Child sposnorship update from Pietermaritzburg
26/03/2008
Update from the SOS Children's Village Pietermaritzburg, 2007
Joyful greetings to you, our dear friend! It is always a pleasure for us to keep in touch with you, knowing for certain that even the miles that this letter will travel will not be able to subdue the affection and sincerity with which it is written. We trust that our warm thoughts and well wishes have helped grace you with a pleasant year thus far. We are pleased to inform you that SOS Children’s Village, Pietermaritzburg continues to persevere for the benefit of our precious children whilst being strengthened by amazing friends like you!
Each year on the 01 December, the global community participates in World AIDS Day and focuses on one of mankind’s greatest historical challenges, the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. An estimated 39.5 million people worldwide lived with AIDS in 2006. Of these, 2.3 million were children. Last year, an estimated 4.3 million people became newly infected with HIV and 2.9 million lost their lives to AIDS. The slogan for 2006 was “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise” and its theme was accountability. The Pietermaritzburg Village shared in being accountable by hosting an AIDS Awareness day. All staff, children, community members and officials from the Health Department were invited. Our guest speaker was a brave lady who shared personal information about her life and her courage as she lives with being HIV positive. Her message was an eye opener as reality hit home for all attendees. Candles were lit in memory of those who had lost their fight to the epidemic and thereafter the audience was enthralled by cheerful entertainment by our Zulu Dancers and choir whilst they enjoyed a sumptuous lunch.
As you are well aware SOS Children’s Villages aim to equip our children and young people for an independent life, which makes education and vocational training indispensable. The first formal sense of education starts for our children at Kindergarten, where the goal is the development of the children’s social, mental and motor skills in a playful learning environment. One gorgeous little boy and two dazzling little girls from our Village are attending Kindergarten this year. Off course the measure in which they are learning are only in leaps and bounds!
In keeping with our aim, older children are encouraged to attend vocational camps to cultivate and develop leadership and life skills during school holidays. Upon return to the Village, camp reviews and evaluations are done, this is done to ascertain what our children have learnt and to basically gain feedback from them to help direct our plans for future vocational exercises. Youth are taken on career exposure tours to help them decide which field of work they would like to embark on and a continuous effort is made by the Child and Youth Development Team to assist, guide and plan for the future of all our children and young people.
An exciting function was held in March this year called, “Reach for the Stars”. The aim of this awards function was to look at the achievements of children in three categories, namely, academic, sport and arts and culture. Nominees were chosen from our Village and other organisations that cater for challenged learners. The evening was packed with spellbinding entertainment, thought provoking motivational speakers and the constant quickening of our hearts and minds fathoming what bright, sparkling stars our children really are! Forty eight children were nominated and every nominee received a certificate and a medal. Although each child was a winner in their own right, only six finalists could be chosen which proved to be quite a daunting task for our expert panel of judges. The lucky six received additional gifts and will have the privileged opportunity to fly to Cape Town for the national finals which will be held in September this year.
As I mentioned previously we aspire to embrace local cultural values and practices in each family and Village life as a whole. Therefore special South African calendar dates are celebrated by our Village. Human Rights Day was celebrated on the 21st March 2007 in the form of a sporting tournament with children from other organisations as well. It was a day of fun and victory as our children reigned as the overall victors in the categories of soccer, netball and volleyball. Naturally the significance of the day was addressed and is sure to be remembered by all who attended and participated.
Pietermaritzburg Village has a team of staff that have a wealth of knowledge and exceptional talent in executing their duties, however to ensure that our belief and practice of quality long termed care for children is always progressive we encourage the continuation of human resource development. Majority of our staff therefore attend annual workshops / conferences to ensure that the above is supported. Further to this In-Service Trainings are held every Monday and external trainings are supported upon request.
This year, SOS Children’s Villages South Africa is celebrating twenty five years of taking action for children, which is the reason you see the logo on the right hand side of this page. As we celebrate our silver anniversary, we commemorate you, our cherished friend for your ongoing support. Without you, our work will not be possible. Thank you!
Yours sincerely
SIPHIWE MAPHANGA
VILLAGE DIRECTOR
Sponsor's update from Ennerdale
Update from Spring 2007
Greetings and wishes to you and your family for a blessed and prosperous year. We are celebrating our twenty fifth year as an Association in South Africa and would like to thank you for your continued support which has contributed a lot to our success in taking action for children.
2006 was a very demanding year for staff. We faced and overcame many trials and tribulations because of the loyalty and commitment of our staff and we have all grown from these experiences. Ten new children were admitted to the village during 2006 and they have settled in very well. Currently we have one hundred and thirty four children in the village and twenty-six youth living in the youth facilities in the community. Our main thrust with regard to our children for 2007 is to be guided more by their developmental needs by drawing them more into open discussions and planning with us. This will guide us better in addressing their individual needs adequately.
