Our Mission

Spirit of Africa continue the great work you started...

Our agreed partnership with Spirit of Africa has now come to an end and this UK based charity will now be fully supporting Ithembalihle home and pre-school.

GAGA UK have supported this project for over 5 years, and in the past 2 years have begun an agreed transition with Spirit of Africa.

We're thrilled that Spirit of Africa can continue to provide funding and support to this amazing project. This charity is currently solely dedicated to Ithembalihle and we're sure their dedication will take the project from strength to strength.

We'll be sure to follow their progress and keep you updated. We wish Spirit of Africa and Ithembalihle all the best in the future, and this is not the end of our support for this project which helps so many children.

Thank you for your support of Ithembalihle over the years, particularly to those who have been heavily involved with the building projects there. Over the past few years you have helped build a dormitory block and a pre-school building as well as provided for the chidlren living and being educated at the project. It wouldn't have been possible without you.

You can find out more about Spirit of Africa by clicking here.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch ( info@gaga-uk.org ) if you've any questions.

Thank you.

Want to be the next 'Biggles'?

Ian Hodgson (a.k.a 'Biggles') recently took part in the Loop The Loop Challenge and raised almost £500 for GAGA UK. Huge thanks to Ian, for his support and bravery!

Would you like to go loopy for GAGA? You could be the reason that 170 children in South Africa are able to go to school next week, helping to raise money for the school's running costs. You could be the reason a young mum can access medical care and support.

What's stopping you? Take a watch of our video (click here), to find out what you're letting yourself in for. You'll also see links on our You Tube Channel to videos of GAGA's Sarah 'going loopy' and of Ian's flight - we wouldn't ask  you to do something that we wouldn't do!

Click here to find out more.

Philani's Story

Dawn, founder and Director at 1000 Hills, has recently shared a story of hope coming from the centre. It reminds us how important the 1000 Hills Community Helpers Centre is...

Philani arrived at 1000 Hills over a month ago. He was severely malnourished and under-weight. Philani tragically lost both his parents who had been shot when he was only a few months old.

With no other family, a neighbour took him under her care. She brought his to the centre to visit the clinic. At the age of 2 years old he weighed just 6kg.

1000 Hills decided that they would care for him for the week so they could monitor his health. He is in Rosie's class, in the toddlers section at the school. Since he has been at the centre his health has improved drastically and his weight has increased to 9.1kg.

He absolutely loves his food and of course his wonderful teacher.

We're so grateful that 1000 Hills is working hard and supporting people within the surrounding communities. Each year we provide funding for their clinic, enabling them to continue supporting all ages have access to health care and support. Thanks to your support and donations, this funding can continue.

Baking a Difference

Last week, GAGA volunteer Vicki organised and hosted a fundraising coffee morning, in aid of GAGA. 
We all had a lovely morning, with cake as well as a raffle and African crafts on sale.

A staggering total of £313 was raised in just a couple of hours!! Huge thanks to Vicki - what an amazing total to reach.

£300 could help to pay for 300 clinic visits, helping people in rural South Africa access the health care they need.

The following day, Vicki sent the following message...

'I'm so pleased and very surprised that we made such an amazing amount of money! It was a real pleasure to do it for you, I really enjoyed the whole thing and am so happy it's going to such a good cause.'

Thanks again to Vicki, and Marissa for her assistance as well as all those who came along!

Why we do what we do - In Tutu's Words

This week we want to once again, show case one of the amazing students who we sponsored through university (thanks to your support, and that of Sangobeg Development Ltd). We'll let Tutu share her story, and help her to tell you why we do what we do.

"I am one of the luckiest girls who had the opportunity to go to varsity to study and become something in this world because of GAGA.

I have always wanted to do something in the medical field because I enjoy working with people... and always wanted to give back to my community through something that's medical related.

After four years of hard work, I am now a qualifed Physiotherapist. Something I have always wished for but back then didn't seem possible due to certain circumstances but because of the support received from GAGA, it was possible.

In SA,  almost each semester there are strikes in Universities relating to Financial exclusion. Students get excluded because they are unable to pay university fee's. It is such a sad thing to witness but thanks to GAGA, my fees were always paid on time and I never had to face financial exclusion.

I am now employed by the Kwa-Zulu Natal department of Health  as a Junior Physiotherapist working at  a Tertiary Hospital in Durban. I am still hoping to get more deeper into the medical field and actually become a doctor, some day.

I am really really thankful to GAGA. I don't know where I'd be in life it it wasn't for them. Thank you for the commitment, the dedication, the passion that they have in helping this country (SA). It is truly appreciated. There are  no words that could express how thankful I am."

Adopt-a-Bed

We're thrilled to be supporting Hillcrest AIDS Centre once again this year, sponsoring a bed in their much-needed Respite Unit.

Thank you to them for showcasing our support on their new Adopt-a-bed sign at the unit. You can see a variety of sponsors (and some free slots for sponsors). You can find out more about Hillcrest AIDS Centre and their Respite Unit here.

Wonder Woman Wendy

Thanks to your support, as well as that of generous donor Sangobeg we are currently assisting 9 students through various university and college courses. The expense of further education in South Africa can be too much for many students, who have a low household income, and large families to provide for. For Wendy, this was the case. She started studying in 2015 and managed to borrow enough to help her through the first semester, but this wasn't sustainable.

Wendy's mum Goodness, who teaches at First Step Right School, does what she can to support her family but the costs of university education were out of their reach. Goodness came to GAGA appealing for help, and luckily we were able to support Wendy.

Wendy was an exceptional school student, and did really well in her first semester. She is continuing to shine and we are so proud of her. She's studying Cost Accountancy. We're happy to give you a little update from Wendy on how her studies are going...

"Being a third year student is challenging and requires hardwork and commitment. I'm doing 5 modules this semester and guess what, I've been appointed as class representative. This is good for my CV but requires endless meetings. #leader

There is this subject in third year which everyone cries about. It's Management Accounting. On our first test I earned 91%, I was the highest and my lecturer bought me 2 slabs of chocolate. I didn't believe, I asked myself why me and another thought came to me, if not me then who, why not me. And I said quietly 'God you made me something out of 170 students.' "

Well done Wendy. We can see such great things in your future.