PROGRESS REPORT DECEMBER 2007
Thanks to the generous donations made by the donors of the Argus X 2 fundraiser held in March this year, the Masikhulisane Creche is now transforming educationally and physically into a more pleasing environment for the kiddies.
The crèche was founded in 2005 by Mirriam Sipondo whose heart went out to the neglected, orphaned and HIV infected children in her impoverished community of Samora Machel, Philippi. Mirriam is trained as a social auxillary worker, employed at a city hospital, and offers up her small house during the day to be used as for the crèche. She named the crèche Masikhulisane which means 'Lets Grow each Other". Each month the intake averages between 75 - 85 children between 0 and 5 years. With the support from the Argus X 2 donations approximately 65 of the most vulnerable children are sponsored to attend. Mirriam is in the process of registering the crèche as a NGO.
The neighbourhood which the crèche finds itself in is dire, with HIV and poverty rife in the community. As a rule at Early Childhood Development centres in South Africa, HIV tests are not mandatory.
We, as the Aids Resource Centre, (ARC) serve to assist and guide and share a common vision to see both the creche children and their families uplifted and empowered. Together we look at ways of supporting holistically.
Some stories of holistic support:
Some parents are on ARVs and unemployed and not yet on Disability Grants and other children on ARVs with parents not working which in effect means they may not eating. Through your donations we have been able to give food parcels to these families as a temporary measure until they get the grants. In addition food parcels and clothes have been given to the extended families of the orphans. ARC also received a donation of 200 blankets during the winter and gave them to the crèche as ensuring one went home with each child so they did not freeze during the winter nights as many had been flooded in their shacks. Mirriam was also able to give extra bread donated to the crèche to an HIV support group at the nearby clinic.
As a Social Auxillay worker, Mirriam conducts household visits in the community as well as runs empowerment workshops for the parents. Due to the difficulties in many households, Mirriam engages in counselling of both parents and children. Recently, she counselled a child attending the crèche, whose father passed away and was also living with a very sick mom.
She also runs workshops for the grannies who care for the orphans. Through the networks of ARC we have introduced Mirriam to a nearby established multi-purpose centre enabling her to draw on a pool of resources if she wishes.
With the help of your donations Mirram was able to employ two Level 1 teachers for the 3-5year olds. C (who also acts as superviser) is also training one day a week as a Grade R teacher and next year N will also train as a Grade R teacher. They continue to be educated and this year have attended Health and Safety, Children Rights and nutrition workshops. Education is key and it is vital to have trained teachers to input into the kiddies lives. There are a total of 6 teachers and one cook on staff.
On a sad note one of the orphans which had graduated to Grade 1 this year, passed away at Red Cross Hospital in July and then 2 month later one of the grannies died of AIDs. The crèche has been a great support to the families.
On a happy note we saw 9 of the 5 year olds graduate this year and went out to 'big school' in style. ARC was able to organise the gowns and Mirriam joined up with another crèche in the community to ensure it was a lively, fun and memorable event.
One of the key concerns has been the space used to accommodate the children in the crèche as the house is small. As a temporary measure and with the help of your donations, a decision was taken to extend certain rooms of Mirriam's house to maximise the space. This is currently underway and should be completed before Christmas. In the New Year we would like to fix up the little garden to be used as a play area.
Presently, the Aids Resource Centre is actively looking for a large piece of land in the Samora Machel community with the intention of building a Children's Support Centre with an educare focus in conjunction with Life Church/Ubomi. The idea is to have a one-stop shop for both education of the children as well as life skill training to empower the parents and others in the community. Other facilities in the centre would include a pre-school, food gardens to support those in the centre, orphan houses with mothers, a generic hall to run the likes of HIV support groups, training, capacity building, lifeskills workshops and prayer meetings as well as offices as needed. There would also be a large outside play area.
Other donors of goods to the creche:
Aids Resource Centre - fridge, washing machine, baby clothes and 15 matresses.
Anton de Waal - a cot bed, video machine, toys and books and organised for 20 of the children to be taken up Table Mountain by Cableway. The kids were more than excited!
Feedback provides some of the food.
An FNB branch organised a Christmas party (2006 and 2007)
Mirriam also visited Life Church when they was hosting the Watato Aids orphans choir from Uganda, gaining a perspective and insight of orphans from another country.
We thank you for your support. Your donations are truly making a huge difference to the lives of many in the community.
