Oasis Haven is giving insight into what challenges organisations face as the festive season approaches and offers alternatives for support.
South Africa (08 December 2023) – “There’s nothing that says ‘children’s home’ more than the experience of kids who have five or six festive season parties but no family or special celebrations on Christmas Day itself,” says Bev Beukes, MD at Oasis Haven, a registered Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) in Johannesburg.
“Don’t get me wrong – we appreciate every individual or organisation that brings cheer into children’s lives, but what every child needs more than a fancy gift or party food is to be loved and to be in a stable environment where their needs are met. And that’s much harder to ensure.”
Beukes says that while the year-end period tends to be an easier time to secure support for CYCCs, donations are often focused on gifts, toys and functions, rather than funding.
“The truth is that organisations like ours can’t create a safe, nurturing environment for orphans and vulnerable children if we can’t keep our lights on,” she says. “Our three biggest expenses are water and electricity, school fees and paying the dedicated staff who look after the children in our care.”
Qondani Tshuma, Fundraiser at Oasis Haven, says that it’s hard for non-profit organisations to raise funds for these types of expenses as it’s difficult for donors to see results, and many people are under financial strain themselves.
“When you give a child a Christmas gift, you get to see their face light up, whereas when you sponsor their school fees, it’s a long-term commitment (and a larger monetary one) with ups and downs and no instant reaction,” he says. “But while a gift will generate a smile now, it’s unlikely it will be remembered years down the line. An education, on the other hand, can change the trajectory of a child’s life. The same goes for other long-term interventions, such as therapy and nurturing in a stable and loving environment.”
Oasis Haven is a registered Child and Youth Care Centre with two family homes in Robin Hills, Johannesburg, with a capacity for 10 children in each home. But they are more than that – they are a big, loving, messy family made up of children, house parents, staff, volunteers, donors and the community they live and work in.
“Our vision is for every vulnerable child to be in a loving, forever family. Our mission is to break the cycle of vulnerable children by loving them as our own and working to provide family through adoption or in our Family Homes. We focus on quality care, education and therapy, rooted in faith.”
Short- and long-term support
Tshuma’s solution as a fundraiser is to ask potential donors to consider both short-term and longer-term support.
“I believe this is a way to ensure donors get to enjoy that magical experience of making a child smile or even dance with glee, as well as contributing to their growth and development in a manner that will pay dividends in years to come,” he says.
“This is why we offer programmes like our sponsor-a-child initiative, where people can get involved for just R200 a month and know that their contribution is going towards a specific child. They get regular updates on that child and can get involved with birthdays and other celebrations, but they also get to see that child’s progress over time, as their funding goes towards schooling, home care and other ongoing costs. Yes, we need multiple sponsors per child, but all these small donations add up, and because we know we can count on them on a monthly basis, it helps us to run a more stable budget.”
How companies can help
Tshuma encourages companies to also consider a two-pronged approach to their year-end giving.
“By all means, don’t deny your employees the joy of a celebration with the beneficiaries you’re looking to support, but consider how you can assist the organisation to be sustainable in the long run,” he says.
“That might be through donating funds towards running expenses as well as hosting a one-off event, or it could be through providing services needed. For example, if you’re a security firm, consider donating security services. If you’re a printing company, perhaps you could sponsor the printing of marketing material. Whatever your business, it’s worth thinking about who could benefit most from your products or services and putting your time, talents and resources to use to make a difference in that way.”
For more information, visit www.oasishaven.org.
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