Support for Children, Youth and the Community, 2022. 

Ottery is a place, unlike any other. It is a wonderful community trapped in the cycle of gansterism, incarceration, violence and petty crime. A shock awaits most who "just don't know", sadly "many turn away from the human problem. ColeBee intends to bring these issues to the forefront, to work with those to bring relieve to a horrible situation. 

Cole Bee Foundation (what we offer) 

The Cole Bee Foundation aims to heal and improve the social environment for the poor in Ottery. We aim to raise awareness of the consequences of substance abuse and promote alternative, healthier behaviors, habits and lifestyles. We do this by providing a safe, nurturing and structured after-school space for children and youth, as well as arranging activities, giving talks and providing counselling and other social interventions in the community, as needed. 

Children’s activities and outings 

A safe and structured space so that children don’t need to be in the streets. Educate a Child: Assistance with homework, reading and school projects. Holiday programmes which includes a book club to encourage reading for pleasure. After-school sport and play activities to bring about behaviour modification. An anti-bullying environment which stresses cooperation and mutual support. Awareness raising on the dangers and consequences of substance abuse. Safe and confidential counselling. Outings to parks and places where children can experience the beauty of nature. We also plan to give children access to swimming and surfing lessons. 

Meals 

We offer fresh and healthy cooked meals 5 days a week with donations we receive from members of the Cole Bee Foundation as well as private individuals. We also have a morning snack ready for the children on their way to school, which consists of two slices of bread and a fruit, as many households are unable to provide packed lunches. However, there are times when we don’t have enough food to continue with daily meals and snacks. 

Staff and community support 

All staff members are working on a voluntary basis, often using their own funds. CBF has tried to involve people in the immediate vicinity to volunteer their services, but most of the volunteers are from the broader surrounding communities – there are 4 people from the church who regularly assist with programme activities, and a further 4 who regularly helps with food donations. 

We also try to have as many fundraising events as we can manage – mainly selling food and other items to the community. These fund-raising events, although effective in community fund-raising is barely adequate. Our latest fundraising campaign will appeal to the general population through social media, and hopefully successful crowd funding initiatives.

Our latest fund-raising campaign will be launched shortly and will appeal to businesses and private sponsorship. Your kind donations will be publically acknowledged, and a picture and or logo will be added to our website.

If you find that you are in a position to assist Cole Bee foundation with much-needed support. We will be eternally grateful.

Cole Bee Foundation is situated in the heart of Ottery, which sadly, is affected by gangsterism, extreme drug related issues, alcohol abuse, and Gender-based Violence. This is compounded by the extreme socio-economic problems plaguing the low-income community, with many largely dependent on government grants.

The community has many of its members incarcerated leaving vulnerable women and children to fend for themselves. This problem is at the core of the Cole Bee foundation's primary purpose. To prevent youngsters from joining gangs we need to support them. 

This takes creative ways to keep the youngster's interest away from the gangs. This is incredibly difficult because children are often left to fend for themselves if their parent/s are working.

The unemployment rate is severe with many families, including single-parent, grand parent and child-headed households, who struggle to keep food on the table, and the children away from the two gangs that have carved the neighborhood into two opposing gangs fighting for turf.