MBC AGM Report 2009

  • The LifeMatters Foundation is a non-profit s21 company and a registered s18a PBO, which means that Tax-deductible donations can be made to the company. LMF was established over 4 years ago to serve the youth of the greater Constantiaberg area and beyond. Our core purpose is to positively impact the lives of school children through sensitive intervention at many levels, believing that with God as their foundation they will find true value, purpose and healing. Our mission statement is:

“To serve the community schools in a relevant and creative way in order that more children have the opportunity to grow in wholeness - spiritual, physical, emotional, social and intellectual.”

This mission is achieved through meeting the following key objectives:

  • To empower children to make right responses in the situations in which they find themselves.
  • To support and encourage children towards reaching their full academic potential.
  • To develop the sense of purpose and self-worth of children within a healthy value system.
  • To equip adults (parents, teachers and volunteers) in their various roles with children.

How LMF operates:

Our diverse team of volunteers, which includes both professional social workers, counsellors, teachers and administrators as well as any other people who want to serve by being Jesus’ hands and feet, work in and around our community’s schools, achieving LMF’s slogan of “serving the future” by impacting young lives with God’s love and truth.

This happens in various creative ways and depends largely on the skills and passions of the people who step up to get involved. It’s not so much about what we do as what our volunteers (who are our most valuable resource) can offer.

LMF is active in schools ranging from the economically privileged to the economically challenged. We believe that all kinds of children in all kinds of schools have real needs which are not being met. LMF volunteers join with educators, welfare workers, ministers and parents to help young lives forge a positive, safe, responsible path forward within their particular circumstances. We firmly believe that if a child’s self-esteem and character are strengthened on a solid foundation, they will be empowered towards living a fuller, more meaningful life that will benefit themselves, their community and their country.

LMF involvement in the community is exciting – and growing!

  • LMF is becoming a consolidated, trustworthy presence serving in many of the local community’s schools.
  • LMF is starting to becalled upon for advice, intervention, assembly and camp input, etc - and seeks to challenge communities, churches, corporates and individuals to creatively and lovingly ‘serve the future’.
  • LMF strives to network with schools, churches and other NGO’s, and seeks to replicate in other areas of the Western Cape under the same banner.

What do we offer?

Depending on the needs of the children, LMF designs various programmes and systems at schools in collaboration with the principal and relevant staff. These are then implemented by a team of specialist volunteer workers which includes special needs teachers, occupational therapists, counsellors and psychologists. At the moment, our involvement in the community incorporates:

  • 1 on 1 counselling and mentoring
  • Support groups for divorce, anger management, loss and others
  • Self Esteem Growth Groups and Conflict Management groups (POWERGROUPS)
  • “Homework Group” – support and tutoring group in the afternoons
  • Specialist Life Orientation teaching and facilitation
  • Assembly talks
  • Themed Camps
  • Tutoring, academic and remedial support
  • Specialist training workshops for volunteers and teachers
  • Support and facilitation of school Christian clubs – “Breakaway”
  • Co-ordination of projects to uplift the school community including paint refurbishments and vegetable gardens

Some specific achievements over the last year:

  • The addition of a social worker, Lauren Hammond, to our staff, which has proved to be an invaluable resource.
  • Quality added to the existing projects in ourcurrent schools: Bergvliet High, Constantia Primary, Kirstenhof Primary, Lourier Primary, Sweet Valley Primary, and WestcottPrimary.
  • The joining of an established team under the banner of LMF to work in Zwaanswyk Primary and ReddamHouseSchool.
  • The partnering with Rotary Newlands during the Pick ‘n Pay/Argus Cycle Race which resulted in a R10 000 donation towards our annual Pathfinders Camp for the Lourier Primary grade 8’s.
  • The opportunity to run the Sweet Valley Primary’s Teenage Awareness Week again this year.
  • LMF has successfully intergrated 2 more Interns from UCT (Dani Turner and Leanne McNair) into LMF. They are adding great value to our work at Lourier Primary.

In closing…

LifeMatters Foundation endeavours to make a significance eternal difference in our children’s lives so that when they grow up into adults they willthink fondly of the impact on their lives – and so enable the foundation to continue and grow through the volunteering of their own time, money and support.

We are in need of continuous monthly income to pay the salary of our social worker in 2010. But we know that God will bless LifeMatters Foundation as we strive to grow His kingdom here on earth.

JULIE LUNN

Foundation Coordinator

July 2009