“I started playing baseball when I was 7 years of age, I played since I was under 10 up until the age of under 18.

I was not the best player, but I was extremely consistent in playing the sport, the camps I attended were excellent and would always be unforgettable, my highlight of children aloud camp was the father son, where coach Merlin would step in an be a father for a whole week, that made my bound grew even stronger, coach Merlin always told me that I was gonna be extremely successful if I just relax an listen,

Children A’Loud basically shaped my life when I was just a kid trying to get fast money at a young age there were many times I had no motivation to go forward but in the back of my head I thought but coach Merlin always saying how proud he is of me, that made me change my mindset in ways I could never imagine,
I turned all my negativity into positivity.

I joined evs too a organisation mainly focused on medical assistance and firefightering.

Sometimes I look at myself an tell myself I’m proud of the person I’ve become just by taking the opportunity to listen to coach Merlin feeding me with advice.“

– Diego George

“Thank you uncle Vic and all the sponsors, we are very grateful for what you have done for us. The camp was awesome and all the stuff we had done. It was a big experience for me. The waterfalls was fanatastic, the paintball was very amazing and the fishing was wonderful and the 200 steps was very good. Every morning then I wake up to a beautiful view of the mountain and the ocean and I felt blessed to see all this beauty that God has given to me. Sometimes I forget what lies outside of Ocean View. It was the first time that I slept in a tent and it was a great experience for me. Thank you for everything that u have done for us Uncle Vic.“

– Miguel Kallis

“Firstly I’d like to thank Coach Merlin, aunty Renee and uncle Vic and all the organisations for everything you guys did for the baseball children. I had an amazing time on the week camp although it wasn’t my first time camping in a tent by the ocean. It was wonderful to see that it was a first time for most of the boys. Most of the things we did at camp was a first time for me and my fellow teammates. I’d like to give another shout out to Coach Merlin and aunty Renee for always being there for us and always give us advice to do the right things in life no matter what time of the day. The camp really made us grow closer as one family. My highlight of the camp were the showers because most of us don’t have showers at home and never bathe in a shower before so it was a new experience for us and I enjoyed every moment.“

– Farouk Butler

“Valley development projects are a designated child protection organisation within Masiphumelele and Ocean View. The Organisation is responsible for child protection matters as well as early intervention and prevention programs to ensure re-unification and family strengthening withing the two communities. The organisation also runs a successful ECD program and community development program to combat neglect and abuse. Due to the case load and the different challenges, including intervention strategies, we as an Organisation are reliant on external support from neighbouring Organisations.

The two organisations have collaborated successfully to work on intervention strategies and programs which include behaviour modification of children. In the past two years, the organisation: Children Aloud has successfully enrolled children and parents from our Organisation into their program as part of a holistic approach.

With the support of Children Aloud, our Organisation are able to run therapeutic services successfully and support the families in a holistic way. We are soley reliant on organisations like Children Aloud to support us in intervention strategies, as we encounter a lack of resources to provide family strengthening. This service delivery received from this organisation has ensured excellence in combatting child abuse and neglect.

Conclusion
As a Organisation we are fully in support of further development in order to extend programs to strenghten the community. Should any institution consider supporting this Organisation financially or in kind, we as Valley development projects would greatly benefit from this service.”

– Juliana Rubain

“Thanks Aunty Renee and Children A’Loud for helping me whenever I need help. They helped me with my matric dance and gave me employment as the karate admin and play leader in the holiday programme. With my earnings I was able to care for my siblings. They also helped me with my registration for college where I am currently studying to become a welder. When I needed food, electricity, medication and travelling money, they always helped me out. I don’t know what I would do without their help.”

– Rewano Franke

“Dear Children A’Loud,

Thank you for your amazing contribution to the Ocean View Care Center. Your help had fed 90 underprivileged children each and every day. Your stationary contribution has helped many children to be able to learn effectively. The OT has also helped tremendously with the children and their learning abilities which will help as they are progressing to Grade 1. From the community of the Ocean View Care Centre we appreciate and value your contribution during the 18 months of Covid.”

– Manager: Bernie Jacobs

“Just a special thanks to Children A’Loud for the amazing assistance during our worst times of the pandemic. Children A’Loud made sure that at Mutheera’s projects we were able to serve breakfast and late lunch to 350-386 people including elderly and kids from a Monday to Saturday… Sincerely grateful as many people suffered especially with food security amongst other issues…”

– Mutheera Rademeyer @Mutheera’s projects

“Children A’Loud, Abundant Life Foundation would like to thank Children A’Loud for assisting us with our food kitchen during the first 18 months of covid 19. Because of their assistance we could feed 150 to 200 children every second day in the mornings and evenings.

Kind regards”

– Shamila Adams, Abundant Life Foudation

“It was good to bring in people from the university to come and talk to us. This program gave me more than enough information for what I want to become in the future.”

“Children A’Loud was friendly, made jokes in between so we weren’t falling asleep and they did a good job. They helped me in my situation and thanks to them, I know what career field I want to go into.”

“The people that came to speak to us about their careers, allowed me to get enough information for the career choice I’m interested in.”

“Application forms were highly appreciated and learners indicated that they really learnt how to fill it out.”

“Thank you to CTEET leaders, the coaches, the cooks, Aunty Renee and all the people who donated food and money to make the camp possible. I really liked the pillow fighting and the hikes.”

“Hi Renee and Merlin, thank you so much. You don’t know how I feel for knowing your people like you. My hubby and I appreciate everything that you are doing for our children and all the other children.”

– Charmaine Saal