Children attending the Centre

Background of children attending the Centre

Sarah

Age: 10

Gender: Female

Number of people in household: 4 children

6 adults (grandparents, 2 uncles, 2 aunts)

Background:

Sarah’s mother was terminally ill with HIV when we were asked to help in December 2008. We took her to a hospice where she lived for 3 months and then passed away. Sarah and her 2 brothers live with their grandparents on the Vlakfontein farm.

The children were all extremely traumatized by the death of their mother. They all performed really poorly at school and school attendance was erratic.

They were all undernourished and poor. The grandfather suffers from a kidney disorder. Sarah herself was constantly ill.

Assistance provided:

Arranged for Sarah’s mother to go into hospice

Assisted with the funeral of Sarah’s mother

Took grandfather to the doctor which diagnosed him with kidney failure

Assisted grandfather to obtain disability grant until he can retire

Assisted him be stabilized and receive ongoing treatment

Sarah and her one brother are attending Ubuhle Centre where they are counseled and helped with homework and received meals.

Arranged for social worker to secure an orphan grant for Sarah which the grandparents are now receiving

The social worker is monitoring the progress of the family

Took Sarah for HIV, TB and sugar diabetes tests

Arranged a job for the 1 uncle living in the home

Bought clothes for Sarah

Farmer’s wife of Vlakfontein took Sarah under her wing and she visits there on weekends

Results

Sarah has changed into a happy secure little girl

Her school performance has improved remarkably

She has gained weight and is no longer sick all the time

Pretty

Age: 4

Gender: Female

Grade: Preschool Level

Number of people in household 6 children

5 Adults (2 Aunts, grandmother and 2 uncles)

Background

When Ubuhle started visiting the farm families, Pretty was a first orphan found we found. Her mother burnt to death when her shack (tin house) caught on fire. Pretty was taken under the care of her grandmother. Pretty lives at Witfontein farm with her Grandmother.

Assistance Provided

Took her to Ubuhle Preschool

Provide meals four times a day

Fetching her from her Grandmother‘s house 40 kilometers away from the Centre

Another 40 kilometers to drop her off

Assisted with obtaining a birth certificate

Secured a social grant for her

Provide food parcels

Provide clothes

Took her to Clinic for medical assistance

Teaching her at preschool

Prepare her for a formal school

Results

When Pretty started at the centre she was tiny and very weak, but she develop very well and is now strong and healthy.

Lindokuhle

Age: 2

Gender: Female

Grade: Care Group

Number of people in household 8 children

5 Adults (Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles)

Backgrounds

Lindokuhle’s mother is still very young she dropped out from school and after her child was born she found a job as a domestic worker. Her grandmother is raising her and also two of her sister’s (who passed away) children. Both these children are disabled - they can’t talk and the grandmother is having a drinking problem and she is always fighting with her husband

Lindokuhle is malnourished and grandmother is not caring for her properly. She has problems with her ears – constant puss running out. She had an operation few weeks ago but her ears have not cleared up yet.

Lindokuhle started at the Centre January 2010.

Assistance Provided

Assisted family with Identity books and birth certificates for all the children

Assisted them to apply for social grants

Took the children to clinic

Referred the grandmother to the social workers

Provide her with 4 meals a day

Food Parcels and clothes

Results

Took her to the clinic – arranged for ears to be looked at

She is now eating healthy at the centre and malnourishment should clear up in 6 month or so.

Home situation is improving due to intervention of the social worker.

Thulisile

Age: 15

Gender: Female

Grade:9

Number of people in household 2 children

2 adults (Mother and a grandmother)

Background

Thulisile ‘s mother is single and physically disabled and unemployed. Thulisile’s mother received a disability grant – approx R900 pm - she was in an accident. Then a few months ago the grant stopped without a valid reason. Our social worker is investigating this. This is the only income for Thulisile and her 6 year old brother.

Thulisile and her brother age 6 live with their mother and grandmother at the farm Vlakfontein.

When Thulisile started at the Centre she was struggling with her studies especially Math.

Assistance provided

Provide meal after school

Assist with homework

Provide stationary

Provide clothes and school uniform

Provide food parcel every month

Help her to improve her dancing and acting and fulfill her dreams

Teaching computer basic lessons because school doesn’t provide computer lessons

Results

Her studies improved remarkably.

She was elected as the best Grade 8 learner in 2009 in her school she was promoted to grade 10 instead of 9 but her mother refused the offer.

The was an article of her in one of the local newspaper. You can imagine her joy as she posed for a photo with her trophy.

