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Three2Six newsletter - May 2024
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Start of a new term!
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It is with much excitement that our students came back to school at the beginning of the month. They returned with renewed energy, ready to tackle this term’s subjects and school projects. Teachers had fresh lesson plans, ensuring an engaging and challenging curriculum. With the dedication of students, staff, and the support of the community, we look forward to a productive and enjoyable term ahead.
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This term going forward, the children will be equipped with wonderful exercise shoes provided by the project, thanks to the extremely generous donation from Marion and Markus Roth in Switzerland. A very warm thank you to them, and to our former Three2Six teacher, Jessica Roth, who made this possible.
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Bringing hope to the inner-city of Johannesburg
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In a powerful display of solidarity and hope, children, youth, local artists and local community organisations took to the streets of Hillbrow for a wonderful parade of public art performances. Held on Africa Day, the event around the theme "Imaginary lines - none are free until all are free” was organised by Windybrow Arts Centre.
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Following the parade, the Three2Six learners gathered to dance and to present poignant poems centered around the theme of liberation. They spoke of the struggles faced by marginalized communities and the urgent need for collective action to dismantle systems of oppression. Each performance reflected not only their individual talents but also the supportive environment fostered by the Three2Six project.
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The Windybrow parade was more than just a procession - it was a call to action, a reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing and that every voice, including the voices of children and youth, has the power to effect change.
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Transportation
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Our drivers transport 225 children safely a day and make from 50 to 60 one-way trips. They travel through some dangerous areas and have to traverse some of the most poorly maintained roads in Johannesburg. We are very grateful for their hard work and dedication.
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Visitors at the project
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We were honored to welcome to our organization delegates from the International Office of Catholic Education representing all corners of Africa. During their visit, they toured our premises, learned about our work, and gained insights into the challenges our families face. The highlight of the day was a fantastic show by our talented students, featuring poems, marimbas, and dancing.
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Thank you to our guests for their visit and to our students for their wonderful performances!
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Youth advocacy event
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In collaboration with various partners, including Three2Six, Save the Children South Africa organized a dynamic training session on children's participation in advocating for their rights. Children from different provinces of the country participated, engaging in interactive discussions and debates on topics such as access to education and healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation. Through these sessions, participants explored various aspects of children’s rights and learnt effective ways to advocate for themselves and their peers. Our alumni and current learners played key roles, facilitating discussions and sharing their insights on children’s rights.
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This training showcased the potential of young people to drive positive change. With Save the Children South Africa, we are committed to supporting children's participation in decision-making processes and ensuring their voices are heard.
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Social media partnership
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To spotlight the power and impact of collaboration for positive change, Misean Cara, the International Marist Foundation (FMSI) and Three2Six have teamed up for an exciting social media campaign. Launched this month with a collaborative video, the campaign introduces our organisations and highlights how we work together to ensure that refugee and migrant children have access to quality education. Running for several weeks, the campaign will feature a combination of videos and pictures sharing our experiences and impact, and raising awareness about the efforts of Irish missionaries in overseas development. Watch the first video here and follow us to see the entire campaign.
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Feature
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We are honoured to have been chosen by ATD Ireland (All Together in Dignity) and our funder Misean Cara to be featured in their project on “Creative pathways to participation”. Through poetry and creative writing, this initiative aims to provide marginalised people with a platform to express themselves and share their lived experiences, fostering civic participation. The project seeks to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals through the lived experience of social exclusion.
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Some of the poems written by our children in 2021 can be found in this booklet. You can access them here and here. The launch of this resource took place in Dublin, Ireland. Find out more about this wonderful initiative by clicking here.
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Alumni day
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The Alumni Day on May 4 was a bit different from the usual gatherings. The bus took the children to Vincent de Paul church in Soweto, where a youth career day took place. The organisers equipped the visitors with water, fruits and a note book, which readied the alumni for a three-hour long presentation. They got the chance to listen to people from different occupations such as doctors, authors, film directors, financial advisors, and many more.
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We hope this day helped the Three2Six alumni to develop further and to learn about their career options. After the presentation the children were provided with food and drinks at the venue, before we made our way back to Johannesburg.
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Fundraising update
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A big thank you to the Holy Family Sisters who generously supported the project this year. Three2Six has a special history with the sisters as Holy Family College in Parktown hosted the project for a number of years.
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We would also like to thank our loyal supporters in the United States for their support: The Kennedy Hanly Foundation, the Al and Peggy DeMatteis Family Foundation, the Charles Heeran Foundation and the Stremlau Family for their regular contributions to the project. Our board member, Ronald Nerio, who is also based in the US, has also made it possible for us to continue doing the work that we do for the children of the refugee and migrant community in inner city Johannesburg.
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Late last year Three2Six was featured in America magazine, which is an international Jesuit publication. A kind reader was touched by the story of Three2Six and was moved to make a contribution to the project. Many, many thanks to this generous soul who reached out and made contact with us.
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The fundraising team continues to build relationships with donors locally and internationally and invites you to become a regular contributor to the project. Your donation of any size helps towards the education of 225 children in the Three2Six project.
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