It is in the vision of the organization to be a helping hand to those who need assistance through outreaches and projects. The project Lift as you Rise was introduced as way of giving back to the society.
The story began when the 50th ASF president Thandeka Mashwama had a thought of way we can give back to a community and actually taking from the little that we have to make other people’s life go forward. To help someone doesn’t necessary mean you have to dig deep, God appreciates you with your offer. You would often ask what could have driven the inspirational though she had and she explained it.
“I realized that in life we often wait to have made it to actually then start thinking about giving back to other people hence I sat and thought of the project which basically intended to help other people as we rise in our careers, be it in the smallest form of contribution” she said.
For Jesus said in the scriptures “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” Matthew 25:35, we would all agree with the vision Thandeka had.
The project was later in 2011 implemented and all regions were challenged to take part of it. The 2011/12 ASF President Tshepo Mokoka made success of it and made relations with the ASF mission statement.
“This project forms part of the ASF mission statement as it states that we seek to serve the needs of students and communities. We are sure that one day when these children go to tertiary they will be able to recognise ASF for the work done and they will also be able to want to lift other young children as they rise” he said.
As the aim of this project was to benefit needy/disadvantage primary school children for winter time. ASF Regions were mandated to adopt a minimum of two school children and buy them school shoes. When ASF members went to look for these children they realized that more needs to be done. Free State region bought full school uniform for 4 children, Western Cape region bought full school uniform for 2 children, KZN region bought full school uniform for 2 children, Limpopo region bought full school uniform for 3 children, Swaziland also bought for 1 child and Lesotho region manage to benefit 42 children. All in all up to so far ASF manage to benefit 54 children.
The glow in the face of the children who benefited and those of their parents when they fitted the uniforms can never be compared to anything; you could see happiness right through her face.