A South Coast-based organisation involved in early childhood education and food provision in rural
communities has been given the opportunity to extend its community outreach and operational
efficiencies following the R490 000 donation of a vehicle by the South African Muslim Charitable
Trust (SAMCT).
Thanda, which was established in 2008, employs more than 100 staff from the local community and
delivers holistic support to in excess of 6 000 children and their households living in the Umzumbe
Municipal area each year. Thanda’s evidence-based programmes, in the form of mixed-model early
learning, atier-school, home learning and organic farming platiorms, are designed to empower
households and – in some instances – entire neighbourhoods to become resilient in the face of
challenges.
The SAMCT has supported Thanda in the past, inclusive of R716 000 for a new building to enable
training, curriculum development and resource sharing in 2016, and, in 2018, the funding of a
vehicle and four jungle-gyms for local schools, collectively valued at R452 000. The impact Thanda
continues to make in the community inspired the SAMCT to provide further support with the
sponsorship of another vehicle.
Commenting on the new vehicle donation, SAMCT representative, Mr Gaff Osman, said: “This is a
community outreach organisation which does amazing and diverse work in local rural communities
outside Hibberdene. This was particularly evident when it took its programmes into community areas
during the COVID-19 health crisis to support people during those particularly challenging times. It
also became apparent that the needs of the communities it aims to serve were growing
exponentially and, sadly, its ability to meet these expanded needs was being stunted because it
lacked a suitably-sized vehicle.”
He said the harsh reality in this rural area is that access to early learning programmes is non-existent
in many parts of the community.
“Thanda makes a telling difference in this regard, fulfilling a critical void in the community by taking
quality learning to young people – sometimes to the most remote neighbourhoods – ensuring fit and
proper physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development; so necessary for a positive start in their
lives,” Mr Osman said.
Learning of Thanda’s inability to expand its operations, the SAMCT was quick to respond, donating an
appropriate vehicle, best-suited to boosting its operations.
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al
Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The
organisation provides funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the
vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged. It has been singularly successful in delivering sizeable
assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work
to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation
and education.
He added: “It is our hope that now having available a larger vehicle; one with increased space, the
organisation will be able to transport more staff, food and resources to their community-based
programmes each day for the benefit of the children it serves. The larger vehicle will also enable
increased numbers of children to participate in programmes at Thanda’s Community Centre during
weekends and school holidays. I am confident that with this additional and bigger vehicle, Thanda
will be much beter positioned to further broaden its educational programmes and to enhance the
already substantial and critical connection it has with all those who benefit from the staff’s work.”