Sponsorship update from Francistown
21/12/2007
Report from the Village Director at Francistown from October 2007
Dumela (greetings) from a sunny Botswana where we are already experiencing warmer mornings and lovely hot, near Spring days. As always we all hold much hope for the anticipated summer rains
Our SOS Village Francistown is fortunate to have a good borehole that is used for watering of the gardens which continue to produce a steady supply of vegetables for the families. The vegetable gardens are for many children a great “source of pride” as some spend many dedicated hours in cultivating their family’s vegetable patch a source of inspiration is when every so often a surprise award is given to the house with the most abundant garden. Spinach, beetroot, onions, cabbages are some of the more successful vegetables that we grow.
Today in the Francistown Village there are 231 children and youth - with sadly, almost no room to welcome new children in need. Available space is now dependent on our youth becoming self-supporting and leaving our care. Youth moving to independence is a more frequent occurrence due to the fact that Francistown has been in operation for 10 years. This is a rewarding phase for us as many youth who have completed formal and tertiary education are securing work and becoming self-reliant. Right now we have youth attending good Skills Training Centres and doing courses such as Bricklaying, Carpentry, Horticulture and Home Crafts. With these acquired skills finding work becomes easier. We are also proud to have six youth from our Tlokweng Village attending Universities and Colleges in South Africa not only are they proving themselves academically but also they are coping with independence.
Aaah what photo to send to you always a challenge? You’ve possibly heard of the popular pastime “making of wire cars”. Children spend hours manufacturing these well designed and ingenious automobiles. The rewarding time comes when they get put to the test and car races are held. The enclosed photograph shows such an occasion with the children running, using the path that leads through the centre of the Village for their race track.
HIV/AIDS
The HIV-Aids pandemic worsens. Statistics state that one in five children in Botswana are orphans. The social structure of Botswana society has changed much in recent years there just are not enough “aunties” and “uncles” in the extended family able, or willing, to take on the care of extra children. Many children are taken in by relatives who are too old to care for them, or who take them on for the wrong reasons. Social workers have found that the Government food allowance (valued at P400 per month) provided for each child in Home-Based Care is often consumed by indolent adults or exchanged for alcohol. Poverty is rife in the rural areas so young girls are “cared for” so they can provide extra labour in the house or work in the fields. Many HIV/AIDS affected children are not receiving their anti-retroviral drugs regularly. Their caregivers are either illiterate and cannot follow the prescription instructions or are simply not responsible enough to administer the drugs at the proper intervals. Social workers are finding more and more child-headed households suffering appalling poverty and neglect. SOS Children's Villages provides a better alternative.
We sadly buried 12 year old Onalenna on 25 July 2007. Onalenna came to our Francistown Village some years back, a very sick and traumatised little girl. She came from a tragic background having lost her mother and then placed in the care of abusive relatives. With loving care, much medication and sponsored operations by the Gaborone Private Hospital Onalenna improved and responded well to treatment and to the HIV antiretroviral drugs. For some years she experienced life as a “normal” child: she had a family, friends, attended school, played in the sunshine and smiled. We pray that her soul be at peace and feel some consolation that we were able to provide her with some times of joy. We thank friends and sponsors of our Organisation, the SOS Children's Villages Botswana - for with your support and continued help we are enabled to provide for the children entrusted to our care.
Child sponsor update from Tlokweng
Report from Tlokweng for the first half of 2007.
Right now the entire country is very dry, dusty and with little green and even less vegetation for the cattle and wildlife. The Gaborone Dam which supplies our city and the surrounds with water is a mere 25% full 75% empty!
Our SOS Village Tlokweng is fortunate to have a System that recycles the grey water and is then used for the gardens that continue to produce a steady supply of vegetables for the families. The vegetable gardens are for many children a great “source of pride” as some spend many dedicated hours in cultivating their family’s vegetable patch a source of inspiration is when every so often a surprise award is given to the house with the most abundant garden. Spinach, beetroot, onions, cabbages are some of the more successful vegetables that we grow.
Today in the Tlokweng Village there are 239 children and youth - with sadly, almost no room to welcome new children in need. Available space is now dependent on our youth becoming self-supporting and leaving our care. Youth becoming independent is a more frequent occurrence due to the fact that we have been in operation for 21 years. This is a rewarding phase for us as many youth who have completed formal and tertiary education are securing work and becoming self-reliant. Right now we have several youth attending good Skills Training Centres and doing courses such as Bricklaying, Carpentry, Horticulture and Home Crafts. With these acquired skills finding work becomes easier. We are also proud to have six youth attending Universities and Colleges in South Africa not only are they proving themselves academically but also they are coping with independence.
Aaah what photo to send to you always a challenge? In previous news we mentioned that the mothers in Tlokweng took it upon themselves to build a traditional hut at the far end of the Village. Children now play here, mothers hold meetings and as the photograph shows - our traditional dancers perform here too. Traditional dancing is very much a part of the Botswana culture. The SOS Traditional dancers often perform at various functions in and around Gaborone and are always well applauded. The singing together with the clapping of hands and the beautiful, beating rhythm of the dancers is an amazing African experience for both audience and dancers.
Thank you for your good support that enables us to provide children not only with a home, family, food and education but enables them also to dance!
Yours sincerely
Kathy Ferreira
Sponsorship
Relevant Countries: Botswana.