What is life without Hope
The desperation of a mother trying to understand her special needs child. Her child, her baby, her fist born was different from other children. People did not want him around them. They did not understand him or his behaviour and neither did she. This was all foreign to her.
She chose to not sit back and allow others to judge or bully her child. She took a stand and educated herself. She vowed to educate her family, and her community and this sparked the birth of Hope For The Future in 2002. Vanessa Sauls Nelson is a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother. She has always been an activist for others, she now needed to become the voice for her child.
Hope For The Future although founded in 2002, was officially registered as an NPO in 2012. It has proven to be a pillar of the community as it stood the test of time and progressed and moved with the times. Hope For The Future is run by volunteers only. No one earns a salary and everything that is donated is poured back into the programs that are now being run by Hope For The Future. There are nine EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS and three EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS. The entire board carries its own portfolios who contributes their time or resources and expertise to HFTF all within their own right over the years. The Executive Board Members does all planning of all events and programs ensuring the working committee executes on mandates. Over the years the working committee changed all the time because they are all volunteers in the organization. All programs as set out by Hope For The Future are MANAGED with Integrity, Respect, Honesty and most importantly without COMPROMISE.
The service include, but are not limited to the following Initiatives, as Hope For The Future expands its services each year, based on the needs of the communities they service. They are now branching out and working in neighbouring communities who require their services, so great is the demand for the work they do.
Current Initiatives Include:
1.Working with Children with Learning Disabilities. Something that Vanessa has firsthand experience with. This was the need that sparked the birth of Hope for the Future. Children with learning disabilities were not given the proper support and attention they required. These children were often labeled as being naughty and in some instances called names such as stupid, idiots etc. Vanessa recognized that her child needed a different kind of support and took the time to educate herself and provide him and other children like him with the support and tools they needed to succeed in life. They help children get assessed and placed in the correct learning environment fitting to their needs.
The support for children with learning disabilities have grown over the past year and she believed that these children’s rights to QUALITY EDUCATION FITTING TO SUIT THEIR NEEDS WAS LACKING, AND VOWED TO GET THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ON BOARD. THE SUCCESS AFTER DRAFTING A LETTER EXPLAINING THAT ALL CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISSABAILITIES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT CIRRICULUM AND THEIR RIGHTS AS OUTLINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION, CHILDREN’S ACT AND FREEDOM CHARTER BEING ENFRINGED UPON AND THE GAP BETWEEN ACCADEMICALLY SOUND CHILDREN VERSUS CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES WAS VIOLATED AND IDENTIFED. THE SAHRC IS FIGHTING THE BATTLE IN ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISSABILITIES ON BEHALF OF HFTF.
2. Gender Based Violence. Sadly Vanessa can relate to this as well and this initiative is the biggest one being run by Hope For The Future. The Cape flats is rife with domestic violence, rape and child abuse. Something that is near and dear to Vanessa’s heart. Services they offer to GBV survivors include Counselling and Trauma Debriefing, a once of Pamper Session. They assist the ladies by facilitating the process to help them obtain Protection Orders, preparing them for Court Procedures. They also refer the ladies to organizations as required.
Special Support Sessions runs throughout the year two sessions per month for women who were and is victims of GBV.
9th AUGUST they continue to run as they celebrate all survivors and champions.
The Hear Me Too Campaign, where Women are given the chance to share their stories of strength. Encouraging others to come forward and speak out against their own
This in turns kick off 25th November 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence which follows with protest and placard demonstrations. Their slogan BREAK THE SILENCE END THE VIOLENCE has reached the ears of ENCA and ran an interview as HFTF believes that the Magistrates has blood on their hands.
JUNE 16 they run a Youth Pampering Sessions to promote Female Rights against Gender Based Violence educating them on the new legislation and their rights.
3. Feeding Scheme. They run a feeding scheme that feeds the community, young and old alike on a weekly basis. This is coupled with a day dedicated to the older persons. They have a Pensioners Open Market for the older persons to come along and collect fresh produce and non-perishables at no cost.
