By Yumna Bodiat
Edited by Imaan Moosa
We spoke to mother and daughter duo Georgia and Beth-Ann Keschner about their service to the community.
This mother and daughter duo have dedicated much of their lives to volunteerism, in hopes of assisting communities in South Africa.
Beth-Ann Keschner is a former chairperson and active trustee (for nearly 30 years!) of the Sparrows Educational Trust, a project founded in the late '80s offering Saturday classes for children whose schooling was disrupted by ongoing riots in the townships. Today, the Sparrow Schools comprise two campuses located in Melville and Sophiatown.
The Junior School accommodates up to 300 disadvantaged, learning-challenged children. And the other campus offers Life Skills Education for Grade 8’s and 9‘s, as well as a fully equipped and accredited Technical Training College on the same campus.
At 20-years-of-age, Georgia has dedicated much of her time to the service of others. Some of her work has included being a teacher's assistant at the Sparrow schools, volunteering at the Nkosi Haven HIV orphanage, packaging meals for destitute Jewish families, and walking fashion shows to raise funding for organisations such as Doctors Without Borders and Shelters for Sex Trafficked Women.
Georgia told To EmpowHER, "Clearly, I have an incredible role model for a mom. I attribute every charitable bone in my body to her."
"I also recognise that, as a white girl born to successful parents, I am extremely privileged. I definitely owe my community all that I am able to give back
"I don’t know which field of law I will find myself in, but I do know that I will use my degree to help underprivileged South African women in some way – particularly with helping women that lack the means and education to get out of marriages when they need to," says Georgia.
Photos: Provided
Beth-Ann and Georgia are active volunteers at the Angel Network. The Angel Network is a voluntary organisation and registered NPO located in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban run by a group of South African women who aim to create a gateway for giving. The Angel Network works alongside multiple welfare organisations and is available wherever needed.
Their mission is "to alleviate poverty and social injustices by working with communities and empowering them to reach their full potential".
In lieu of President Cyril Ramaphosa's speech on April 9, 2020, to extend the lockdown, the Angel Network alongside the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and various other NPO's came together in hopes of countering increasing rates of poverty and hunger across the nation through the Gauteng Together initiative.
The aim of Gauteng Together is to organise Community Action Networks (CANs) throughout the province to broaden the reach of poverty-stricken communities. These CANs will be organised by neighbourhoods where suburbs will be paired alongside specific informal settlements or townships.
"The organisation’s short term goals are to alleviate hunger and meet people’s most basic needs during lockdown, and in the weeks and months to come. But long term, the aim is to build sustainable partnerships across the province.
"To make this initiative work, they need all neighbourhoods to get involved and set up their own Community Action Network (CAN), each of which will have a dedicated WhatsApp channel of communication and an administrator to oversee and coordinate the process. Gauteng Together will provide detailed guidelines for how to set up a CAN, and will always be available to assist, collaborate, brainstorm, and share knowledge," notes the Angel Network."
Citizens based in Gauteng can assist by either volunteering as a CAN administrator for their respective areas or as a volunteer to assist with community work in the paired informal settlement.
Other appeals by the Angel Network in light of COVID-19 include loaves of unopened bread and bread spreads, medical use masks and gloves, as well as donations to their emergency fund. Donations to these appeals will be collected and distributed to beneficiaries of the Angel Network by the Angel Network team.
Alongside the Angel Network, Beth-Ann and Georgia are also actively involved with Hearts of Hope, a safe home for babies and children. Hearts of Hope was founded in 2007 and is based in Wendywood. Currently, Hearts of Hope caters to 34 orphaned and vulnerable children and is in need of donations or goods.
Photo: Provided
Both Beth-Anne and Georgia believe a post-pandemic future is going to be very challenging, specifically due to the growing numbers of unemployment and increase in gender-based violence. They believe there is hope that some good will follow this crisis and that government will continue to provide shelter, food and water to destitute persons, as well as continuing to improve medical facilities and healthcare.
To donate to Hearts of Hope, find specific donation options at: https://heartsofhope.org.za/shop/
To join Gauteng Together: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3572018469537046/
Or contact the Angel Network:
Website: www.theangelnetwork.co.za
Facebook: @angelnetworksa
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