Thursday, December 17, 2009

We Did It!

Hello Themba Supporters,

This will be my last message this year as I prepare to depart for South Africa on December 30th. This is the beginning of a very exciting time of year as I prepare to live in Thembalethu for the next seven months while working to transform Zone 4 into a food secure community. Thank you to everyone who has supported both myself, my work and the community of Thembalethu over the past year. I leave you with four exciting announcements:

1.1 Tonight, Free Immigration question and answer session with Immigration Lawyer, Lee Cohen
1.2 Year end is quickly approaching, be sure to make your 2009 charitable donations in time to receive a tax-receipt
1.3 A Chance to Win $5000, please take a moment to vote
1.4 Departure information and what you could do to help

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1.1 Immigration Information Session

How often do you have an opportunity to meet with a lawyer for free? Never, until now! Bring all of your Immigration questions with you to the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Art on Chebucto, near Windsor, from 7-9pm tonight (December 17), and Halifax Immigration/Refugee lawyer Lee Cohen will help you with the answers.

Remember to bring a small donation for The Themba Development Project which helps a community in South Africa with food and education.

Want more info? Email me at thembaproject@gmail.com
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1.2 Tax Deductible Charitable Donations

Get cash back when you file your taxes this year, did you know that when you make a donation to the Themba Development Project you will receive a tax-receipt? Make your donations easily with one of these options:

a. Donate with a credit card. Go to Canadahelps.org and type "Themba" in the search bar. Donate with your credit card and print off an instant tax receipt (Preferred by Themba)
b. Donate using PayPal or Email Money Transfer using thembaproject@gmail.com as the recipient name
c. Donate with a check to:
The Themba Development Project
161 Glenforest Drive
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3M 1J2
d. Donating Cash? email thembaproject@gmail.com to find out how
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1.3 A Chance to Win $5000!

Here is an easy way to help the families of Thembalethu and it will only take a second. Voting deadline is December 30 2009.

1.Go to http://www.care2.com/hero-next-door/nominate.html and nominate Catherine Robar, Founding Director of the Themba Development Project.

2. Sit back and watch as your actions could result in a 35,000 South Africa Rand ($5000) donation which will go to help little boys and girls by putting food on their plates, school supplies in their back packs and hope for a better future!

****Catherine Robar created a registered charity which now provides food, education, resources and hope to 600 South African people who before her were only eating every 3-5 days. Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, www.thembaproject,org Your vote is greatly appreciated!
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1.4 Departure Information and what you can do to help!

Catherine Robar, Founder of The Themba Development Project, departs Halifax on December 30, 2009 for Thembalethu, South Africa. Estimated time in Thembalethu will be 7 months as Catherine works with the people of Thembalethu-Zone 4 to redevelop the land, plant trees and created a sustainable agriculture system for all families. The end result will be an environment in which each family has access to food, education resources and the ability to grow crops.

What can you do to help?
1. Donate first aid supplies such as bandaids, polysporin etc or provide a gift certificate so that we can purchase these items
2. Share this email with your friends, this work started out with one person, today due to people spreading the word we have hundreds of supporters around the world!
3. Donate any un-opened vegetable seed packages that you have not used
4. Share your aeroplan or frequent flier points, this is a volunteer operated charity and your generosity will allow us to be more effective in our work!

If you would like to follow the work taking place in Thembalethu please check out the blog. Here you will find pictures of the work taking place, funny stories about life in Thembalethu and videos of the community. http://thembaproject.blogspot.com/ If you would like to mail parcels or letters please email me for the address.
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On behalf of the The Themba Development Project, Catherine Robar and the families of Thembalethu I would like to say a big thank you. Although I am the person leading the project, all of you are the people fueling the work. If nothing else were to result from our action, we have already made a profound difference in the lives of the families living in this struggling community. We have given them a voice, and the power to know that we are all here watching, and rooting for their success. Without all of you none of this would have been possible. To all of the people who have made donations big and small, the people who organized events and chose Themba as the recipient, and to all of you who have taken the time to hug and encourage me, I thank you.

Catherine Robar
Founding Director
The Themba Development Project
www.thembaproject.org

Donate today, it all adds up to ending chronic poverty! http://www.canadahelps.org/

One person, One community CAN change the world, we have already begun!