1 child 1 blanket report back
Over three days in a bitterly cold and wet June, it was my privilege to be able to distribute blankets to children in 8 creches and day care centres in 3 different townships, in and around Cape Town - Masipumulele, Kayelitsha and Nyanga....
The conditions are dire in most places, resources are few, if any - and the children are cared for mainly by volunteers within the communities.
People who have so little, are doing so much - silently, and very much invisible to the rest of us!
In Masipumulele, blankets were given to children in Hokisa centre (40+). Hokisa cares for children infected or affected by HIV and
AIDS, who cannot be looked after by their own parents or family.
   
Another 70+ children are accommodated at Masakhene creche in Site 5, ....and 20+ children at Winnies creche. Ma Winnie and her daughter run the creche from their tiny home, with the help of volunteers, but without any financial support.....Most of the children are affected by HIV in one way or another......All are affected by grinding poverty. Happily we were able to give each little one their own blanket - previously they had been sharing ONE blanket between FIVE children!!
   
Noluthando Creche in Kayelitsha was established in 1985 by Elizabeth Kama in her backyard, with the help of a social worker. She saw the need and answered the call, starting with 7 children between 0 - 6 years, and growing to 80 children by 1996. In that year, her daughter, Patricia, became the principal of Noluthando creche, and in 2003 they moved to larger premises, which currently accommodates 150 children and a teaching staff of 10 members.
In Nyanga squatter camp, I visited, and distributed blankets to 4 different day care centres, with the assistance of Ronnie Ngalo from Molo Songolo, and the committe members within the community. Again I was struck by the lack of resources, and any kind of stimulation for the 20 - 50 kids in most places. No books, no toys, no jungle gyms or play areas.....
   
I was also taken aback as many of the children cried bitter tears when they saw me......only to be told that the previous week, two white nurses had been to the creche to give injections, and this was all the kids remembered when I walked in to their space.
It took some time and cajoling to get them to smile, and to overcome the fear enough to start enjoying the warmth, and bright colours of the blankets......
Special thanks to Anthea, and to all the women (and men) who selflessly give, even when there is very little to go round.
Anthea works in my local "corner store", earning a very basic weekly wage....Upon hearing about the blanket drive, she immediately handed over R60 (which i was reluctant to take, given her circumstances). Her answer to me, was that at least she had R60 in her purse!! Bless you, Anthea - an example of true human caring!
To the women working tirelessly, feeding and caring for all the children I met over 3 days, (and many more), without pay or recognition - YOU are my heroes!!
Thank you for setting an example by which we could all live.
And of course, a huge thank you to Pick and Pay for their generous contribution, and to the women I dealt with at PnP, in this regard.
You make the Pick n Pay slogan a reality!!
In an effort to redress some of the conditions described above, Net-Workingwomen would like to continue helping where possible.
We have identified the need for toys - educational and otherwise, books to stimulate and encourage a culture of reading, and posters to brighten up the walls.
Regardless of their situation, these are children - who need love, attention, and our protection. To donate towards any toys, books etc please click here.....
womandla!
kathy schultz
www.networkingwomen.co.za
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