Website | About Us | Projects | Donate

Sharing the LOVE

February 2015

Dear Donors and Friends,

We have some big news to share with you - the Love to Langa Swimming Academy at Philippi Children's Centre will be opening this Fall!

Drowning is one of the highest causes of accidental death of children under age 14 in South Africa, according to UNICEF, and unfortunately most children in the communities we serve just don't have access to swimming lessons.

Part of the rationale of starting Love to Langa was to leverage our US dollars to have the greatest impact possible. This is a great example: to build an indoor, heated pool at Philippi Children's Centre will cost only USD$26,000. Once it is completed, the Headstart Swim School will take over the administration and train pupils and community members to teach at the school.

We look forward to keeping you updated about our progress and will have different giving levels available soon. If you have any questions or would like to contribute to the Love to Langa Swim Academy, please contact Amy at info@lovetolanga.org.

Love to Langa has been sponsoring swimming lessons for several students over the past few months at a pool Headstart built in Claremont and we are thrilled to expand the opportunity to gain this life-long skill to more children. We'd like you to meet two of the children who we are sponsoring.

Lithemba was a little apprehensive when he had his first lesson, says teacher Anne Shurrie. "He hadn't had lessons prior to coming to Headstart, but now enters the water with confidence and a big smile. I had to learn a few Xhosa words and with the help of his mom interpreting he is kicking well, blowing bubbles, doing role-poly arms over the noodle and has progressed to not being held when on the noodle. He loves the water and listens to instruction well. He is a pleasure to teach."

Marian had never swam before but she was not afraid of getting into the pool. She's willing to learn and is loving it, says teacher Wendy Chamongoma. "She has even started swimming along with the help of aids without holding onto me. She blows bubbles and enjoys every lesson. She's learned how to climb out of the pool and dive while sitting."

Trip report by Jonah Reisboard, age 13

The Reisboard family in front of Love to Langa Classroom, Philippi Children's Center

This past December, my family and I were fortunate enough to travel to South Africa and spend time in Cape Town and stay in Kruger National Park. While in Cape Town, we were given the amazing opportunity to visit an orphanage in Nyanga Township, and a school nearby, Phillipi Children's Centre. Although we were there during their summer vacation and there were no kids at the school, we were able to see some of the children that benefit from this school as we drove through Nyanga and Philippi. The buildings at the school (Philippi) were nicer than where the orphans live (Nyanga). They had everything at school that we have at our schools in the United States. Education is a gift that is taken for granted far too often. Thank you Jon, Amy, and everyone else who helped to make the Phillippi Children's Centre what it is today.

With our best wishes,

Amy and Jon Ostroff

Love to Langa

Donate via Paypal

Donate via GlobalGiving

Visit our partner, SASDI's website