New Year

A new school year has started. All our girls have passed. Thandi is no longer with CDC. Her mom is now permanently employed and is able to support Thandi's further education at JG Meiring. We wish her all the best for her future. Bronwyn, who is supported by two families in Switzerland, happily started her high school career at DF Malan High. I was fortunate enough to share this experience with her. She was so excited and proudly announced that she is in Grade 8.1, the class with all the clever children (as she put it). Alison and Keasha will continue at JvR and will continue living at the hostel during the week and at home over weekends. Caylin passed matric with a distinction in German. She is now applying at the University of Bremen and will be supported by the host family with whom she lived during her CDC-organized academic exchange in 2011.

CDC is not a large organisation. It came into being because 4 sisters who had a tough childhood themselves, wanted to help other children in similar situations. It has been a difficult road, but through perseverance we have made a difference in the lives of 5 girls. Two of our board members have been diagnosed with Chiari malformation in the last 2 years. We would like to continue supporting our girls, but due to these health problems and the degenerative and debilitating nature of Chiari malformation which is exacerbated by stress, we will most probably not take on anymore students in the future.

On March 21st we will be hosting a fundraising dinner at African Queen, Zurich with a 3-course meal including great South African wines from Thelema, Hamilton Russell Southern Right and from the Sadie Family estate. Price 120 chf. Please support this event. Know that your donation goes directly to the education of these girls. Tickets can be purchased by emailing me at desiree.schumann@careanddevelopment.co.za and depositing the money into our bank account:

Bank: Credit Suisse A/c Holder: Care and development of Children
Address: Grand-Rue 17, 1700 Fribourg
Konto: 1896248-01
IBAN CH04 0483 5189 6248 0100 0

For those from Basel who would like to attend the fundraiser, I have a 7-seater Sharan and would gladly pick you up and drop you off at home.

If you are interested in 'adopting' one of our girls by giving 50-100 chf a month, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support.