Children returned from their holiday placements keen and excited to return to school and to engage with their friends. Those children that remained in the Village during the December holiday period were taken on a camp for a week, to Altelekker Resort, which they enjoyed tremendously.
We managed to maintain our annual academic pass rate as in previous years and have attained an 88% pass. The registration of all youth and children at schools, colleges and universities has been completed and everything is starting to settle down in the village. Ten of our youth with special educational needs were transferred to schools and colleges that can cater more practically for their individual needs. The change has been good for the children, as they have responded very positively to their new environment. We have restructured our study program by bringing on board five high school and three primary school teachers onto the program. The high school teachers give support to our children in English, Afrikaans, Maths, Science and Accountancy using the curriculum presented at our local schools. Our reading program resumed in February and all management staff dedicate half an hour of their time daily to support SOS Mothers with the children’s reading.
Two more children were added to the group of four attending Life College, where they are afforded the opportunity to refine their skills in public speaking, building of self-esteem, life skills and introduction into entrepreneurial skills. There have been definite changes in behavior and performance in these children since attending classes and some have contributed at special events reciting poems and making speeches to our visitors.
The two youth that completed their matric in 2006 are now proudly enrolled at Tswane University and Empilweni Nursing College. They have settled in and are adjusting well to their new independent lifestyle. Three of our girls at university will be graduating in May/June this year. They are currently completing their internship at companies which have expressed interest in employing them permanently after graduation. Our Child and Youth Development Team have, through the support of a local company, managed to find part-time jobs for a few of our current and integrated youth at a Spur restaurant. This has been a blessing for some of our children who have been struggling to find employment.
Seven girls and one boy were transferred from the village to the youth facilities. For some of the youth the transfer was a very difficult process, as this was a step closer to independence and the first separation from their SOS Mothers. The ‘tracking’ of youth is still one of our main priorities for the year and we aim to track at least one hundred and forty youth who have been integrated in the community. We are planning a reunion for these integrated youth later in the year at which we are looking forward to meeting their partners and children at the function.
We celebrated our biennial function “Reach for the Stars” in March 2007, at which children from the village and community were acknowledged for their outstanding success in academic, sport, arts and culture. The event was held in the community and raised a lot of awareness amongst the local people in how we acknowledge and develop our children to their fullest potential.
Three of the eight SOS Mothers registered at the beginning of 2006 completed their matric studies at the end of December. This has inspired the others to re-register at the beginning of 2007 to complete the second part of their studies. One of our SOS Mothers, after thirteen years of committed service, retired at the end of February 2007. It was an emotional time for everyone when the mother was honored at her farewell party for her dedication to her children for all these years.
The SOS Nursery School registered over 52 children in Family Strengthening Programme scholarship and 10 Village children into the program at the beginning of January 2007. The Nursery School which forms part of our family strengthening program and with the help of the teachers have conducted home visits in the community, with the aim to identify more children from the relevant target group to be placed in the Kindergarten and Day-Care Centre. The children that were identified came from those living with terminally-ill parents, children who have lost one or both parents due to HIVAIDS or children living in an orphan household. The village reading program for the grade 1, 2 and 3 is progressing well. The assistance of the three primary school teachers in the study program has added more value to the development of the children. All kindergarten children received progress reports at the end of the first quarter which focused mainly on the children’s progress and identifying problem areas. To sharpen and hone their skills teachers were sent on an Early Childhood Development Workshop, to equip them to develop children holistically.
Although 2006 was a difficult and trying year for the Family Strengthening Program (FSP), the year ended beautifully with 50 ‘orphan headed households’ invited to a special party on Christmas day. A new FSP Manager was appointed in December 2006 and has adjusted well into the program. The main objective for the program for 2007 is to address the psychosocial needs of the children affected and infected with HIV and AIDS. This will be done through placing our focus on the individual needs of the children. Forty children received school uniforms and fifteen who were not attending school were placed into local schools. The FSP Manager and the Nursery School Principal have been actively busy visiting partners and other local organisations to identify new scholarship children for the nursery school and Day Care Centre for 2007.The FSP has assisted 289 children, of which twenty are HIV infected and eight are on ART. Twenty of the vulnerable children received training in baking and sewing skills which they can later utilise for business purposes. Our community volunteers from our partner organisations were sent on a child care workshop to ensure that our children receive quality care during their visits. The volunteers visit families on a daily basis to identify the needs of children which are referred to our office to support or link children to the necessary resources available.
We are very optimistic and excited about the year that lies ahead and plan to accomplish the goals and objectives we have set. As ever we are fully committed to ensure that each child receives the necessary love and care to help guide them to become positive contributing citizens in their communities. We again thank you for the valued contribution you are making to our children and for your continued support.
Yours Sincerely
Martin Isaacs
Village Director
Relevant Countries: South Africa.