A Visit to Sinothando Creche

Today's post will hopefully be a little lighter and more encouraging than the last. It will also be more of a story of our activities this day and an opportunity to hear about someone with an awfully big heart. More about that later but first a little background.

Since early this year Robin and I have been developing and implementing a Two Tunics' program to help support orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) that are being taken care of in their communities. These communities here in the Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal are being devastated by the AIDS epidemic. 40% of women of childbearing age are HIV+ and as the epidemic matures women in their twenties and men in there thirties are dying at high rates. This is leaving thousands of children (more than 1.2 million in South Africa) without moms and providers.

Orphanages are not an approved or acceptable way to care for orphans in South Africa (as it is not in the US) and nearly all of these children are cared for in their communities by extended family or neighbors. But this often leaves the children vulnerable. Schools provide an important protection and safety net for many of these children. But for those younger pre-school children it is the neighborhood "creche" that provides this support. Many creches are started by women who have a heart to care for the children in their community. They often give sacrificially of themselves and what they have to provide a little something for the children. We have been finding these people and their projects (creches) and coming along-side them with some encouragement and support.

Today we returned to visit one of these women and her project in the township of Gamalakhe. Nomapasika (Pas for short) is a big woman with a huge heart. For about 2 and 1/2 years she has been providing daycare for up to 25-30 children in her shack of a home. Often the children's parents/guardians leave the children with her into the evening and on the weekends. Although she has little, she provides amazing care for the children. Anyone who visits is quickly aware of her love for the children and their love for her.


In the picture Pas is on the left with some of the children. This was taken a couple months ago as Robin gave her a new (used) crib for some of the many babies she cares for. The small shack in the background is the only indoor space she has to care for all of these children. When it rains (often this time of year) the yard turns to mud.



Today we went back to visit her creche to make a plan to provide her with a better facility for the creche. We hope to be able to help her build a 5x3 meter building with attached toilet and wash basin. Our friend Ian went with and has offered to act as the contractor and work with a local builder. Hopefully the work can get underway in January. We also hope to provide some playground equipment so the children have something to do during the day. As you can see in the picture on the right the kids are often quite bored.

In our work we must be very careful about coming into situations and trying to rescue or provide free easy solutions. But over a period of months we have observed Pas and the work she is doing and believe she and her project are the type deserving of Two Tunics help. We believe that our assistance will help provide loving care to many OVCs over the years. It will help Pas sustain the work of her heart to meet a growing need in her community. It is a priviledge to be a part of this work and thank you to Two Tunics donors who are making this possible.