Johannes

Age: 16

Gender: Male

Grade: 10

Number of people in household 12 children

Adults 9 (Grandparents Aunts and cousins)

Background

Johannes ‘s family is one of the biggest family on the farm around the Centre. They depend solely on the disability grant of one uncle and a Grandfather’s pension (Approx R1 500 pm). His mother discovered that she was HIV positive when she was pregnant her 5^th baby in 2008. She is living in denial and got herself pregnant yet again. Each of her six children has a different father. Middle last year she ran off with her latest boyfriend.

Johannes’s family faces one trauma after the other. His one uncle died because of HIV and the other one of Malaria and a third one committed suicide last year. This is not the kind of life any child will choose for himself.

Assistance Provided

Counseling for the whole family through difficult times

Counseling for his mother

Took the mother to clinic for supplements booster

Referred her and helped her to start HIV medication – but she defaulted.

Provided clothes and uniform

Food parcels

Stationary

Meal every day after school

Helping him with homework

Assist with identity books and Birth Certificates

Basics lessons on computer

Provide him with a bicycle

Results

Johannes is a young, talented and intelligent man. He wants to be an architect. He has real drawing talent.

He was not coping before with the family issues and it affected his studies .

But since he started at the Centre he receives counseling and surrounded by loving and caring people he is doing much better generally and also performing better at school.

Newsletter5 - Dec 2009

NEWSLETTER 5 Nov / Dec 2009

Christmas Parties

We are so grateful to the people who held Christmas Parties for our children. For many of them it was their first Christmas Party ever.

Graduation of Karabo

One of our pre-schoolers Karabo Ntuli graduated to grade 1.

Congratulations Karabo!!!!

Thoko borrowed real angel dresses for the kids to dress up in for the graduations. They looked just beautiful.

Visit from Mossienes

Our friend Estelle brought her pre-school kids and their mothers from Mossienes in Bronhorstspruit town to visit us.

They brough a uniquely knitted doll for every child, homemade playdough as well as party cakes.

Vegetable Garden

Most of the vegetables that we eat at the centre are from our garden. This year alone we harvested 20 pumpkins.

Newsletter 4 - Sep 2009

NEWSLETTER 4 Aug / Sep 2009

Highlight

Eden Church Visit

Eden Church in Bronkhorstspruit chooses a project to visit annually as part of their Missions Weekend. This year they decided to visit Ubuhle. Son on 12 Sep the children entertained them with songs, dramas and traditional dancing. We invited the local community to join us in our day of celebration. The extended family members of the children attending the centre thorougly enjoyed seeing the children perform. It was a joyous day.

Pre-School Activities

The highligh of the term for the pre-schoolers was a trip to a playpark in Pretoria. Even though it is just 60km to Pretoria most of the toddlers have never been there.

Afterschool

We are so proud to announce that one of our after-schoolers was chosen as the best performer in Grade 8 for her school.

CONGRATULATIONS THULISILE!!!

Big C in Bronkhorstspruit sponsored 50 Zulu Bibles and 30 Colour illustrated Comic Bibles for children.

A big thank you Gareth and the rest of the team at BMI who took time out of their busy schedule to help us fix our bathrooms and for providing the paint and other needy items

Newsletter 3 - May 2009

NEWSLETTER 3 April/May 2009

Good News Club

The goal of Good News Club is for the children to hear and to have an opportunity to respond to God’s Word.

In this area there are almost no other Christian witness and many children need extra love and care due to physical and emotional neglect.

The important task of teaching boys and girls God’s Word have been carried out for the past few months. I thank God for the unique opportunity of reaching boys and girls with the systematic teaching of the Bible. As we know 2 Timothy 3:15 tells of how the Scriptures “makes one wise to salvation”.

I am encouraged by the evidence of spiritual growth in the children. Their prayers are passionate and meaningful. God is clearly at work in the lives of the children.

I praise and thank Him for the opportunity to be a co-worker here at Ubuhle.

Zodwa – Child Evangelism Facilitator

There is a different club for each age group:

Ù Preschool Club Ù Primary School Club Ù High School Club

Zodwa is also training the helpers at the centre as Good News Club Facilitators.

Thank you Zodwa for your commitment and for lovingly teaching our children and helpers.

Pre-school Activities

The pre-schoolers had a great second term.

A comprehensive program was launched including:

1. Body Awareness&Integration

2. Language & Speech Dev.

3 Gross & Fine Motor-skills

4. Music & Time

5. Mathematical Concepts

Activities included:

1. Balloon volleyball.

2. Obstacle Courses including climbing over and under chairs, walking on beams, crawling through tunnels and dribbling a ball around Coke bottles.

