1 MILLION LIVES IMPACTED
IN 5 YEARS

The Tsholofelong Children & Youth Trust is located in Old Naledi (Gaborone, Botswana). The centre is a small plot with basic facilities that relies on donations to help provide a safe and happy environment, Monday-Friday for vulnerable children in the local area. By vulnerable we mean children who come from broken homes, from being neglected, to both parents abusing alcohol and will sell whatever they can to fuel their intake, to parents/single parents that simply cant afford to feed their own children let alone themselves. The centre does it’s part by providing food at least once a day(when funding is available), try to create an environment of creativity, from helping with the children’s homework to providing educational games and activities.

Facilities available

• 1 Hall – equipped with chairs and recently donated tv

• 1 Small kitchen – 1 large freezer, 1 fridge/freezer, sink, oven to help prepare and keep food fresh

• 1 Library – Includes only a box of irrelevant books and 4-5 computers that do not work

• 1 Outside play area – Where children can play/do homework

• 1 Small outside space for a vegetable patch

What do they need?

The centre is in constant need of help, these kids need some positive guidance in their life, else there is not much chance for a bright future but rather a future filled with poverty, no opportunity and potential crime if we don’t intervene. The buildings are old, slightly dilapidated, their facilities as mentioned need much attention, the children need a constant supply of food, warmth, clean water, educational supplies, as well as positive inspiration and more opportunities and chances at a better life.

How are we going to help?

The Lifting Africa Foundation has stepped in and has promised to help turn this centre around. ‘Fitness Making A Difference’ is our motto and we are now using fitness to actually make a difference, as the Lifting Africa team in Botswana is starting to host Lifting Africa Workouts in the capital city that is Gaborone. These workouts are for people who are not only determined to get their sweat on but motivated to help others along the way, as they are literally working out for a great cause, run by some of our most experienced and qualified personal trainers.

How does this help the children’s centre? For every person joining the workout they will firstly pay a fee for their participation and on top of that they can bring a donation of physical goods that we can take to the centre to benefit the children (i.e. Tin goods, blankets, educational material etc). 100% of the funds we receive from the workouts will be use to purchase what the children’s centre needs most each month, from food to more expensive needs like upgrading the facilities.

This is for the long term

Lifting Africa Workouts is starting in Gaborone, Botswana, however we will be using this process next in Johannesburg, South Africa. We will target projects where the least fortunate are most in need in their local communities. We won’t stop there, we will go overseas to expand our audience, but note all proceeds that are taken in other non-African countries will be still used by our Foundation on African soil.

This being our most recent and impactful project. Lifting Africa's Women is fully focused on GBV (Gender Based Violence), specifically in South Africa, a beautiful country with one of the highest rates of sexual and violent assaults to women and children. How are we helping?

Although a monstrous challenge, we have to start somewhere - we have opened our first Lifting Africa Safe House in Soweto - which through those that purchase our products and choose LA Women's Project at checkout help pay for the safe house rent, food, legal and psychology support for the victims. The stories are heartbreaking and completely underserved, however with your help we can continue helping giving these women and children hope of a normal life, and not let their assault be their story.

Project Education - Focuses on providing necessary tools to help aid education to children in the lowest of income areas in South Africa. Through those customers who choose to support this project help fund text books, uniforms, school meals, and we are currently working on partnering with certain schools to help raise funds for scholarships for children who would have never been able to afford an opportunity such as this. Through project education we look to provide opportunity to those who may never have the chance to something that all children should have; the opportunity and right to an education.

The Lifting Africa Foundation’s first project looks to tackle the most monumental of issues faced in the majority of the african continent; lack of access to clean drinking water.

Did you know 844 million people worldwide don’t have access to clean water? That is approximately 3x the population of U.S.A and more than 13x the population of the United Kingdom. (WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2017)

Now, although we would want to eradicate the issue entirely, it is a feat facing decades of dedication, committed time and effort. However, if we are given the long term support we will challenge ourselves to eradicate this issue entirely! Our foundation is focused on bringing basic human needs, like clean, accessible water to those suffering the most without it in the African Continent.

Our first target country is Nigeria. Why do we pick Nigeria? It is the most populated country in Africa, with approximately 154 Million people inhabiting the land. Around 42% of those lack improved water sources and they suffer the highest annual deaths of children under 5 due to unclean water related problems, both of these statistics are the highest in any other African based nation. (wateraid.org & AfricaPublicHealth.info 2015)

Now how are we going to help? Through the funding we receive from Lifting Africa Clothing™ we will be able to provide long term solution filtration systems, using strategic projects with our partnership with Lifestraw®, to help severely affected areas that are in need of immediate attention. These filters will help turn undrinkable water into useful and safe water for consumption, sanitation uses and even providing vital water to provide resources for food.

This is only the beginning, we are going to change the way this world helps people, we are here to make a REAL difference. You can follow our projects and our progress updates on our online blog and our social media platforms @Lifting_Africa_Foundation, and our very own @Lifting_Africa_Clothing to help support our mission, be part of the cause, shop with a purpose and make the difference.