Every Life Matters is a nonprofit organization based in Canada. We partner with global communities in need by reaching out with essential resources to create a better world for all of us.
We are in the process of changing our name to Siyawela Foundation. Siyawela is pronounced see-ya-WAY-la and is a Zulu word meaning to cross over, unite, connect. We feel it better represents our intent and vision.
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Join our Mailing List!
If you would like to receive our newsletter, sent occasionally about upcoming events and news on our projects, please send an email to siyawela@gmail.com Just put "subscribe" in the subject and we'll add you. We promise to keep your email address a secret and not share it with anyone. You can unsubscribe at any time by sending us an email with "unsubscribe".
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Food shortage is a huge issue in the area that Zisize serves. In keeping with our mission to support sustainable solutions, and in discussion with Zisize staff, we decided to fund a borehole and tank. There was an enthusiastic group of women who wanted to start a community garden to grow food. They worked hard to clear a rocky piece of land and are now growing beautiful vegetables. The cost of this project was $7,094.45.
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| the women gardeners |
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| breaking ground |
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| the garden is planted |
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| vegetables are growing! |
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| Why we started our work in South Africa: |
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South Africa is currently experiencing one of the most severe AIDS epidemics in the world. At the end of 2007, there were approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV in South Africa (about 1 in 5 adults), and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day. (UNAIDS 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic)
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Between 1990 and 2003 – a period during which HIV prevalence in South Africa increased dramatically – the country fell by 35 places in the Human Development Index, a global directory that ranks countries by how developed they are. (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006)
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UNAIDS estimated that there were 1.4 million South African children orphaned by AIDS in 2007, compared to 780,000 in 2003 (UNAIDS 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic). Once orphaned, these children are more likely to face poverty, poor health and a lack of access to education.
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Our current project is in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, as this province has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in South Africa (40% infected). Furthermore, our work is in a very rural area where children are living in huts made of sticks and mud that are deteriorating and collapsing. This community identified housing as their most critical need for our first project, so we have built a 2-bedroom home and a 3-bedroom home.
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| Example of current housing |
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| One of the homes we built |
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Children at Zisize created some beautiful artwork that we have turned into greeting cards. On the back of each card, is a message written by the child artist. If you would like to support the orphans and vulnerable children in KwaZulu-Natal, please send us an email at siyawela@gmail.com with your order. Tell us which card designs you would like (numbered 1 through 14 from left to right) and the quantity of each design. Prices are $3 each or 4 for $10.
Here are the designs to choose from (click to enlarge):
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Every Life Matters is a registered non-profit organization in Canada (registration #446712-4) but are unable to issue tax receipts. We gratefully accept donations and will put them towards our project in Africa.
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On March 6th, 2010, we had a great celebration at the Citadel Theatre's amphitheatre. The night started wtih wonderful performance by the African Carribbean Drummers, followed by several moving songs by Keshotu. During intermission we all enjoyed food prepared by Fresh Start while bidding on some amazing African items during the silent auction. After intermission was a play 'Mona Leseding', performed by Tsholo Khalema about her life growing up in apartheid South Africa. Her acting, singing, and drumming was met with rave reviews.
With everyone's generosity that night, $4,500 was raised that went towards the borehole project! Thank you to all who attended, volunteered, and performed to make the night such a success.
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Jabula Africa!
Thank you to all who joined us April 4th, 2009 for Jabula Africa!
It was an amazing night and our apologies to all of those who wanted tickets, but due to sold-out conditions were unable to come.
Join our mailing list to find out first about upcoming events.
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A HUGE and heart-felt thank you to all our absolutely amazing performers: Memeza Africa, who joined us all the way from South Africa, the West African drummers and dancers, and Marcus Fung.
Thank you to Zenari's Restaurant, who gave us a great deal on the fabulous delicious food. Continue to enjoy their food at their Manulife Place location.
Thank you to all of you who came. We couldn't have done it without all of you!
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Here are some photos of our fun time at Jabula Africa! (click a photo to enlarge it):
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March 19th, 2009 - CTV News featured a School Zone report about the amazing work the students of Vernon Barford Junior High School are doing to raise funds for building a house with us in South Africa. For other schools wishing to get involved, please contact us! We will come to your school to give a powerpoint presentation with photos and facts so students can learn about needs in the world and how they can be an important part of making change. There are various needs in our project area so students can choose their project and fundraising goal. Email us at siyawela@gmail.com or phone us at (780) 554-8735 to get involved either this school year or next.
March 18th, 2009 - The film "Today the Hawk Takes One Chick" was shown at the University of Alberta, followed by a discussion led by two of our board directors. This is a film about Gogos (grandmothers) in Africa taking care of orphans, as the number of adults dying from AIDS continues at an alarming rate.
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Thanks to everyone who supported Siyawela: A South African Wine Tasting on May 31, 2008 in Edmonton where over $5000 was raised! It was a great success and everyone enjoyed sipping 55 different kinds of wine, nibbling on hors d'oeuvres, and listening to live entertainment while bidding on interesting silent auction items.
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"It's not about charity, it's about justice".
~ Bono
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