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Orphan care Coordinators- Kate Mahhumane and Pricilla Masiko
Our orphan care program helps orphans and vulnerable children so that one day they can become productive members of society; furthermore, they provide them with counseling, medical assistance, food, shelter, school uniforms, clothing, and have an extensive program offering much needed psycho-social support.
1000 school uniforms have been provided to orphans, without which many of them could not have attended school.
Achievements of orphan care in January 2006
Orphan care coordinators have managed to provide uniforms to 96 students in different schools around Nkomazi. The uniforms consist of a shirt, shoes, socks and trousers for boys and skirts for girls. They have also paid school fees for 122 pupils that can’t afford it.. A significant impact has been made in the lives of these kids by Thembalethu, their self-esteem has been uplifted, and Thembalethu has given them another chance to make a success of their lives. Now the children can go to school without fear of being teased by other students or ‘teachers’ for wearing torn clothes.
Operation Adventure Week
Orphans and vulnerable children are selected by our careworkers in 10 villages and range in age from 9-18 years. The program aims to improve all aspects of the orphans’ lives.
These 120 children are split into 10 teams that compete against one another. This is meant to encourage team spirit and group participation which provide the children with a sense of belonging. During the week Youth in Action (YiA) provide the children with lessons in cooking, HIV education, life skills, dance, sports, drama, and gardening.
ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN (OVC) SUPPORT AT A GLANCE:
- In January and February, careworkers assisted children to get into schools. Necessary school fees were paid and more than 200 school uniforms were distributed to OVCs. School uniforms present a serious challenge for OVCs. The children are stigmatized and discriminated against if they do not have a uniform. Lack of school books, pencils and covering of books are also problems for the children. THBC assists those OVCs in dire need with these items.
- 3 Activity weeks were held during the year. 360 children attended 5 days of life-skills training (music, dance, indoor games, outdoor games, art), nutritional training (how to manage the meals at home) hygiene, cooking, gardening, trauma identification and counseling, a health check and physical measurement (weight and height).
- An after care school program catering to 660 OVCs, continues to be run by careworkers and YiA members in 11 villages, Block B, Bongani, Buffelspruit, Driekoppies A and B, Phiva, Papa Joe, Schoemansdal, Masibekela, Jeppes Reef and Langeloop. Everyday the children are assisted with home-work, and taught extra-mural activities by Youth in Action.
- 120+ OVC’s attend Saturday activities consisting of games and life-skills, and receive a meal of game (impala, kudu) and vegetables supplied by Onderberg farmers.
- 650 people are assisted with monthly food parcels and a fortified porridge called power meal.
- THBC started an on-site crèche for 30 children looked after by 2 trainers, 1 cook and a cleaner.
- Land was acquired in Jeppe’s Reef and Block A for building OVC homes. During the year a number of homes were built and others maintained. THBC fixed 8 orphan houses and built 7 houses benefiting 50 OVCs.
- In February, work started in Langloop with TRAC. This involves land tenure for OVCs and accessing birth-certificates, ID’s and social grants. This work continues with 2 coordinators fully involved in the process.
- 299 children were assisted to get social grants
- 38 assisted with disable grants
- 156 assisted with IDs,
- 63 with housing applications
- 93 assisted with birth certificates
- During the year more than 4,000 OVCs were supported through the network of 189 home-based careworkers. THBC’s care-workers monitor the situation of each vulnerable child in THBC’s data-base to ensure that their situation is bearable. Particular problems are discussed in the weekly meetings held in each zone and solutions to the problems are found. Any particularly bad situations are reported to the THBC main office for resolution. Referrals are made to social workers, clinics and the hospitals.
- 30 children were taken on trips to Kruger National Park. This educational and fun trip has been offered on a continual basis to the children.
- Health Services on THBC premises offer over-the-counter medicines and counseling and have assisted 871OVC’s. Common complaints include skin problems, diarrhea and headaches.
