In September, South Africa celebrated Heritage Day – a day that honors the country’s cultural diversity, creativity and community. At Joris House, an Ndlovu Care Group facility, this special day also focused on cohesion and inclusion.
Unique handicrafts are created there, especially artistic beadwork, made by young people with disabilities. Each piece tells a story – of craftsmanship, cultural heritage and personal strength.
In many regions of rural South Africa, people with disabilities unfortunately still encounter prejudice. Joris House sets a strong example here: It offers young people with disabilities a protected environment in which they can learn, work and develop themselves. Inclusion is not only promoted here, it is practiced on a daily basis.
The Hugo Tempelman Foundation has been supporting this valuable work together with ENERGETIX for many years. Thanks to the continuous help and great commitment of the ENERGETIX sales partners, the project has not only been established, but also secured for the long term.
Every year, Heritage Day at Joris House symbolizes what makes South Africa strong – diversity, cohesion and humanity. And these values characterize the work at Joris House all year round.
“No one should be left behind – that is our aspiration and our motivation,” says Vivi Eickelberg, Chairwoman of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation.
And Roland Förster, owner of ENERGETIX, adds: “Joris House shows how inclusion can succeed in the best sense – with respect, love and the conviction that everyone can contribute something valuable.”
In January, we reported on Nkhesani Manganyi and his path to employment with the Ndlovu Care Group. Despite developmental delays and limited speech, he was able to develop vocational skills with the support of the team and secure a permanent job in brick production.
Nkhesani now also works on the Ndlovu farm. There, he is involved in the watermelon harvest during the season. This work requires stamina, reliability and the ability to work in a team – skills that he has steadily developed over the past few years.
The cultivation of watermelons is of economic importance in South Africa, especially in rural regions such as Limpopo. It not only contributes to the supply of fresh food, but also creates seasonal jobs. The Ndlovu Care Group combines two goals: To strengthen food security in the region and to provide people with practical employment opportunities.
Nkhesani’s new area of work shows how flexible the fields of work in the projects are. He can contribute his experience from his previous work and acquire new skills at the same time. In this way, his professional development is gradually expanding – from production operations to agricultural tasks.
Potatoes were planted at the Ndlovu/Lefas Farm these days with a great deal of dedication and commitment.
Ndlovu Farm as a holistic training and inclusion project
The Ndlovu Farm/Lefas Farm was established with the primary aim of providing people in the area with the necessary agricultural skills to secure or even improve their livelihoods. The project functions as an education and training center where participants can receive training and gain practical experience in growing crops as well as in sales and accounting. This holistic approach aims not only to strengthen the individual skills of the participants, but also to make a sustainable contribution to economic empowerment and food security for the entire community. In particular, participants in the support program for disabled and impaired children and young people are also trained here in order to create a livelihood for themselves and their families. The story of Evonne Ndlala, a young woman from the Ndlovu Care Group‘s Jorishaus program, is particularly inspiring.
Evonne’s path to independence
Evonne received medical care and support early on due to her challenges at school. Her development was characterized by health challenges: After birth, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to undergo intensive medical treatment. She also struggled with developmental delays, which made her school career more difficult. Despite these challenges, she always showed great fighting spirit.
Evonne is the youngest of four children and grew up in a stable family with both parents working and acting as her main providers. Her family always supported her, even when her school career was difficult. She repeated several grades until she finally moved to a boarding school for children with special needs. There she finally found the support she needed before transferring to Jorishaus.
The Jorishaus as a pioneer for inclusion
Thanks to the loving and targeted support of the Ndlovu Care Group, she has been able to make incredible progress over the years. Today, she is not only a dedicated employee of Ndlovu Farm, but has also found her voice: She acts as a spokesperson for her peers and inspires many with her story.
The Jorishaus, which opened in 2017 with the support of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation, has set a milestone in inclusion work. Thanks to the generous financial support from ENERGETIX Bingen, young people with disabilities have been given a perspective. In particular, the establishment of practical training programs, such as in brick production and agricultural work on the Ndlovu farm, enables them to lead independent lives. These were set up with the financial support of the DEUTSCHE POSTCODE LOTTERY . Together for an inclusive future
Evonne impressively demonstrates that inclusion is not just a vision, but a living reality. She is the best example of the success of this program and how important it is to give people with special challenges the opportunity to develop.
