Nederlands (Dutch)
Mmakuanyane
In the summer of 2009 an aid campaign was started to house about 12 orphans in Mmakuayane, South Africa. In co-operation with our sister organization Heart for Children South Africa, it is our intention to build 2 homes.
Mmakuayane is situated about 50 km outside of Pretoria and it is a large, underdeveloped region, with a poor infrastructure and without basic provisions such as electricity, water, toilets, roads, etc. In this very rural region most people live in houses or cots made of clay or corrugated material, or even in carton boxes. There are very few stone houses to be found. Most people are very poor and underdeveloped and they suffer from all kinds of diseases. Many of them are infected with HIV. Many – mostly young people and children – die of illnesses related to HIV/AIDS. The majority is unemployed and criminality is present everywhere; especially criminality with regard to sexual abuse, rape, burglary and home violence, as well as abuse and neglect of children.
If the parents die and other family members are unable to take care of the orphans, because they are also poor, these children are left behind and therefore in need of placement somewhere. That is why fostercare is badly needed.
Right now 2 homes have been built, 1 older couple is in training and the selection procedure of these children is in full swing..
Vrijgrond
We started building 2 homes in March 2009. In July 2009 both homes were realized. Vrijgrond is situated 20 km from the centre of Capetown and is the oldest slum area in this neighbourhood, a socially and economically poor community of about 10.000 people. Vrijgrond was commenced by fishermen who started building these homes on the beach with iron plates, wood and carton boxes.
During winter they suffered from floods and in the summertime there was the heat and the dust or sand. The majority of the current population is without a regular job. There is no electricity, no tap-water, no sewer system, etc. There are 21 public water points and once a week the community government comes and empties the toilets.
Since 1996 1600 stone houses have been built, as well as a library and a childcare centre for about 180 children, divided into 6 groups. The children get two meals a day and most of the time, that is all they are getting. The childcare centre is subsidized, covering one fourth of the expenses. Vrijgrond did not get a school sponsored by donors until January 2008. This school has 12 classrooms for 360 children ranging from 6 to 11 years of age. Close to the school and the childcare centre 2 houses have now been built.
Kayamandi
In November 2008 we started supporting on a monthly basis our first foster family in Kayamandi, a township near the large town of Stellenbosch in South Africa. The name of the family home is “Zanovuyo”, which means “bringer of love”.
Erna Neuteboom: “It is awesome to see with my own eyes how these abandoned and vulnerable children are now living in this refurbished house! A house full of happiness with crawling, running, laughing and playing children! Fantastic! It is touching to see these (traumatized) children playing together!”
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