fully black-owned and run NGO/charitable entity in South Africa, the funding doors will open wide.  Government Social Welfare funding becomes immediately available, and plans to utilise the premises in Soweto for gogo groups, feeding schemes and the like, will open the doors of BBBEE funding in respect of Enterprise Development and Training programmes.

NGOs such as this are powerful in the context of areas like Soweto – they are taken far more seriously by government departments and the community than a charity run along the lines that KAS SA has used.

We are already listing skill set requirements and Joel has agreed to come on board as our driver and postal collection operative … he is meticulously careful and it will be a pleasure to hand over the KASvan to him entirely, once the new board is fully constituted next March.  As it is, he has long since become a volunteer to open parcels and I am showing him the ropes at the post office weekly which he is enjoying – and he is more than capable of handling the routine from top to bottom.

From 1st April I will be viewing properties in Soweto – both Wandi and Joel have come up with possibilities already and spoken to the estate agents responsible giving them the profile of our requirements.

From the point of view of the members, our rental costs should immediately reduce, fuel costs will increase, we will need to fund a large removal of ALL the KAS furniture and fittings and purchase more tables and shelving once we are moved in.  We will also need to purchase chairs for gogo groups (plastic ones perhaps) and other items still to be listed such as computer equipment as the laptop I use is my own.

We will need a certain level of financial support until such time as the new entity has been able to attract funds as outlined above … which will only be forthcoming once there are no white people involved to spoil KAS SA’s image. 

For as long as is required, I will administer the banking and keep the books. Lindi’s two sisters are qualified chartered accountants and will be approached in due course to take on the auditing, or introduce a new auditing firm in Soweto for this purpose.

 

To end on an even higher note …

We have been a contribution via PAYPAL from Hong Kong, sent by a school who recently ran a KAS KNIT-A-THON and this payment represented the proceeds … the sum of USD2 500.00 has arrived in the account !!!

GOD IS GOOD … ALL THE TIME !!!!

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Replies

  • Wow - what a parcel of news for us all - and well done to all involved who have researched this and who are working to make it happen!  I am assuming that you will still want squares - is the plan at some stage to make the charity so self sustaining that the ladies who have been learning to knit in the Navy Blue Scarf Project will create the blankets, or will we still be able to express our love for these poor kids through our knitting?  I am so excited for you all that this fabulous idea of Rhonda's will march on forward in a new venue even stronger!

    • tI have commented elsewhere about the really exciting venture. Wandi, Lindi and Mabel, thank you so much for stepping up to take KAS SA forward to a great future. Good luck with your search for new board members. Ronda I am pleased you can reduce the incredible workload you have borne for so many years. We will definitely not be losing you as I can imagine your input for the volunteer days and distributions will be as enthusiastic as ever ! Grateful  thanks to all of you.

  • Lots of lovely encouraging replies ... so grateful for the support you have shown for the "new KAS". And, of course, the incredible support we have enjoyed from you all in the past ... without which we would never have come so far. xoxoxo

  • Sounds like a perfect solution to the constant worry about funds and kudos to Wandi , Lindi andJoel who have provided so much assistance to KAS. I certainly will continue to support them as I have both Sandy and you Rhonda!! What an accomplishment this little 8" square idea has turned out to be!
  • I just went on line for a browse and read this uplifting report. Thank you

  • Such exciting news that KAS SA will move forward in a wonderfully positive way with such support.  What you created Ronda is something so very, very special and it is such good news that it is going to grow and develop while allowing you to take some well earned rest but still make an invaluable contribution.

    Here's to the next stage in the KAS SA journey - we are with you all the way. x

  • Wow Ronda! There is a wonderful song in Australia, written and sung by an Indigenous man titled "From Little Things Big Things Grow". What you have grown in SA with KAS is nothing short of amazing. You can look forward to winding down to a richly deserved retirement, in the secure knowledge that KAS will be a robust thriving NGO....What a wonderful legacy . God is indeed good!
  • What a wonderfully exciting development in the ongoing life of this amazing charity.  At Knit for Life we have received some further funds from KAS supporters so these will shortly be on their way to your account to help with the moving expenses. We will all miss your constant presence Ronda but you certainly deserve to take it a little easier, secure in the knowledge that you are leaving the future of KAS in such capable hands.  I know you will enjoy your volunteer role without so much pressure!

    • Thank you so much for what you have said, Elaine ... you and Pam have been amazingly helpful and supportive and generous over the years, right from the beginning of KAS SA.  Your comments are so touching and encouraging - we are greatly blessed by what everyone has said in response to our new horizons !!

  • Congratulations Ronda with this elegant solution. It feels as a crown on your work that these special ladies will continue to do the work and take over KAS SA. And Joel....you are great!

    Wish you all lots of success, and Ronda, enjoy your time as a volunteer.

    Last but not least, Linda, Wandi and Mabel, I will continue to support KAS. xo

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