The Hugo Tempelman Foundation would like to thank ENERGETIX Bingen and the German Postcode Lottery for their tireless support! Together we can create real change.
The Hugo Tempelman Foundation (HTS) has been supporting the inclusion work of the Ndlovu Care Group (NCG) for years. Thanks in particular to the generous financial support of ENERGETIX Bingen and its dedicated employees and sales partners, real change has been achieved.
A milestone in this collaboration was the opening of the Jorishaus in 2017, which laid the foundation for bringing children and young people with disabilities out of the shadows of prejudice and discrimination. Many of the children affected used to be seen as “God’s punishment”, ostracized and literally hidden away by their families. Today, Jorishaus offers them a place in society – a chance to develop their full potential.
From the very beginning, Bild hilft e.V. “Ein Herz für Kinder” has been at the side of this project. With their support, a bus was provided to pick up the children from their homes every day and bring them safely to daycare – and back again in the evening. This transport option is an essential part of the program and enables many children to participate in the first place.
Individual support for a better future The Ndlovu Care Group’s day care center looks after children with a wide range of disabilities – from mild intellectual impairments to severe cerebral disorders. Under the loving and professional care of the trained staff, the children make remarkable progress.
Many of these children have now grown into adolescents, and the support of the Ndlovu Care Group does not end there. Today, Jorishaus also offers training programs that enable the young adults to become independent. The former “problem children” who were once hidden away by society are now not only able to fend for themselves, but have often become the main breadwinners for their families.
A key sponsor for this is Postcode Lotterie Deutschland, which provided significant funding for the construction of the vocational school. This facility has a section, brick production, in which young people with disabilities receive practical training. This creates prospects and gives them the chance of an independent and self-determined life.
An example of change: The story of Nkhesani Manganyi Nkhesani Manganyi, now 20 years old, was born with developmental delays and severely impaired speech. His single mother overcame all challenges under difficult circumstances and ensured that he received medical help. Despite his disability, Nkhesani is able to lead a full life thanks to the support of the Ndlovu Care Group.
Nkhesani blossomed in his participation in NCG’s programs. He works in brick production at NCG, where he is responsible for the precise management of materials as the “master of counting”. This has completely changed his position within the family: He is the one who contributes significantly to the livelihood of his family, who are building a new home thanks to his help.
Nkhesani is also involved in his community: he volunteers to patrol as part of a neighborhood watch, ensuring greater security. Although his family is often worried about him, his courage shows how much he has gained in self-confidence.
A Mindchange – Pride in real change The story of Nkhesani is just one of many that show the profound impact of the work of the Ndlovu Care Group and the support of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation. Today, marginalized children are part of society, are encouraged and challenged, and grow into strong personalities.
We would like to thank all partners, supporters and donors who make these success stories possible. Bild hilft e.V. “Ein Herz für Kinder”, Postcode Lotterie Deutschland, ENERGETIX Bingen and many others make an indispensable contribution to making inclusion a reality in South Africa.
At the ENERGETIX Power Convention, we were able to show a special film highlighting the special developments of our disability programs in South Africa. Thanks to the continuous support of ENERGETIX Bingen, we have been able to change countless lives over the years – children who were once affected by prejudice are now confident in their professional lives and are given real prospects for the future through initiatives such as the Brickfactory.
We would especially like to thank Blueplanet Filmproduktionsgesellschaft for producing this moving film, which documents this journey so impressively. A big thank you goes to Arno Canzler and Michael Stroh for the wonderful collaboration!
Watch the movie and learn how lives are changed and children in South Africa are given hope for a better future.
At this year’s ENERGETIX Power Convention, a generous cheque for 50,000 euros was once again presented to the Hugo Tempelman Foundation. ENERGETIX has been actively supporting our programs for the disabled in South Africa for 16 years – with impressive continuity.
Thanks to this long-standing collaboration, the program has been able to develop from the initial support of children with disabilities to vocational training opportunities. A great example of this is the newly founded Brickfactory, part of the Ndlovu Care Group‘s Vocational Training Center. Here, young people are given the chance to train as craftsmen and have a self-determined future.
Children who were once overshadowed by prejudice and superstition are now self-confident young people with real prospects. At Jorishaus, they are not only cared for, but also encouraged in craft skills such as jewelry making, sewing and carpentry.