African Children’s Choir
The African Children’s Choir (AFCC) started selections for the next group.
This process involves music training sessions where OVCs learn techniques for both chorus singing and dance.
These sessions take place in different villages with OVCs identified by care-workers. During these sessions, those who demonstrate talent are selected and home visits are conducted. Extensive interviews are held with guardians and caregivers to ensure their full support and authorization for the children to participate in the project. Documents such as birth certificates are obtained for those in need. 50 children have been selected and those not chosen for the program continued to attend music sessions in their villages.
Center for the Physically and Mentally Challenged
In 2003, the Disability Center was founded in efforts to give support, educate and harbor a welcoming and understanding work environment for children with special needs. Located within walking distance of Thembalethu Home Based Care, the Disability Center offers a safe and encouraging environment to over 30 children with special needs within the community.
In addition to offering a place for children with special needs to be socially active amongst their peers, the center facilitates valuable training that focuses on life skills. Thembalethu provides transportation from each child’s residence to the Disability Center and a full time Youth In Action (YiA) volunteer teacher.
The Disability Center uses three main methods for teaching:
Method A: Whole Class Teaching.
Method B: Grouping based on needs
Method C: Individual Teaching
Currently, the center is understaffed with only 2 teachers for the 30 learners in the school. Despite the less than ideal 1 teacher for every 4 students ratio, the children are provided with basic language (SiSwati, English) and math courses. With a strong emphasis on teaching independence, the children have learned practical subjects such as gardening, and home skills. All of the efforts at the center are focused on helping develop individuals who can become accepted members in their community.
Orphan Success Stories: In Their Own Words
Thulisile Dlamini (17), and Sibongile Matsebula (14), and Bigboy Mahlalela (23)
Village: Schoemansdal
After our parent’s death we were left alone in the four roomed house that our parents left us. Life became harder day by day. We survived without supper sometimes so our neighbors helped us with food but they ended up getting exhausted. I saw no reason for living because going to school was even more traumatic because break time was a disaster, we never had a proper uniform and other children made fun of us.
Our other neighbor introduced us to a careworker from THBC who helped us with food, clothes and uniforms. We started to feel like normal people again, some of those who made fun of us became very jealous. We attended Operation Adventure Week no.4 and it was very exiting because we got a chance to interact with other children who went through the exact same experience as we did.
THBC has been our mother and father ever since we were introduced to the careworker.
Phumlani Dlangamandla(15) and Jabulani Dlangamandla(17)
Village: Bufflespruit
“We once lived a normal life like any other child and all members of our family loved us but our parent’s death resulted in everyone turning against us,” said Phumlani Dlangamandla and Jabulani Dlangamandla .
“We stayed with our grandmother for a month after our mother’s funeral in 2003. Then our uncle said it was unfair to let his mother raise another man’s children instead of his. Therefore we were ordered to go and live in our father’s house in Bufflespruit.”
“We lived alone with no food for over a month. God finally answered our prayers by sending a careworker from THBC to our rescue. She helped us to acquire the government child support grant. We successfully started to receive the grant in 2004.”
“THBC truly changed our lives, we will always be grateful for what THBC has done to our lives.”
Orphans saved from a life of crime
Lazarus Sibiya (18), Zairian Sibiya (15), Sibusiso Sibiya (13) from Jeppes Reef
These three boys lived alone in a mud house for over 6 years.
Says Lazarus , “It is the only legacy our parents left us after they both past away in 1997. Our grandmother used to assist us with food but life got worse when she past away in 2003. After this our whole tragedy got much worse and other children made fun of our single mud house.”
“But that all changed when THBC built us a decent house, and provided us with clothes and food,” says Azariah, “We are now able to walk with our shoulders up and our heads up straight. We have managed to regain the confidence we lost during the horrible experience we went through.”
“All credit to THBC. If it wasn’t for THBC we would not have had any other choice but to engage ourselves to crime just to put food on the table.”
