Umzimkhulu Project, South Africa

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started many families were struggling to earn a living.

Education quality was poor, and child malnutrition and diseases caused by dirty water and poor hygiene were common.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Umzimkhulu community have access to quality education from pre-school through to vocational training. Parents are also more aware of the importance of education for their children’s future.

Together we've achieved so much

1,920 people have access to clean water

Three water springs were rehabilitated, 33 water tanks installed and 690 water filter buckets distributed across the community.

  • The improved access to clean water helped to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, which were the main cause of ill health amongst children.
  • Toilets were built at one pre-school, and seven primary schools received water tanks for hand-washing facilities, which has helped to improve hygiene for close to 1,600 children.
  • 88 percent of parents and caregivers now demonstrate hygienic hand-washing behaviour to prevent the spread of disease, up from 26 percent in 2012.

98% of children are enrolled in school

Children have access to quality education from pre-school through to vocational training, and parents are more aware of the importance of education for their children’s future.

  • Pre-schools received learning resources and play equipment and pre-school teachers took part in training so they can foster early literacy and numeracy skills amongst children and better prepare them for formal schooling.
  • Teacher training, homework clubs, a family maths program and new learning resources in schools have boosted functional literacy and numeracy amongst children by 20 percent.
  • 43 school governance board members were trained in leadership and negotiation skills. These board members can now work more closely with government departments to ensure improvements to education service delivery.
  • 1,333 students gained much needed vocational skills through the provision of 10 computers to two high schools.

75% of families now have a vegetable garden

These household vegetable gardens provide them with an ongoing source of nutritious food for their children and excess produce to sell for extra income.

  • 928 community members took part in training on vegetable production and food preparation and they received seeds and other supplies to set up household gardens and start raising chickens. As a result, many families now have nutritious food for their children all year round.
  • 49 community members were trained and supported to set up savings groups to provide local families with access to funds to support income generating activities and cover household expenses. By 2015, around 40 percent of families in the community reported they had savings.

"World Vision has changed our lives, we are living in peace because we have food on the table."

- Farmer, Umzimkhulu community