3. Playing games, learning songs drawing, colouring and writing.

4. A trip to Bronkhorstspruit town (8km from the centre). Most of the toddlers have never been there.

Testimonies

“The centre has a huge impact on our community. Before our brothers and sisters had no-one to turn to with their difficulties. I have gained experience in teaching children through workshops and this is my soul food, ‘education’. To know that everyday I can wake up and make a difference in the lives of others brings me great joy”

Lindiwe – Afterchool Helper

“I am grateful for the help with my schoolwork and learning to speak English. We learned how to use a dictionary. I can play soccer and now have a bicycle.”

Edward – Afterschooler

“Last year I was struggling with maths, but this year I am passing with flying colours. Thank you to those who are helping me with homework. Life has changed now that we learnt how to love others. We are happy here at the centre.”

Thulisile – Afterschooler

“I feel so good because today I am speaking English and I learnt my time-tables and prime factors. I also love playing different sports.”

Thulani – Afterschooler

Bicycles

The Kungwini Department of Transport gave our children bicycles to assist them to travel (up to 4.8km) to the bus-stop, where they catch the schoolbus every day. The bus-stop is close to the centre and the children can leave their bicycles at the centre when they attend school.

We received 13 bicycles , not enough to give one to every child, but we were able to give one to each family represented.

The children then take turns using the bicycle.

The traffic department came to the centre to teach the children about road safety.

Newsletter 2

NEWSLETTER 2 March 2009

Highlights in Feb & March 09

We thank the Lord for the beautiful children that attend our centre everyday! There is a real Spirit of joy at the centre and the children are excited to learn and play.

Birthdays are special occasions and celebrated with cake, games and lots of laughter. A special suprise party was held for Melanie on the 27th.

The children participated by citing poems, singing and dancing.

The afterschool children went on a day trip to the SS Skhosana campsite in Kwandebele. It was a first for many of them and they loved the drive down, seeing baboons and buffalo on the way.

16 Adults registered for the Adult Literacy Program. It runs from 5.30pm to 7.30pm Mondays to Thursdays.

Thank you Thoko, Joseph, Bongani, Eric and others who worked so hard in the vegetable garden. It has been transformed and soon the children will be eating “home-grown” vegetables.

From the heart of our pre-school teacher Betty:

We thank the caregivers and the parents of the children for getting the children ready on time at the pick-up points every day. The children have so much fun and are progressing in leaps and bounds.

From the hearts of three after-schoolers:

“”I feel very much happy when I am here because I have learned many things that I never knew before. Since I was born I did not attend Sunday School, but here I attend. Difficult things like homeworks are now very easy. On my side - I am proud of it. (AS1)

“At the centre I feel good and nice because they help us with homework. I can make myself confident and can even stand in front of other learners. I feel more good because we do sports activities, drama, dancing and so on. They teach us the Bible and now I can open all the Bible. I can pray and do not lie anymore and feel the names of God in my heart. Thanks to all at the Centre” (AS2)

“It is really ubuhle (beautiful). I thank God because we were in the dark side of the world, but He chose to send angels in Vlakfontein. I love the Centre.” (AS3)

From the heart of a volunteer :

From the very first day I liked everything about the centre. The children enjoy every minute at the centre because they do not have to struggle on their own anymore, but are now helped with their homework.

What challenges me most is that many of the children struggle to read and write Zulu and English well.

The other challenge is that we battle to help the children with their homework because they do not have textbooks that we can refer to, when they come for help with their assignments.

Some of the kids don’t have stationery and school uniforms because their families cannot afford to buy it.

I want the children to be the best they can be and also be proud of me.

I want the beauty in them to shine out and to see them smiling.

I am so proud to see that they are committed to making their future brighter. The Centre provides light for their path to the future.

Thank you to the founders!!

Newsletter 1

NEWSLETTER 1 January 2009

Children-at-Risk

Since August 2008 we visited approximately 78 families living on the farms just along the Bapsfontein road alone.

We were shocked at the home-situations of the children. They suffer with hunger, are generally uncared for, not going to school, do not have birth certificates and are abused in many other ways.

We managed to secure 18 of birth certificates as well as 34 ID books for the caregivers.

Pre-school Care Centre

In God’s incredible provision the farm school on our farm (Hugo and Melanie Prinsloo) closed down in December 2008. We were able to do basic renovations and equipping of the centre, which enabled us to register 23 children on the 12^th of January 2009. We pick them up in the morning and drop them off around 4pm in the afternoon. The children receive 2 meals per day and an occupational therapy program is followed, to help with their development.

Afterschool Centre

Schoolchildren come to the centre after school. They receive a meal and are then assisted with homework.

First day