THE CRADLE OF HOPE wishes you a wonderful and blessed 2014!

JANUARY 2014 has been an absolute crazy month, and we have been extremely

busy!


We are so blessed, as this has been the first year ever, since our inception

in 2007


that we have been able to supply our House of Restoration, and our CRADLE

ARK children,


as well as children in our immediate surrounds with a basic school

stationery pack.


Our HOUSE OF RESTORATION children also received new school shoes,


new school clothes, new school suitcases


and new lunchboxes and juice bottles.


THANK YOU to our committed and dedicated donors, sponsors and volunteers who

made this possible!




We would also like to say a very huge THANK YOU to all that made Christmas

time at


THE CRADLE OF HOPE a special time for our moms, children and young girls.




We are also very grateful for all the repairs and maintenance that has been

done to our HOUSE OF RESTORATION.


THANK YOU!!




Our NEEDS at the moment:


Rice; Pasta; Cooking oil; Sugar; Coffee; Long Life Milk; Canned foods;

Mealie meal.


Jik; Handy Andy; Pine Gel; Sunlight Liquid.


Spreads for bread: Jam; Sandwich spread; Peanut butter; Fishpaste;

Cheese spread; Marmite etc.


Mince; Chicken; Boerewors; Viennas; Polony; Fruit; Vegetables;

Cheese; Bread; Margarine.


24 Pillows; 24 Single bed duvet inners.


Any old clothing, shoes, books, toys, linen, curtains etc. or any useable

items that you no longer require.


Garden implements: 6x large shovels; 6x garden forks; 6x picks for

gardening.


Seeds to plant: Potatoes; Tomatoes; Cabbage; Mealies; Spinach etc.




On behalf of all our women and children who call THE CRADLE OF HOPE "home",

we would like to say THANK YOU for partnering with us in our mission to

provide a safe and loving Family Home to them who need it most.


Without your help we just could not continue to BE THE DIFFERENCE in the

lives of the vulnerable, abused and less-fortunate.


THANK YOU!!!




Any donations can be delivered to our main address at our HOUSE OF

RESTORATION, 37 Dekker street,


West-Krugersdorp, every day between 07h00 and 19h00. TEL: (011) 660-4623.




Banking details:


THE CRADLE OF HOPE, First National Bank, Krugersdorp, Branch: 250241, Acc:

6218 035 2628. (Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ)




We do not receive any funding or grants from the LOTTO or the Government


and we are entirely dependent on the goodwill of our individual and business

donors.


Tax (PBO) certificates can be issued for all donations.


We are fully BBBEE complaint.




THE CRADLE OF HOPE


NPO: 062-511


NPC: 2007/030236/08


PBO: 930-027-742


VAT: 4760248593


TEL: (011) 660-4623




FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/TheCradleofHope




YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSB6LTFRSsk






We offer HELP and HOPE regardless of race or religion,


offering a "HAND-UP" and not a "HAND-OUT",


BECAUSE WE CARE!

The Snail Vine

Imagine a flower resembling a twisted arrangement of twirls and springs and corkscrews; add to this colour shades of whites, shell pink, lavender and primrose; throw in a scent similar to Chinese Jasmine or Magnolia and you would probably come up with something from ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

Fortunately there is no need to hunt for a rabbit hole, visit us at Garden World and ask for Vigna Caracalla – the Snail Vine. This evergreen creeper enjoys a warm garden where the winter temperatures do not go below freezing.

The plant is however, very resilient and even after a harsh winter will sprout new green growth from undamaged vines. Mulching of the soil around the roots through the cold months will help to keep the roots warm and new shoots will emerge if the top growth has been badly affected. With a well-drained soil, rich in compost and a full sun position, your snail vine will perform in a completely opposite way to its name sake. This is a fast growing plant, light enough to weave over an arch and quick enough to cover large blank walls. Although not ‘self-clinging’, the tendrils will be able to use rough surfaces, trellis and any frame work as a support.

Maintenance as far as shaping and pruning is concerned should happen after the plant has bloomed or after you have harvested any seeds you may need. Cut back on the old or dead vines and reshape to suit the arch or pergola and position errant growth to cover an empty or sparse area of the walls. This will now allow for the new growth in spring, space and light to send out many fresh vines and eventually the prolific flowering display.

Keep your vine regularly watered and feed with an organic 3.1.5 every six to eight weeks, beginning in early spring and through the flowering season to the end of summer.

Planted in a spot where you can enjoy the exceptional perfume and colours, this is a variety well suited for a fragrance garden; a romantic garden; for over that arch into your rose bed or through a pergola leading you to a bench in a quiet corner of the garden.

For any information and general gardening questions contact Louis at Garden World or visit us on Beyers Naudé Drive in Muldersdrift.

Join us on face book with the handy link on our website.

