Events

Former Waltham Forest Thuso in South Africa trustee Jill Watkins died recently after a long illness. Jill was a dedicated and tireless trustee of WFTISA for 20 years and led the registration of our charity with the Charity Commission. She was central to establishing systems for communicating with sponsors and sending parcels to our partner schools in South Africa, and always made sure our accounts were in good shape.

Jill will be most fondly remembered by us, however, for the many wonderful, high-quality plants she grew in her beautiful garden for us to sell at our Sunday stall. We like to think of the many gardens around Walthamstow and beyond that are now enjoying the plants that Jill nurtured.

WFTISA is run entirely by volunteers and the very many hours of work that Jill gave to the charity helped improve the life chances of the young people and families in post-Apartheid South Africa that we have supported over the decades. We are so very grateful for all that she did for the charity.

We would like to send our condolences to Jill’s family, who have asked that donations be made in Jill’s memory to WFTISA. We will also be awarding a prize to a student at Thuto Lesedi school next academic year in Jill’s memory.

A group of our young supporters will be taking on a 20 mile cycle ride to the heart of Epping Forest on 7th July, to raise money for solar lamps. The fifteen year olds (and some of their parents) are seeking sponsorship to buy lamps for fellow students at Thuto Lesedi secondary school in Gauteng province.

Up to 40% of South Africans still use highly-flammable and toxic kerosene for heating, lighting and cooking. But the new generation of solar lights – like those we will send – are cheap and reliable and can be used to charge phones as well as provide lighting. The lamps enable children to study after dark and provide a safe form of lighting when electricity supplies fail during power cuts.

Sponsor Ryan, Rafet, Peter and Fraser on their solar powered ride here.

A group of Waltham Forest teenagers (and some of their parents) will be cycling a 20 mile round route from Walthamstow to the heart of Epping Forest, raising money for solar lamps for fellow school students in South Africa. The 13 year olds will be setting off on Sunday 16th October on behalf of charity Waltham Forest Thuso in South Africa. The money raised will help bring safe and affordable lighting to pupils and their families at Lobethal primary school in rural Limpopo and Thuto Lesedi secondary in Gauteng near Johannesburg.

Up to 40% of South Africans still use highly-flammable and toxic kerosene for heating, lighting and cooking. But the new generation of solar lights – like those we will send – are cheap and reliable and can be used to charge phones as well as provide lighting. The lamps enable children to study after dark and provide a safe form of lighting when electricity supplies fail during power cuts.

Sponsor Ryan, Rafet and friends on their solar powered ride here.

In May 2022 MTCF paid for WiFi installation at Lobethal Primary School. That enabled the children to use the tablets donated by U.K. based Redmaids Girls School. Also, to aid the children’s development of information and communication technology (ICT) skills, MTCF gave one year funding for a teacher’s post.

There are five primary schools and one secondary school in that region. Only one of them has donated tablets. The rest have neither computers, laptops nor tablets.

In all the schools, only a small number of the children come from homes where a member of the extended family owns a mobile phone.

 

Now in its fifth year, the Thuso sponsored cycle ride is set to raise money for solar lamps once again. Friends and supporters of the charity will be getting in the saddle on Sunday 9th September to bring safe and affordable lighting to pupils and their families at Lobethal primary school in rural Limpopo.

Hundreds of lamps have already made their way to South Africa, as a result of the energetic efforts of cyclists in previous years. All 15 riders who participated in last year’s cycle ride completed the 40 mile course, which travelled into Epping Forest from Walthamstow to North Weald, via High Beech. In spite of challenges in the form of hills and punctures, the riders were encouraged by great weather and the lovely Essex countryside.

Up to 40% of South Africans still use highly-flammable and toxic kerosene for heating, lighting and cooking. But the new generation of solar lights – like those we are sending – are cheap and reliable and can be used to charge phones as well as provide lighting. The lamps enable children to study after dark and provide a safe form of lighting when electricity supplies fail during power cuts. The families who have received the lights so far have found them easy to use and maintain.

This year’s bike ride will set off from Walthamstow at 10am on Sunday 9th September and riders can choose to complete between 10 and 40 miles. This year we have a number of under 14s taking part in the 10 mile cycle and are keen to have more children, with their parents.

For more information or to join the cycle ride contact Gerard on: gerardomastamilsom@yahoo.co.uk or 07931 337202.

Or if you can’t join the ride you can sponsor the cyclists here

This year’s fundraising Garden Party was our best ever, raising more than £1,500. The glorious summer weather ensured that a crowd of supporters joined us to celebrate Mandela’s Centenary and raise money for schools in South Africa.

We were serenaded by Senegalese musician Abdoulaye Samb and entertained by a showcase of dances from South Africa and around the world.

Guest speakers included South African Deputy High Commissioner Mr Golden Neswiswi, who praised the contribution of women in South Africa and more widely in the solidarity movement. Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr Sally Littlejohn, and Stella Creasy MP also addressed the event, while Thuso’s Chair Mmapula Tiladi Small gave visitors an update on the charity’s work.