- NPO registration number: 145-107 NPO
- NGO registration number: IT 159/2011
- Public Benefit Organisation: 930 036 635
- Standard Bank Balfour Park
- Branch Code: 051001
- Account no: 331 784 408
- SWIFT Address: SBZAZAJJ
Boikanyo means to have Faith. The NGO was named after 2 inspirational souls: Boikanyo, a dynamic special 8 year old child, and Dion Herson a philanthropist who loved giving to others.
OUR VISION:
Nurturing vulnerable and at-risk youth, whether they are able-bodied or differently-abled. We view children holistically, we believe a child has a greater chance if issues are tackled from more than one angle.
OUR MISSION:
We alleviate poverty through networking and partnering with experts in the field. We work a lot with schools, focusing on keeping impoverished children from dropping out by augmenting maths and life skills programs.
Boikanyo the Dion Herson Foundation’s first project was focused on food security and upskilling caregivers in the community. We planted a 1000m sq vegetable garden at Sediba Thuto High Primary School in Soweto in 2012. This vegetable garden project afforded us opportunities to gain insight into the multi-factorial challenges facing young people growing up in dire poverty. The children (and caregivers) whom we assist generally live in child/grandmother and sick mother headed households. Poverty, starvation, crime, abuse, sugar daddies, poor health care, sub optimal schooling and drugs are but some of the many problems they face.
One undeniable fact remains; without education the children of the area have a bleak future. Of the 2019 matric (grade 12) graduation group, only 37% of the children who enrolled in grade 1 wrote the final exams, 12 years later. There are a multitude of problems these children live with, which lessens the likelihood of completing school.
OUR IMPACT:
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Needed; a 6 ton truck which will go from Silverton Pretoria to Umtunzini, (south of Empangeni). We need to take 6 tons of e'Pap into the area, Also need to take blankets.
Yes I know it's a tall order, but this is a huge favour to the Universe, and we can give a section 18A.
One little poppet rescued from rural Mkuze hours before he couldn't stand anymore. His last food was days before, no one knows actually. He just slept and slept for a full day before standing up and being a doggie again. He is so beautiful, he is such a special one. His new mom, Wendy, has called him Mathea (Gift from God). Thanks Soweto & Other Townships Tours with Photojournalist Ilan Ossendryver for the first photo
Boikanyo the Dion Herson Foundation and The e'Pap Technology Foundation went on a site visit to Jozini/Mkuze/ Hluhluwe/Ingwavuma area, where the children are 3 to 5 times hungrier than anywhere else in the country - according to a study released by WHO in February this year. This is the area where food handouts stopped a long time ago, a place where children are tiny, dogs are emaciated.
The Angel Network SA and South African Jewish Board of Deputies have donated 5 tons of e'Pap to this forsaken area, Dis-Chem Pharmacies has donated another ton, we will be taking this into the area.
We went to grandmother headed households where one gogo looks after 20 grandchildren, all 6 of her children passed away. Another gogo looks after 12 grandchildren...and so on. Tragedies, but still no extra help, no food distributed here.
Our e'Pap is going to invisible people, people who dont matter to anyone because they are so far away, and so insignificant. Politics and nepotism govern in these areas and it's taking its toll on the locals.
We went to visit 3 NGO's and met people like Nokothula, who has no income nor qualifications, yet she oversees the most caring centre for the entire community. Her organisation is making such an impact, they can be counted amongst the small handful of NGO's who serve this desperate community.
We went from home to home. One little girl we were introduced to has an extra row of teeth and a cleft palate that was operated on, but it wasnt successful. She cannot speak because of the extra teeth, and food comes out her nose as well. I made one call to a Foundation in JHB who operate on such children, and this child could possibly undergo surgery. Surely someone there at the hospital she attends saw her plight and sent her to a tertiary hospital, if not that, surely they knew about this Foundation?
This area needs investigation, its just not fair that people have to live like this. But this is for another day. In the interim we will assist these children and their elderly caregivers, we have to. We are sending the biggest e'Pap handout to date to them.
God Bless Africa...my heart is breaking.
Photos by Soweto & Other Townships Tours with Photojournalist
The Transkei is another area of such huge concern. In its vastness, many areas are totally inaccessible. We have sent four and a half tons of e'Pap into the area, it arrived on Sunday. There are numerous sponsors of this lifesaving load, one of them is the The Solon Foundation. Their contribution is going to be taken this week to Zithulele Village, to Dr Ingrid le Roux, who works with tens of thousands of children in deep rural areas. Without sponsors we could never have done this. Bless everyone who has been so generous and has understood like we do, that without emergency nutritional assistance, children who are already nutritionally deprived, will be very adversely affected. Thank you Graeme Alexander of
Rotary Mthatha who has championed this cause and who is going to coordinate where this e'Pap goes. There are a few diocese in the area who have lost dedicated nuns due to COVID, they are getting some as a matter of urgency. There are umpteen people too, starting with child headed households and then on to grandmother headed households. May lives just be spared...
To the awesome incredible SA Rugby Legends Association, the hugest thank you for the handout at Spar Fontana The Wedge. Such generosity and care lead to 4 NGO's being supplied with literally tons of food. You amazing people.
Our share went to Botshabelo Rural Community Trust in Magaliesburg. This incredible village takes care of those families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The donations went to the school, orphanage, medical clinic & village.
Rugby Legends...we salute and thank you beautiful people.