Louis d’ Hotman

General Manager

Tel: 011 957 2046

Fax: 011 957 3214

GPS: S 26° 02.560’ E 27° 53.164’

E-mail: louis@gardenworld.co.za

Website: www.gardenworld.co.za

Favorable shift for small business owners in the home loan market

Since the global recession that hit both the developed and developing world in 2008, most people have been quite conservative when it comes to getting into any long term financial commitments. 

 

It is estimated that around 24% of applications for home loans in 2007 were submitted by individuals who generated income independently through their own businesses.

 

Even though that percentage dropped to around 12% since then, the average loan granted to these individuals - small business owners and entrepreneurs - is significantly higher than those granted to their counterparts who rely on a salaried income. 

 

According to the head of First National Bank’s Home Loans department, Ewald Kellerman, this increase is likely due to the fact that entrepreneurship comes with increased risk/reward return factors. 

 

However, banks and financial service providers must surely still be wary of all the risks that come with loaning money to individuals with small businesses.

 

Apart from the fact that the global financial situation is still not stable enough to make owning a business stable, no matter the size, there are a lot of factors that could influence the success of a business, and with that, the owners ability to pay off a home loan. 

 

Many businesses fail within the first year, and those that survive may not be financially viable for a year or two more, so home loan providers must be sure that any applicant has a stable enough income to cover their expenses during that period. 

 

On the other hand, if an applicant is successful enough, the loan will likely be paid successfully and in some cases even early.

 

While it is still a huge risk for banks and other providers to provide home loans to self-employed individuals, this trend that sees these business owners being rewarded for hard work and risk taking shows that there is more confidence on the part of the banks, as well as willingness to inject capital into a growing market.

 

Written by: Wesley Geyer

Why your business needs a website

Many businesses were established before the technological era and are still running a successful company without the additions that the technological age brought us. 

 

Online marketing is still a foreign idea to many small to medium business owners and others simply feel it is too complicated. 

 

Today we’ll look at probably the most important aspect of online marketing – websites – and why it has become crucial for your business to have one.

 

The first reason for your business to have a website is the fact that your competitors have already positioned themselves online. And no, “everyone else is doing it” is not a reason to do something, yet it is important to note that the reason why most businesses are online today is because that is where everyone is looking nowadays. 

 

The fact that some other company is getting business that you could be getting should be a great motivator.

 

When you look at all the different information you can place on a website, it’s probable that the same information is repeated by your staff to customers on a daily basis. Imagine what your staff could be doing if they weren’t busy on the phone to inform customers of trading hours, locations, products on offer and their price or whether your stock a specific item. 

 

The time you save could mean more to you than you think. It also means that your customers have unlimited access to your information without you having to put in the time for it.

 

You might think your business does not have an online presence, but with social networking expanding on a daily basis, there is a fantastic chance that your business has been discussed and reviewed somewhere online.

 

It might be an unfortunate truth, but a customer who may have had a bad experience at your business is more likely to rant about it online than he is to approach you. Being online gives you the chance to defend yourself or make sure you address the customer’s bad experience.

 

The internet has taken over in so many different areas of our lives. It has redefined how we do things and makes an impact on everyday decisions like where to eat or which shop to visit. 

 

Having a website ensures that your business can be located and that the customers from the store not far from yours, may become your customers.

 

Written by: Marleen Theunissen 

Shopping mall’s in the West Rand get a facelift!

The West Rand of Johannesburg has seen a number of changes over the last five years, not the least of which has been the construction of a slew of new apartment and townhouse complexes along the outskirts of major areas, as well as an initiative that has allowed for the areas entertainment complexes to be revitalized.

 

Three of these complexes, two existing and one brand new, have been under construction from early 2012, and the developments are all nearing completion at a fantastic rate.

 

Key West Shopping Centre in Krugersdorp has recently been part of upgrades by Aucacap Investments, who have allocated around R105 million to a three-part project at the mall. The Waterfront section of the Key West Shopping Centre will be upgraded and modernized, hosting a number of new family restaurants, activity areas for children and a brand new amphitheater for live events. 

 

The waterfront area will also be accessible directly from the brand new ‘Entrance 7’, which, along with Entrance 4, will get elevators that will allow visitors to access the second floor. The mall itself will also be revamped, inside and out, with new signage, more rest facilities and a host of new retail tenants.

 

The developments are expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

 

 

 

Silverstar casino investors Tsogo Sun have allocated an estimated R480 million to construction and refurbishment at the relatively young casino complex. Expected to be completed by August 2014, Silverstar Casino will become an entertainment hub for the West Rand with six cinemas boasting the latest technology 3D screens, a 12-lane bowling alley and four new restaurants surrounding a central square that can also be used for outdoor events. 

 

There will also be an outdoor screen in the central square with two restaurants inside the property, bringing the total number of restaurants to six. A beer garden, laser games, a refurbished casino and a large outdoor domed events arena as well as an upmarket indoor multipurpose events venue and additional parking will feature in the development. Most of the facilities will remain operational throughout the period, though many of them are also undergoing refurbishment behind the scenes.