4. December to March they run a Back to School Campaign ADOPT a CHILD Encouraging those who can afford to, to adopt a child and provide that child with new school clothes, stationery and if possible pay the school fees for the new year.
5. April to July they run a Winter Drive for winter school uniform, clothing and blankets for those in need.
6. Beyond the Blaze. Is for victims of fire disaster and they collect goods for people affected by fires. Something that is a common sight across Cape Town, as people suffer terrible losses to fires on a daily basis. Hope For The Future helps people rebuild their lives, in a dignified way.
7. 18 July Madiba Day. On this day they get the young people sign a Pledge to Complete School. “EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD”
8. 16 December, they have their Annual Christmas Lunch. The children receives are entertained and served a Xmas Meal such as Kentucky Chicken, salads, chops, meat and cooldrink and juice, as well as dessert. After dessert SANTA CLAUS hands out a personalized gift to each child.
9. Rape Crises. They address the surge of Rape in the Community. Debriefing the youngsters and referring them to the relevant organizations. Including educating them around the danger signs.
10. Teen Pregnancies. A common phenomenon among the young girls. They are counseled, educated and encouraged to finish school attend a Flourish Program for 10 weeks after which a graduation as well as a baby shower to end of the program.
11. Disability Sports Day for inclusive support of everyone in the community.
12. Young Achievers Program. Consisting of a youth desk, where the youth are employed, up skilled and decapitated. Cancer Awareness is what they want to promote.
13. Skills Development. Young and old are being up skilled for employment. Current skills include sewing lessons to be able to generate an income for themselves.
14. Cycling the main focus being on the youth, but it is open to all. This is a way to keep the young occupied and away from the temptations of drugs and gangsterism giving them alternative options. This is coupled with valuable life skills.
15. Easter Campaign a drive to ensure that children from poverty stricken families who do not know what it is to receive an Easter Egg, Pickled Fish and Hot Cross Buns.
16. Substance Abuse Awareness. Assess, intervene and refer to appropriate organizations and rehabilitation centre's.
17. Child Neglect and Abuse Awareness. Assess, and report any suspected cases and get the appropriate authorities involved and referring cases.
18. Young Men of Distinction. A Mentorship program between the young and old. Providing young boys with a positive role model and someone to trust and share an accountability pact with.
19. Annual Matric Breakfast. To wish the matric’s well on having come this far and sending them off to achieve what most aren't able to do as a direct result of circumstance. Often this is being born into a community rife with poverty, drugs and gangsterism.
Vanessa believes in giving back to her community, she was born and raised in this community and she went beyond the norm and returned to her childhood community where, Hope for the Future provides its services. Hope for the Future started in Heideveld, expanded support in Gugulethu, Blikkiesdorp and Manenberg and has expanded its services to Bonteheuvel and Ravensmead.
Communities may differ in name but the needs, challenges and obstacles are the same.
Hope For The Future has proven that one can achieve much with little to no money. None of the people working at HFTF earns a salary, yet they each have a family to support. Hope For The future does not have suitable premises to run from either. It is as much a victim to vandalism and theft, forced to work with what they have. Yet they have not and will not give up. To the team at Hope For The Future the community come’s first.
Vanessa will not give up. She will not lose hope. She is determined to make a difference where she can and so will Hope for the Future.
Her personal Motto is that Humility will prevail.
She shed her Victims Cloak, traded in her Survivors Cloak and she now proudly wears her Champions Crown.
The Motto of Hope For The Future is To Educate, Eradicate and Eliminate.
Vanessa’s philosophy she lives by and believe in life:
“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return”
“What count in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made in the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”
NELSON MANDELA
Hope For The Future needs your support.
Please do not hesitate to contact Vanessa and lend her your support.
Email: [email protected]
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Vanessa.M.Sauls.Nelson
WhatsApp: +27760736777
