Nkandla, South Africa
Friday, August 27, 2010
Delivering Nutritious Food
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Mbali
Mbali is one of the original children at the Centre and is now in high school. She is a dwarf and her little body endures a lot. The most difficult thing for Mbali is finding shoes that fit her properly. She has very wide feet with a very high arch. The shoes she has to wear cause her to be in a lot of pain. She wears house shoes (slippers) when she is at home but cannot wear those to school. I was thinking that some Uggs (sp?) or something super soft that she can sink in to, might be a bit better. Not sure if those can be found this time of the year in the USA, but it is worth a look. Other ideas????
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Sr. Eobarda
Sr. Eobarda goes to the hospital to visit the patients every day… without fail. There are so many terrible stories of people dying alone at the hospital. When she knows someone is at the end, she does her best to be there with them. Five people died in just a matter of a couple of days last week. Sr. Eobarda doesn’t say much, but she did talk about that. It was hard on her. I imagine that every day is pretty difficult, but she goes because she doesn’t want them to be alone at the end of their lives. I really admire her for that.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Sizanani Outreach Programme
Since its beginning, SOP has trained 49 care givers from the local community in home based care. Six of these care givers have also been trained to facilitate peer education programmes; 14 were trained to perform voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing (VCT/HCT); two completed auxiliary training in social work; 27 were trained to take affidavits, and 68 were trained in memory box work. Training and employing individuals from the community has a direct benefit in the community where unemployment rates are estimated to be greater than 90 percent.
To date, SOP has served 6,523 clients of which 3,417 are under the age of 17; 756 are orphans; 66 families are designated as child headed households; 330 are growing up in grandparent headed households.
In 2009, the SOP staff conducted 12,853 home visits. The staff also provided 1,573 clients with voluntary counseling and of those, 923 clients were tested for HIV/AIDS. Two SOP social workers placed 50 children in foster care, providing security to children who had been orphaned or who had been abused. 549 clients on antiretroviral treatment were monitored monthly at five primary health clinics by the SOP medical doctor (Sr. Ellen.)
38 child-headed family homesteads were renovated to ensure safer, more secure living conditions for these children who are particularly vulnerable to violence and exploitation. The SOP provided lunch to more than 3,500 children in the community through food programmes at four local schools in 2009.
Client families received 1,475 food parcels during the year. In addition, SOP staff helped these families secure the legal documents they need to access support from the local government (e.g. foster care grants, child support grants, disability grants, and old age grants) in order to develop a secure, sustainable source of income.
SOP supported four school gardens, a community garden, and the installation of 12 new family gardens in 2009.
In addition, the Sizanani Child Care Centre is home to 30 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s.) The SOP seeks to place children in traditional homes whenever possible. However, some children in the community are particularly hard to place in foster care due to medical needs, physical disabilities, psychological trauma, or other special needs.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Visiting clinics
Am going to the remote clinics with Dr. Lindner (SOP Director) and Dr. Mike (here from New Zealand.) The patients are mostly on antiretroviral treatment - many also have tuberculosis. The clinics are full of very sick people, including children. The place was packed. People have to walk miles, and miles (over the most ridiculous mountain terrain… up, down, up down… I don’t think I could get up one of those hills without being spent… and I am healthy.)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thank You Jake
Friday, April 30, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Maria Ratschitz
Our first visit to Maria Ratschitz was in 2005.
We returned again in 2006.
Maria Ratschitz is one of four convents operated by the Nardini Sisters in South Africa. It is located in a very rural area near a town called "Ladysmith."
Maria Ratschitz is more than 100 years old. During the apartheid years, the facility had deteriorated. But in the early 1990's, the buildings were rennovated (funded by a private donation from overseas.)
The sisters at Maria Ratschitz are doctors, nurses and social workers. They work to help those in need throughout the surrounding community. They also operate a hospice where those who are dying, usually of AIDS, have the support they need until the end.
Those who visit this beautiful compound cannot help but feel a tremendous sense of peace.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Hope
When we arrived, we met with Ngogi Mahaye, the principal, the Student Parliament, and Felix Coby, one of the teachers.
The members of the Student Parliament greeted us and talked about the partnership we had formed with their school. They told us that things were changing... that there was a new found sense of hope. They credited The Africa Project for this change.
Next, the students presented their school logo, which they had worked together to create. They explained the meaning of each and every symbol represented in the design. It was clear that much thought had gone in to it.
They shared their goals for the school. Some even shared their plans for their own futures.
Peggy, Marcella, Gabe, Gail and Stan Richards, and later the Antenore's all had a chance to meet with the students. Several of us had the opportunity to work with them on various projects during our stay.
We were all so impressed by these brilliant young leaders. We all knew that they were the hope for their community's future.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Shelter
Marcella took this photo in 2006 while visiting a family in Nkandla.
A common misconception is that Africa is always warm. While this may be true in some geographic regions close to the equator, it is not the case in other areas. Nkandla, located in South Africa, is situated in a mountainous region, with an estimated elevation of 3700 feet. Nkandla winters are cold with wind, fog and occasional winter precipitation.
Imagine living in a mud structure that is falling apart. Or, a hut with a gaping hole in the thatched roof. When the wind blows, it blows inside the home. When it rains, it rains inside.
I'd like to say that this is uncommon, but unfortunately it is a difficult reality for far too many children and families in Nkandla.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Velangaye 2006
In addition to the paint and window repairs, The Africa Project purchased 30 mattresses from a local merchant, who was so moved by the effort that he donated another 20 mattresses to the cause. Sr. Hedwig found another donor to provide bed frames for the mattresses so the children would be off of the ground. Homemade curtains were hung on the windows, providing some privacy (and making it a little less scary at night.)
When we visited the school later that summer, the students beamed as they showed us their new living space. The bright (pepto bismol) pink walls were a bit of a shock to us, but the girls loved the color. "It is so warm, don't you think?"
Make no mistake, these improvements were small in comparison to the needs of the school. But it meant a lot to the children. And it was a great first step.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Shoes
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Sola
Sr. Sola is known as "magogo" ("grandmother" in isiZulu), a term of endearment bestowed upon her by everyone in the community who knows her.
Sr. Sola is one of the most amazing people I have had the privilege of meeting in my lifetime. Recently, one of our youth board members said that she still believes in superheroes. Sr. Sola has made me a believer too.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Babanango
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Velangaye 2005
Our first visit to Velangaye High School was on August 3, 2005.
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Garden Hose
Have you ever thought about the value of a garden hose?