 

The West Rand’s newest addition, Cradlestone Mall, is said to be on track with its construction, and has set an official opening date for October 24th, 2013. The mall, located ideally between the West Rand hub of entertainment that holds its sister malls like Clearwater and Silverstar Casino, and the World Heritage Site in the Cradle of Humankind. Cradlestone will be a testament to the evolutionary heritage of the area, and will show off the importance of the area in Human history. 

 

It will host 240 retail stores, entertainment areas and restaurants, as well as a state of the art IMAX theatre, free Wi-Fi in the food court, fiber optics and a brand new tubing system that will make the handling of cash on the premises safer for all parties involved.

The mall is planned to have as low a carbon footprint as possible, in order to promote ‘green entertainment’ and to foster in a new way of conducting business. 

 

 

Written by Wesley Geyer

Creative writer at ATKA SA

Remember the Black Eagle Conservation Project

 

The Black Eagle is a fairly common resident of South Africa and is said to be one of the most thoroughly researched eagles in the country. 

 

They are found at sea level from the Cape Province to the Drakensberg in Natal, in the North West Province and up into Africa. Mountain terrains with cliffs, rock ledges and caves are preferred as habitat by the black eagle, with the ledges providing nesting sites and abundant prey.

 

When the Watler Sisulu National Botanical Garden was established in 1982, the black eagles were already nesting on the cliffs next to the Witpoortjie Falls. Despite increasing urbanisation and development within their immediate hunting area, the pair breeding at the Gardens has stayed, regardless of their existence being challenged by influx of visitors, noise and lack of prey. The interference within and around the territory escalated with stray and domestic dogs and vagrans, who feed on the eagles’ principal prey, the dassie. The pair have had to adapt their prey base to include guinea fowl, francolin, red rock rabbit and in very desperate cases, chickens.

 

The Black Eagle Monitoring Project was initiated in 1992 with its aims being the following: educate and inform the public on black eagles, conserve and secure the black eagle pair in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens and to monitor and obtain vital information on their breeding cycle.

 

In 1998, the Black Eagle Monitoring Group became affiliated to the Gardens and subsequently the project was renamed the Black Eagle Project Roodekrans and was registered as a non-profit organisation that consists of a 7-member committee and approximately 30 dedicated volunteer members. For the next three years since 2006, the project placed a ring on the juvenile eagle’s tarsus and took blood samples for correct sexing and DNA.

 

This project proves how much can be learned and achieved by the voluntary efforts of a passionate amateur team. The importance of preserving the ‘Black Eagles of Roodekrans’ will remain the top priority of the project. Monitoring will continue as it is only through a thorough knowledge of these raptors that any arising problems can be rectified.

 

A live camera was installed on the cliff watching over the nests of the black eagle pair. To view the feed from this camera, go to: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/africam-black-eagle.

 

The Black Eagles are a part of our South African heritage and we should all give our support to this project to ensure the survival of these spectacular birds!

 

 

Written by Marleen Theunissen

Creative writer at ATKA SA

How the rising petrol price affects business

Fuel price hikes is one thing that a business cannot avoid. Petrol is made from crude oil, which is extracted from the ground and then refined and exported from the main oil-producing nations to the rest of the world.

 

 

As with other goods, if the supply of oil increases, price will decrease and vice versa. The recent increases in the fuel price have much to do with political conflicts in the large oil-producing nations of the Middle East. Uprisings like these can change the fuel price in two ways – it may lead to a decrease in supply or the anticipation of future drops in supply will lead to other countries stockpiling oil and therefore raising the demand and price of oil.

 

The consistent rise of the fuel price has forced business to re-evaluate logistics costs. The rise in the price will lead to increased road and delivery costs, which have seen businesses streamline delivery processes in order to stabilize costs. Another strategy considered by businesses is to reduce petrol-related costs by planning smarter travel routes and shipments. Business owners have also started to actively outsource logistics to external partners in order to reduce costs and simplify delivery structures.

 

The increasing pressure in the current economic climate is on business to become and remain competitive, both locally and globally. A problem experienced by South Africa is also that foreign investors find our country less attractive. Many companies use South Africa as a gateway into Africa, but fuel costs are piling up on existing logistical costs leading to foreign businesses to look for alternative entry points into Africa.

To top this off, the average rand/US Dollar exchange rate had weakened in the last couple of months, causing fuel prices to rise even more.

 

In the long run, the upward petrol price trajectory will have a negative impact on all industries, especially the logistics industry, as firms with low revenues will most likely be unable to compete with the bigger market players who find themselves in a much better position to absorb these cost increases.

 

Smart logistics strategies could help to improve customer services and reduce product costs and unnecessary pressure on business owners. However, this needs to be done with much diligence and care, as failure of these systems could have far reaching negative effects. As far as the foreseeable future is concerned, petrol prices will keep on rising. It is therefore becoming imperative for businesses to create alternatives regarding transportation in order to reduce overhead costs effectively.

 

 

Written By Marleen Theunissen 

Creative Writer for ATKA SA