In 2012 Girlguiding Sussex Central pledged to support orphans in Africa with the help from Chris Connors; hairdresser, County Ambassador and Founder of CoCo’s Foundation.
The Foundation helps provide food, shelter and clothing to orphans affected by HIV and AIDS.
For over 18 months members of Sussex Central have been fundraising to support a County team to work at the Children's Home and in the community in Mseleni, Kwazulu, South Africa.
Twenty members of Sussex Central, together with Chris Connors and Trustee Debs Spraget have just returned from South Africa, safe in the knowledge that they had achieved their objective.
During the visit the girls helped complete the building of a house for a family, cleared ground and planted a vegetable garden, and maintained parts of the Children’s Home. The trip also contributed to the cost of accommodation for a mother and baby unit. Time was spent time playing with the children and running craft activities for them. The girls attended a workshop which supports those affected by bereavement and HIV. They also attended an after school club and sang in a Zulu Christian church.
From grants and fundraising the team were able to leave teddies, clothing, bedding and craft materials for the Home and community. They were also able to pay for the family to have their own (outside) toilet, a wardrobe, seedlings for their garden and 10 chickens with feed for a year to ensure they will have a fresh supply of produce and possibly have a some source of income from the sale of eggs.
It wasn’t all hard work, the girls went on safari and went whale watching.
It was very humbling for all who come from such relatively privileged and comfortable background to witness firsthand the hardship so many people have to endure through no fault of their own.
Each girl will take home their own personal memories but all have been touched by the plight of the people they met, their commitment to education and whilst from different countries and cultures how much there is in common between them.
Below are some of the comments made by the girls
I feel like I have made a real difference by building the house, and I know that the Coco's foundation will be making sure the house is used in the best way possible.
Ellie , 16, Crawley Division Senior Section Unit
It was amazing to provide so much for a family that have so little- I want to go back!
Laura, 19, Sackville District Rangers
The whole trip was a life changing experience and I learnt loads- I would love to go back out again.
Jaida 15, Roffey Rangers
The experience was incredible; we met the most amazing children and some really inspiring people.
Anna, 15, 1st Henfield RGU Senior Section Unit
This trip has changed my outlook on life and given me maturity and experience which will benefit me for my whole life.
Hannah, 15, Young Leader, 2nd Horsham Brownies
I would like to return in the future to help the children and build more homes but in the meantime I will keep fundraising for the CoCos Foundation.
Louise, 15, Roffey Rangers
If you want to see more photos please go to www.cocosfoundation.co.uk , where you can also find out more information about the work of CoCo’s Foundation