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    Lockdown Newsletter #3

17 June 2020

 

We are entering week 12 of lockdown and what has become our new normal on Thursday. There does seem to be more traffic on the roads and Grades 7 and Matric have gone back to school with new protocols in place and a very different school day to what they were used to.

The ban on alcohol sales has been lifted and as long as you purchase your tipple between Monday and Thursday, you're good to go.  Restaurants have used their initiative with many offering a drive-through bottle pick-up of your favourite beverage.  Although many citizens are celebrating, the sad reality is that the number of trauma cases at hospital emergency units increased by 75% in just one week!

On a more positive note, more and more businesses are reopening and lives are getting some of their 'normal' routine back.

Children not back in the classroom are being schooled at home via various mediums and their parents, testing mom and dad's patience levels on a daily basis.  Never before has the community had so much respect for teachers and what they do. A huge round of applause to all our educators who have had to step up to the challenge of becoming online tutors overnight.  They really have stepped up to the plate and shown just how awesome they are. I firmly believe that they form part of the essential services and their workers.

Speaking of which, we'd like to give a huge shout out to all our essential workers.  Our nurses, doctors, medics, paramedics, fire fighters, food manufacturers, refuse collection guys, food packaging manufacturers, supermarket staff, and more.  Thank you for your tireless work especially those working within the medical field and actively attending to, and exposing themselves to, patients who could infect them on a daily basis.
 
Let's continue to think of these people and give thanks for all their hard work and caring . Please take care, stay safe, wash your hands, sanitise and, most of all, have some more fun!


Till next time...

Nicky and the team

  NEW ONLINE CHILDREN'S BOOKSHOP
Our Mobile Children's Bookshop has been unable to visit schools and offer learners, parents and educators books during this time of lockdown. But we have a solution...Mobile Bookshop is going online under the guise of Finders Keepers (finderskeepersbookshop.co.za) .

From tots to teens, they have a large range of preloved children’s books on offer at great prices.  From non-fiction educational topic specific books to children’s readers for all ages, they have some of the best.  Beast Quest, Harry Potter, Horrid Henry, Horrible Histories, Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants, Lemony Snicket, Dork Diaries, Goosebumps, Norm, and more.  Authors include Roald Dahl, Tom Gates, Meg Cabot, Jacqueline Wilson, David Williams, Beatrix Potter, Julia Donaldson, Enid Blyton and many others.

Buy online with free delivery in Cape Town and surrounds on orders of R450 and more.

 

AND THE LUCKY WINNER IS.....

Thank you to every one who made a purchase in one of our shops during the month of May. We were overwhelmed by the response to our competition and are pleased to announce that Gordon van Rooyen, who purchased goods at our Retreat Clothing and General Merchandise shop, is the lucky winner of a R200 Help The Rural Child Gift Voucher which he can spend at any of our shops.  Congratulations Gordon, enjoy your shopping. 

Remember that all the necessary precautions with regard to the COVID-19 virus are being taken to safeguard your health and minimize any risk to our shoppers so those of you who weren't lucky enough to win this time, come on down and have a browse.  We're sure you'll find something you like in the brand new stock that just been unpacked.

 
A word from Goedgedacht's Director

During the afternoon of  Thursday, 28 May 2020, after a couple of weeks of careful preparation, Goedgedacht’s COVID-19 Recovery Centre opened with a bang! Without prior notification, an ambulance arrived at our Leadership Academy recovery unit, with our first guest. The staff who were on standby on the farm were all a bit startled. Although we had prepared ourselves for this moment for weeks, when it suddenly arrived, all of us experienced a bag of mixed emotions… fear, anxiety, and at the same time a sense of deep compassion with our first guest. In full protective gear, the very professional ambulance staff escorted him to his room. What cut deep though, was that he was very conscious about his status, covering his face as to not make direct contact with any of the staff and put them at risk of infection.

