South Africa, more than most countries, has an extremely large gap between rich and poor. For all its residents to live meaningful and fulfilling lives, this gap needs to be breached and the only way to do so is for all of us to lend a helping hand to our struggling neighbours.
Beneficiaries receive these goods in Love the Babies bags that contain nappies, baby clothes, towels, blankets and toys. Items like aqueous cream, baby oil and powder are included in the bags if there is enough fundingIt is with this in mind that the small group of people at the Robin Hood Foundation go out of their way to help the needy and less fortunate members of poor communities in the greater Durban area in a variety of ways. They prove that, armed with a strong determination to make a difference, even the smallest group of people can help to change the world.
The foundation, as is apparent in its name, collects donations of goods and money from more affluent members of society and distributes these resources to some of the poorest people in our country. Its slogan is: “Blessing the rich by giving to the poor”.
Cindy Norcot, the founder and chairperson, explains: “We have all been blessed in our own lives and we love having an avenue to give back to society. It is rewarding thinking up new projects and working out ways to make a difference to poor communities.” People often take for granted just how fortunate they are to have all the resources and services at their disposal, and there is a huge number of people who would regard having these resources as a luxury.
The foundation, which is in Durban, mainly focuses its attention on helping elderly people and pregnant women from disadvantaged communities. Its other focus is child-headed homes. “I think that in South Africa, there are so many opportunities to help make a difference and I believe that we are all called to make a difference, where we are with what we have.”
It has a variety of projects through which the public can get involved, including Bless a Granny, Love the Babies, Gogo Bags and Child-Headed Household. Love the Babies, which led to the formation of the foundation, aims to equip new mothers with the necessities they need to look after their babies during the first year of the baby’s life. They receive these goods in Love the Babies bags that contain nappies, baby clothes, towels, blankets and toys. Items like aqueous cream, baby oil and powder are included in the bags if there is enough funding.
Gogo Bags is similar. The organisation provides provisions to the recipients in the form of a bag or hamper. The bags contain food such as maize meal, rice and samp, as well as a other necessities like soap. This project is aimed at recognising and assisting grandmothers who have taken it upon themselves to look after their orphaned grandchildren. These old women often struggle to make ends meet just on their social grants and are generally unable to work given their age.
It costs R100 to put together a Gogo Bag; find out how to sponsor Gogo bags by visiting the organisation’s website and going to its how-to-help page.
Bless a Granny was started to give elderly women at a number of frail care homes a bit of much-needed TLC. Volunteers give their time to caring for these senior citizens and slowing the onset of boredom. The 
It costs R100 to put together a Gogo Bag; find out how to sponsor Gogo bags by visiting the organisation’s website and going to its how-to-help pageproject started shortly after the success of the foundation’s Adopt a Granny project, which ran in 2009. Under that, it handed out 2 500 gifts to grandmothers and grandfathers in homes in Durban. It was renamed Bless-a-Granny in 2011, a year in which the organisation managed to light up the festive season for 3 000 elderly folk in 16 different homes.
The Aids pandemic has led to many households losing their breadwinners, which has forced many young orphans to take charge of their households and begin providing for their siblings. The foundation’s Child-Headed Households project is aimed at alleviating the pressure on these young caregivers.
It has two parts: firstly, there is a shopping spree during which the children interact with the team and volunteers and are treated to a day of shopping for items like uniforms and toiletries; secondly, to cap off the day, these children are given bags that contain food, blankets and towels to add to their shopping bought on the day.
“It is very gratifying seeing the absolute joy and relief on the faces of people we help. We do realise that our efforts are a drop in the ocean but as far as we are concerned, every drop counts,” Norcot says.
To get involved with the work of the organisation, can visit its how-to-help page and find out about some of the many ways you can play your part, such as by sponsoring a child-headed household for just R1 000 a month or by pledging your support to the organisation via a monthly debit order. The pledge form and bank details are available on the page.
For more information about the Robin Hood Foundation, visit the website, send an email or telephone it on 031 265 2008.
