The first to receive money was Noah's Olievenhoutbosch Ark (www.noahorphans.org.za) a place of safety for orphans. Noah stands for Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity and their mission is to empower communities with the knowledge, skills, strategies and self confidence to care for their own orphaned and vulnerable children. Their aim is to to help the staggering number of children orphaned by AIDS to mature into emotionally and psychologically stable adults, capable of forming lasting and loving relationships, of being nurturing parents to their own children and responsible and participative citizens of South Africa.

We at GSD support this brave initiative for a number of reasons. One is the Arks model of self suffiecency, an aspect that GSD encourages in its own business by the sharing of knowledge and resource. Nobody likes to see children suffer and if it was not for organisations like Noah, these children would have no hope. In addition, if we are to build a better South Africa, surely we should help, protect and nurture our most precious commodity, our children. The Ark provides all of these requirements and we feel is a worthy receipient.

GSD also contributed to Fred and Martie's Soup Kitchen which feeds 470 children and 120 adults in the Claremont, Newlands, Newclare and neighbouring squatter camp areas. We were approached by Martin Barnard & Associates CA (SA) who are regular supporters of the kitchen to see if we could assist with improving the childrens Christmas this year. They were looking for donations for toys. The request was as follows:

We need toys for the following amount of little ones:
AGES 0 – 2 years: 21 BOYS & 29 GIRLS
AGES 3 – 5 years: 31 BOYS & 30 GIRLS
AGES 6 – 8 years: 71 BOYS & 47 GIRLS
IN TOTAL, WE NEED ABOUT 230 TOYS.

We just could not resist and so GSD donated all the toys for their Christmas Party.