What is 7 Pounds?

7 Pounds is a registered Public Benefit Organisation Exemption no 930034815. The vision of 7 Pounds is to help promising, young people in Port Elizabeth and the surrounding areas from children’s homes to study at a tertiary institution, whatever they are inclined (gifted) to, or interested in, and to help them succeed at the highest possible level. It is an organisation that will take young people out of their negative environment and place them in a positive one where they will get all the support they need to succeed (finances, time to study, a better study environment, resources, a support team, and a mentorship program). The organisation will pay for everything that the candidate needs: study fees, textbooks, accommodation, food, transport, assessment tests that will show exactly what they are gifted in, a leadership summit/development weekend seminar as part of the mentorship program and 6 sessions a year with Chris Breedt, a clinical psychologist. While studying the organisation will also help the candidate to find a waiter position where he or she will be required to work over weekends (working as a waiter for the duration of the study program is a requirement for the 7 Pounds candidate). After the completion of their studies the organisation will try and help the candidate to find work and support them for a further 3 months.

7 Pounds will also at a later stage “adopt” children that are going to high school and start helping them through their high school period and onto university. The dream of 7 Pounds is to create a culture where the people we help through their studies will one day be a part of the organisation financially, but also as support teams and guidance teachers to other young people. The organisation desires successful candidates to, in the future, encourage other young people not to give up, but to keep trying in all areas of life, because there will always be hope and support. The organisation believes that if 7 Pounds can change the candidates’ lives, the lives of future generations will also be changed positively.

7 Pounds vision for 2011

7Pounds aims to identify three new candidates during 2011 with the vision to have, in total,  four candidates enrolled for the 2012 academic year (including this year’s candidate). In order to identify new candidates The organisation expanded its geographical reach and are now involved with two children’s homes, MTR Smit Children’s Haven and SOS Children’s Haven. 7Pounds wants to add one children’s home per year to its list, to present the 7Pounds opportunity to more potential candidates.

The focus for 2011, in terms of fund-raising, is to establish and improve relationships with more firms which can assist the 7Pounds vision with Social Development funding. Currently, 7Pounds has individuals financially contributing to the cause, for example by donating R100 – R500 per month. 7Pounds wants to increase the number of people involved in their individual capacity and by such also increase its databasis of contributors.

The 7 Pounds method

The organisation is currently very involved in various Children’s Haven and has good relationships with the leadership and the children. We will identify good candidates with whom we are already in a relationship with. We will send potential candidates for assessment tests at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to identify what they are more inclined to study. The candidates will be sent to our resident clinical psychologist, for interviews and personality profile evaluations. Successful candidates will be helped to register for their tertiary studies. Our commitment to the candidates:

• We will provide them with a place to stay.
• We will pay their studies in full.
• We will provide a medical aid plan.
• We will provide the text books and stationery.
• We will provide them with a weekly food allowance for their basic food needs.
• We will provide them with a weekly transport allowance.
• We will pay the Global Leadership Summit as part of our mentorship program for the period of the candidate’s studies.
• We will pay for the counselling sessions at our clinical psychologist.
• We will help the candidate with the buying of clothes and, if possible, sport equipment.

Requirements from the candidate:

• To sign a contract between them and the organisation.
• To work part-time and to repay an amount monthly into the 7 Pounds account.
• Attend all the classes and write all tests and exams, and to pass them.
• Attend the Global Leadership Summit that is held annually at Port Elizabeth.
• Go for counselling sessions at our clinical psychologist, Chris Breedt.
• Write a report every 6 months to stakeholders and give feedback on his/her progress on tests and exam results.
• Buy own toiletries.

Our commitment to our contributors:

• We will have a contract with our candidates to make sure they fulfil their study requirements.
• Every year our books will be audited by Mazars accounting firm in Port Elizabeth.
• Every 6 months you will receive a newsletter from 7 Pounds giving feedback on the program.
• There will be an annual meeting where 7 Pounds will give our contributors feedback on the year’s progress and discuss the vision forward.
• At the annual meeting we will also introduce the next candidate to be enrolled in the 7 Pounds program.
• There will be a board meeting every 2 months where we will discuss budgets, vision casting for the future, and if the candidate has specific issues, these will be discussed. At this meeting we will also start to identify the next candidate or candidates to enrol in the 7 Pounds program the following year.
• The board will also help in finding financial aid for 7 Pounds and help candidates to find work after completing their studies.
• None of the board members receives any financial gain from the organisation as they all are full time employed and are involved with 7 Pounds in their own time.

7 Pounds is BBBEE accredited and verified as an Exempted Micro Enterprise Level 4. In being verified as such, any donation/sponsorship from your business will improve your BEE scorecard with regard to your Social Development responsibility.

If you need any more info regarding 7 Pounds or the candidates you can contact us at any time by emailing Steve.7pounds@gmail.com or by phoning Steve on +27 (0)835203586.