My beautiful daughter Caitlin Juba Green died tragically in June 2009, aged 26, after a long illness. While it slowly destroyed her physically, her mind remained sharp, as did her interest in the wider world, family, friends, and her love of books. To the end she remained positive, never giving up hope.
Caitlin spent a great deal of time in South Africa throughout her short life and always said she would like to live there one day. She was in love with the country – its beauty, space, openness and people.
Caitlin felt passionately about encouraging the empowerment and independence of women through education. She was never happier than when she was studying English Literature at Sheffield University where she achieved a First, and she loved her job at Harper Collins Publishers in London.
As I was born and grew up in South Africa, I have decided to use the money Caitlin left to set up a bursary fund in her memory to help young disadvantaged women in South Africa either to finish school or go to university.
Rather than setting up a separate charity, as a Gumboots Foundation donor I have asked Gumboots to administer the fund. I would like the money to benefit young girls who are doing well at school and would like to continue to further education if they were able to. Depending on the amount available, the fund could assist them in their last 2 years of schooling and then support them at university for a period of 3 years. The fund would develop its own income stream through friends, colleagues, family and all those who knew Caitlin.
For the past two years, the Caitlin Fund has been supporting an 18 year old girl, Vuyelwa Mtolo (Happiness) who lives in a township on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg. Her mother became ill, lost her job and eventually died last year. The Fund has been covering Vuyelwa’s transport to school, buying uniforms and generally making her life much easier. Happiness wrote the following letter in response to some questions that I had sent her:
Dear Mam,
....The thing that makes me happy is that you've told your friends about me, much love and thanks a lot. Now I move on to answer the questions....
1) In what way has the money from the bursary helped you to continue with your education?
The money has helped a lot, it has given me a second chance in education. Not just any education, the best I have ever received. I consider myself lucky because if I weren't at this school, then I would've never gotten the bursary. When I think about it, I would've never known my talents. The money pushes me to do better than myself...
2) How difficult would things have been for you if you didn't have the extra money?
Things would've been extremely difficult, I probably would've been a drop-out. Not because I wanted to, but because there was no other way forward. You know when my mom lost her job, I was really affected by the whole saga. Even now, my mother's unemployed. Not because she can't find a job now, because she found out that she is diagnosed with TB. See, I wouldn't be able to go back to school without the money...
3) Has the extra money helped you to take part in other things such as sports, games etc?
It has also benefited me to attend weekend sports matches. At first I wasn't able to play any sports matches that were held during the weekend because I didn't have the money (on weekends the bus-fair is extra). Now I am able to attend every match for every sport I play.
4) Has the extra money given you hope that you will be able to continue to further education such as university or college?
I have much hope now that I will be able to attend a university in 2 years time. I have hope and pray that my mama lives to see the moment I graduate and attend varsity. But I don't wanna rely on the bursary my whole life, I would love to attend a university anywhere overseas. That is why I'm working really hard at school so that when I apply for the bursary overseas, I get it. It is every child's dream to go to university, anywhere would be just perfect for me...
5) In what way has the extra money helped you the most?
I won’t call the money EXTRA because I had none before. This money has helped in every single way and every single issue it can attack. I am very grateful for the help I'm getting. I believe that every thing's God's plan. I believe that he sent people like you to come look after people like us... Why he chose me? I think because I have something great that I need to show the world, most of all, to show my mom. The money is the one thing that has made my year, I will never forget the year 2010...
I'm not sure what else to say except that all you people of the bursary, are Angels and truly are sent from heaven.
Mrs Green thank you a lot
Lots of love... Happiness
FAQ
How will the beneficiaries for the fund be found?
Applicants will be referred from a number of sources in South Africa – friends, schools and other institutions. I hope that I and other supporters will forge links with some schools and that referrals will be made that way.
If it becomes clear that it is not possible to find enough suitable applicants in this way a school or institution could be approached and a competitive process could be opened up. Potential applicants would be expected to state their aspirations and why they would need funding.
All referrals will then be presented to me and the Gumboots Board and a decision will be taken.
I intend to research and identify further potential beneficiaries on regular trips to South Africa.
Is my money going to Gumboots or directly to girls’ education?
The Caitlin Fund and Gumboots are separate entities, Gumboots will simply administer the money in conjunction with me. As Gumboots is a registered charity in both the UK and South Africa, it made good sense to do it this way as this will also enable Gift Aid on donations made to the Caitlin Fund.
I can’t necessarily afford to fund ongoing school fees but I would like to contribute to buying uniforms, books and equipment. What is the breakdown of costs?
If you want to make a one-off donation it will be used to support ongoing costs for ensuring that the young women are able to continue their studies. Currently the Caitlin Fund pays taxi fares to and from the township for one of its recipients. This costs approximately £10.00 per week. A new school blazer costs approximately £25.00 and a uniform including sports equipment costs about £125.00.
If I want to sponsor a child through school, is it possible for me to communicate with her on some kind of regular basis?
That would be positively encouraged. I will find a way to make that happen. I am currently communicating with the first recipient of the fund and am hoping to spend time with her on trips to South Africa.
How can I get updates and feedback on how recipients of the Caitlin Fund are getting on?
Information on girls benefiting from the Caitlin Fund will be included in Gumboots Newsletters so please sign up here.
http://www.gumboots.org.uk/get_involved.htm
We also hope to start our own newsletter as the donors increase.
I would like to potentially offer an annual work experience placement for suitable beneficiaries of the Caitlin Fund. Who do I talk to about this?
I and other members of Gumboots are taking this idea forward. We hope that potential employers would consider a work placement once a university/college course has been completed. This would be a wonderful way of giving the young women wider experience and knowledge that would benefit them and their communities in the long term.
If you have any other questions, suggestions or thoughts please email: margzgreen@googlemail.com
