ROOT & BRANCH CHANGE

The Root and Branch Change is our charitable arm* - our vehicle for helping people to change their world forever. Its primary focus is on the children who are growing up in the undeveloped townships of South Africa – the country with the biggest gap between the rich and the poor in the world.

The seed that became Root and Branch was first planted in the dusty red soil of Munsieville, near Johannesburg over a decade ago – it’s South Africa’s oldest, undeveloped township, where thousands of children exist in grinding poverty, a stone’s throw from Sandton, the African continent’s richest square mile.

Despite its proximity to unimaginable wealth, Munsieville, which played a pivotal role in the struggle against apartheid, remains undeveloped, volatile and a place of hopelessness and despair for many.

Although Root and Branch Change aims to support similar, forgotten communities elsewhere in South Africa, its priority will remain in Munsieville until there is demonstrable evidence that the tide of poverty, injustice and abuse in the township has turned. Working with local Christians as the instruments of Good News is at the heart of our strategy – we believe in a gospel that is not fixated on life after death, but one which offers abundant life before death, as a foretaste of all that is to follow.

EXAMPLES OF HOW WE WORK

ITHEMBA LETHU GIRLS CRISIS CENTRE (November 2019)

In November 2019, we accepted a challenge to build a dedicated girl’s centre in Munsieville (Extension 4) Primary School, the place of learning for over 600 of the poorest children of the township. We had just two weeks to complete the project from cutting the turf on the site to the full opening ceremony. We mobilised seven local builders and a team of 19 self-funded volunteers from churches in the UK.

The task was completed (even though the windows were still being glazed school principal was hosting the official opening). The full cost of the project was raised by the UK volunteers.

Day 1

Day 7

Day 14

FLOOD CRISIS DURING THE PANDEMIC (February 2021)

When it rains in South Africa, it really rains! More like a firefighter’s hose under pressure than the English drizzle! But the early 2021 rainy season was wetter than usual, and in February, Munsieville was subject to torrential storms, day after day. The fragile, sandy soil on which many of the community’s shack homes are situated began to give way. Tonnes of soil, rock and trash cascaded down the steep hillside. Large cracks started opening up, rapidly turning into flooded canyons. Scores of homes were swallowed up. Households lost all their meagre possessions.

Root and Branch Change immediately sent funds to our partners, The Thoughtful Path Charity, to buy emergency food supply, clothes and bedding for those affected. They were there, with the suffering families from day one, and continue to support the families as they re-establish their homes on other sites.

CHURCH IN PANDEMIC CRISIS (September 2020)

Root and Branch has a close relationship with Renewal Ministries Fellowship (RMF), a remarkable church in Mounsieville led by Pastor Jeremiah Molotsi. The church draws members from across the township, ministering faithfully to the community for over thirty years. For most of that time, they have hired or borrowed places to meet – they are not wealthy and have always used whatever they have to support people rather than on buildings. In recent years, their “home” has been a tent which they attend in shifts because there is not room for all the members to attend together.

Covid-19 has been catastrophic for RMF. Most of those who had employment lost their jobs during the pandemic, causing a collapse in vital funds to keep the church, and all its work amongst the community going. The biggest tragedy of all came when early in 2021, Pastor Jeremiah’s wife contracted Covid-19 and died. She had been a major force in leading the church.

Earlier, when a nationwide lockdown was imposed, the church was unable to meet and was ill-equipped to engage in livestreaming or video services. Pastor Jeremiah recorded twice-weekly audio services which were made available through WhatsApp, however, as most members had lost their income, they were unable to top up the data credit on their phones and so were unable to access the services or be reached by the leaders. The church was in meltdown.

Root and Branch Change responded by funding mobile phone credit for all church members so that the church could continue to function, accessing the services and supporting one another through this time of unprecedented crisis. We were also able to support the cost of emergency medical care.

* Root and Branch Foundation is currently in the process of registering as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation – a registered charity.

The Foundation received funding from individuals, churches and other organisations to undertake its work. It is independent from Root and Branch Products Ltd, a company registered in England and Waled (company number 11221695) which donated 100 percent of its profits, but none of its liabilities, to the Foundation.