March 2025 Newsletter

GLLP Newsletter March 2025.pdf

It's a new year!

With only a couple of weeks to go before the end of the first term, it already feels like this year is flying!

Winter Warmth

Our main drive at the moment, is to collect jerseys and beanies to be given out to the children around mid-April . If you are a knitter and would like to make them a jersey (or 2 😊)there is a simple pullover pattern on our website: https://gods-little-lambs.wixsite.com/gllhowick/about-5 .

Alternatively, if you would like to donate wool, we need around 300g of double knitting per jersey and beanie. Wool can be dropped off at Howick Community Church in Holmes Lane, mornings only. Our biggest need is in the 3 – 5 year group and any colours will do. Please cast off loosely around the neck so they fit nicely over the children’s heads.

If you are not a knitter, donations of track suit tops or bought jerseys are also very welcome.

Angel Paws

We had another lovely visit from Angel Paws recently to help the children understand better some of the do’s and don’ts of caring for dogs. While some of the children were not at all keen to touch the therapy dogs, others had great fun brushing them and taking them for a short walk. Angel Paws is an amazing organisation that does a lot of good work in retirement homes, schools and hospitals.

Building Fund

Our building fund is growing steadily as we work towards dividing one of our classrooms to reduce noise levels, and enclosing a veranda to give the children a better space to play when the weather turns wet or cold. If you would like to contribute to this please see our bank details on: https://gods-little-lambs.wixsite.com/gllhowick/how-can-you-help-us and mark your donation “bldg”. We are currently around R110 000 short of our target.

Since the school is registered as a Public Benefit Organization by SARS (PBO 930 075 083) all financial contributions and donations made to the school qualify as Section 18A tax deductible charitable donations in the reduction of income tax. (Email GLLHowick@gmail.com for your tax certificate.)

Staff News

Condolences

Starting on rather a sad note, please keep our principal, Monica Ngobese, in your prayers as her husband passed away suddenly at the end of last year.

Ward 11

We would like to congratulate Nathi Nobela, who is our school’s pastor, for being made a ward councillor for Ward 11. We are privileged to have a man of Nathi’s calibre associated with our school.

Moving On

We were sad to see Pamela Shelembe, one of our assistant teachers, leave in February. Pamela has supported Hazel in caring for the 2- to 3-year-olds for the past few years and was a valuable member of our team. She has gone to Pretoria to pursue a career in SAPS. All of the very best Pamela! She is seen here at her farewell with Eric Beattie, our treasurer (left,) and Roland Gevers, our Chairman (right).

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors and donors who make it possible for us to keep going month by month. The fund-raising environment is very tough at present with President Donald Trump’s change in policy. While that doesn’t affect us directly, it does mean that NGO’s in South Africa are all drawing from the same much smaller pot. Any help we can get is very gratefully received.

Umngeni Municipality for toys donated as well as financial contribution.
Book Dash for their generous donation of 240 books to the school.
Love Howick who are now collecting our recycling regularly.
Fairfield Dairy that donates large quantities of yogurt and other dairy products on a weekly basis.
Barnsley Farming which, over the years, has donated thousands of eggs that enable our cook to make nutritious breakfasts for the children.
Meander Prime Cuts for their ongoing donation of meat products.
Rise Against Hunger Africa who donated a substantial amount of food to supplement the children’s meals.
Falcon Agricultural Equipment and Plumbit Doc for their sponsored metalwork and maintenance respectively.
Hopewell Supplies for seedling donations.
Those whose generous donations of material and wool have enabled our knitters and sewers to create many useful items of clothing.
Knitters from the Howick Community Church, the Ambers and St John’s for their recent donation of jerseys and beanies, and Sue Robinson for the many clothing items she has made for the school.
Those who collect small change which makes a BIG difference.
Those who pray constantly for all at God’s Little Lambs.
The Management team which does a sterling job in supporting the principal and staff in all that they do.
Howick Community Church and the outreach support they give to this ministry.
Schools such as St John's DSG in Pietermaritzburg, Oasis, Howick Pre-primary School and Heritage House in Howick, and Clifton Prep, amongst others, that have supported us in many ways over the years.
Individual donors of items as simple as recycling or ice-cream boxes for the kids to put their stationery in. We include here folk who bake occasional batches of biscuits to treat the children; folk who donate stationery and suitable second-hand toys and games in good condition, as well as books to go into their library.
Delta Design and Midlands Woodworkers Guild for beautifully made wooden toys
Other folk who give generously of their time and talents – doing maintenance work, gardening, photography, sewing, computer support etc.