Memories of the beginning of South Africa’s AIDS pandemic came flooding back. I remembered how people were stigmatized when infected by HIV. And I recalled the pain and hardship. Never can we allow anybody to be stigmatized in the same way again.

I called the patient by his title and surname. He stopped. “Welcome to Goedgedacht’s Recovery Centre” I said. “I hope you are going to be very happy while staying at Goedgedacht. I wish it was possible to greet you by hand”. He waved at me and smiled. “I can assure you that our cook will prepare very tasty meals,” I said. “I hope you will be comfortable”. He responded with “Thank you that you are kind to me. I feel welcome. It is a good place to be. I think I will recover quickly”.

                                                           Deon Snyman
                                                                Managing Director

  

GOEDGEDACHT'S ISOLATION FACILITY OPENS

Goedgedacht opened their isolation facilities on the 28th May when their first patient was admitted, albeit somewhat unexpectedly.  This facility came about to alleviate the pressure on the Swartland Hospital and to make available a safe space for Covid-19  patients who have been referred by the hospital and are unable to self-isolate at home.  Many of these community members share a one roomed abode often small, with limited space, and all living in close proximity to each other.

All patients are given a care package, fresh linen and access to clean and sanitised facilities on arrival.  Contactless meal deliveries are made as well as a weekly laundry service.  Meals are cooked by Goedgedacht's resident chef and are healthy, nutritious and inviting as we all know just how important good nutritious food is for the sick. 

The revamped facility gives the guests ample secure space both indoors and out.  Games, books and television are all an arm's length away, keeping the patient occupied.

Human connection is often the most important aspect of being cared for and it is important to for mental well-being while recovering too.  For this reason, WiFi and telephones have been made accessible to ensure patients are able to connect with social services and loved ones for support. A resident doctor and nurse will ensure that anyone displaying serious symptoms are cared for and that all staff and guests are screened regularly for elevated temperatures and other symptoms. 

             WIN WIN WIN                                          WITH OUR                        MOBILE CHILDREN'S BOOKSHOP

Time for another competition... win amazing prizes from our Mobile Children's Bookshop.

1st prize - set of Harry Potter books
2nd prize - set of Dr Seuss books
3rd prize - set of  Horrible Science books
4th prize - Beatrix Potter compilation book

Only R150 per ticket and just 2 easy steps to enter:

  1. Deposit your money into our bank account with your name as a reference
  2. WhatsApp your name and the answer to  083 650 1941


Draw on 30 June 2020.  Lucky winner will be contacted by phone.


Bank details:
Acc. holder:  Goedgedacht t/a Help The Rural Child
STANDARD BANK, MALMESBURY (050507)
Acc. No.: 372862349
Reference:  Your name

WE'RE ALWAYS IN NEED OF 

CLOTHING * TOYS * GAMES * SPORTS EQUIPMENT * BRIC-A-BRAC * HOUSEHOLD TEXTILES * BOOKS *  SHOES * AND MORE

PLEASE CALL US ON (021) 685-2810 TO SCHEDULE YOUR COLLECTION

 
MEMORY GAME FOR KIDDIES
 
During the 1970's, when we had birthday parties we had them at home and the mom of the birthday child was responsible for the party games too.  Here's one that you can do during lockdown with your own kids at no expense at all. 
  • Take a tray and line it with a tea towel or drying up cloth.  
  • Choose 10 - 15 random items from around the house e.g. mom's sewing tape measure, a kitchen gadget, an item of stationery, a small toy, something from the garden etc.  You get the picture.
  • Place these items on the tray and then cover with another cloth.
  • At game time, lift the top cloth and allow the participants to look at the tray for a minute.
  • Cover the items on the tray again.
  • Players to write down what they remember seeing on the tray.
  • The person with the highest number of remembered items wins.

Perhaps you can take it in turns to be the host and set out the items on the tray.

You could also give a small prize to the winner of each round.

Have fun!
 
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Help The Rural child
14 Upper Durban Road
Mowbray 7700
Cape Town, South Africa

Email us at marketing@ruralchild.org.za

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