We would like to thankRoland Förster, all sales partners and the entire ENERGETIX team from the bottom of our hearts for your great support! Your help changes lives and gives hope for a better future.
From left to right: Jessica Schlick (member of the Energetix management), Roland Förster (owner of Energetix), Vivi Eickelberg (Chairwoman of the Hugo Temeplman Foundation), Hugo Tempelman, Menna Mulugeta (singer and host of the evening), Alexander Link (Managing Director of Energetix)
A special concern of the cooperation between the Hugo Tempelman Foundation and the Ndlovu Care Group in South Africa is the support and promotion of disabled children and young people who receive special care at Jorishaus. The participation of Dimakatso Kunene, a young person from Jorishaus, in the Special Olympics, which took place this summer in Berlin, Germany, was a great success.
Dimakatso was selected to represent South Africa at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 due to her great talent and intensive training. She is dedicated to the sport of boccia. Despite her physical challenges, she has proven that determination can overcome obstacles.
Her participation in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 is not only a personal triumph, but also a symbol of the opportunities available to disabled children and young people if they receive the help and support they need. The constant support that has been provided for many years has been made possible largely thanks to regular, generous donations from ENERGETIX Bingen. The story of Dimakatso Kunene is an example of how the Hugo Tempelman Foundation and the Ndlovu Care Group are helping to improve the lives of disabled children and young people in South Africa.
Dimikatso with her friends from Jorishaus and supervisor Erik
Last week, the ENERGETIX Bingen Power Convention took place in Berlin, where we were able to report on the status and development of the children’s projects.
And once again we were presented with a check for EUR 50,000!
It is not a matter of course to receive an annual grant of this amount.
We know that this success is the result of the efforts of many ENERGETIX sales partners and employees. We are really grateful for this help, which benefits local children and young people. One example of this is the Jorishaus, which provides support and encouragement for disabled children. Such projects require not only one-off financial assistance, but also long-term commitment and staying power.
We would like to thank ENERGETIX for their wonderful and ongoing support.
Together, we make a real difference in the lives of those who need our help most.
In rural South Africa, there are many people with disabilities who are often neglected by their families. The Hugo Tempelman Foundation and the Ndlovu Care Group are committed to ensuring that these people are not forgotten. This is why the Jorishaus was founded, where children and young people with disabilities receive therapeutic care and support. The staff are caring and trained, and each child and young person is encouraged and supported according to their abilities. The results are fantastic and promote the self-esteem of the people cared for. The continuous care provides them with security through regularity, which is essential for impaired people.
Eric Nkoana, physiotherapist at Ndlovu Care Group, emphasizes that the life expectancy of neglected children with cerebral palsy is not very high. It is important that these children receive continuous care and support to improve their lives.
It’s fantastic work that the people on the ground are doing, and the aid arrives directly. Roland Förster, Managing Director of Energetix and board member of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation: “Anyone who is economically successful must see the responsibility of providing help as a matter of course. It is an investment in the future. You can’t look away, you have to look. But not only that, you also have to do something. I am grateful to all our business partners who have helped us get this far. I can only encourage everyone to get involved.”
The following excerpt is from the documentary that the Hugo Tempelman Foundation filmed on location at the end of 2022. You can watch the entire 26-minute film here.
4-year-old Kgotso Molahlegi takes part in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) program in Bloempoort. His mother, Ninky Molahlegi, is a cook at the same center and a cleaner at the Chill Hub.
Being the mother of a child with a disability is a very special challenge:
“I was very confused when I had Kgotso. Having a child with a disability is not easy. Kgotso had many developmental delays and gross and fine motor impairments. He couldn’t sit on his own and couldn’t grasp objects with his hands.”
However, the Ndlovu team at the disability center was able to support Kgotso well and one year after his therapy began at the end of 2021, it was recommended that he be transferred to the special education center of the general school.
Kgotso can now run around and play with other children and has improved his speech considerably and can sing along to his favorite nursery rhyme “Butterfly, Butterfly”. A great success and inclusion in the best sense of the word.
His mom is so grateful to the Ndlovu team for not giving up on her son and at the same time always giving her hope that he too can develop well despite all the challenges he faces.
“Ndlovu has given my son confidence; that he is no different from any other child, he just has his own unique way of understanding the world. I never thought Kgotso would ever walk or talk, I honestly don’t know how to express my gratitude. Thank you, Ndlovu.”
