The people of Skaaprus (now Bambanani Village) are living in a situation that is almost impossible to imagine. 

Life is hard in our part of the world. Skaaprus is 6km's from Ermelo CBD tucked almost out of sight on the N2. Nearby work opportunities exist at either the open cast coal mine or the power station another few km's south but these are not abundant and the mines changed hands so often that work if it was available, comes and goes quickly. Families in Skaaprus are often hardest hit with no electricity or running water and no available public services. Before the daycare centre opened parents couldn't work and leave their children in a safe environment whilst they were out looking for work so they would do what they could so that they could scrape together enough to buy food. Skaaprus was, as a result, quite a dangerous place to be and the police were regularly in the area to investigate and arrest people for crimes of theft, disorder and violence.   

Today life is still hard for the people in Skaaprus, there is still no electricity, running water or other public services.

The Police don't visit nearly as often as they used to. The community has banded together and helped each other through times of difficulty and crisis. Unemployment remains to be one of the biggest challenges and in connection with Wealth for the People the community is forming a co-operative and creating jobs in farming, trades and retail that will be able to lift the whole community. None of this would be possible without the relationships that Ian has built up through the last decade, and certainly would not be possible without the support of Love Africa Youth supporters.

This is not the end of the story. The Day Care Centre is still in need of your support - maybe now more than ever! The promised funds from the government for the day care centre don't always arrive on time if at all - This year's funds have still not arrived and your kind donations have been paying all of the bills so far.