Ukukhuthaza works in the areas surrounding Pinetown - Clermont and Kwadbeka to the north,  Nazareth, Mariannridge and Klaarwater to the south and Tshelimnyama, KwaNdengezi and Hammarsdale to the west.  These communities are among the poorest in KwaZulu Natal, and are very greatly affected by HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Diabetes and numerous other illnesses associated with extreme poverty.  Violence and rape are a part of everyday life, contributing to widespread depression and hopelessness among the people.  In a small way, we seek to relieve the stress and bring some relief and hope.  We do this in a number of ways:

Ukukhuthaza kusebenza ezindaweni ezi zungeze iPinetown okuyi Clermont, KwaDabeke kuyu eNyakatho_Nazareth, Marianridge nase Klaarwater kuye eNingizumu nase Tshelimnyama kwa Ndengezi Hammarsdale kuya eNtshonalanga.  Le miphakathi ngeminye ehlwempu kakhulu Kwa-Zulu Natal futhi iyona ehlaselwe kakhulu isandulela ngculazi nengculazi, isifo sofuba, ushukela nezinye izifo eziningi ezahlukene ezihambisana nobuphofu obukhulu.  Udlame nokudlwengulwa kuyingxenye yansukzonke eyimbangela yokubhebhethekisa ukukhathazeka nokuphelelwa ithemba kubantu.  Ngandlela thize ukuqeda ukukhathazeka silethe ithemba nokukhuthazeka ngalezi zindlela.

Money is donated every month by the parishioners of St John's, and supplemented by a grant from the church, and used to fill approximately 90 food parcels, which are distributed to members of the communities who have been identified by the community workers as being affected by HIV/AIDS and in need of help.  The food is prescribed by dieticians as 'food suitable for nourishing and building up sick people'.  Unfortunately, the 90 parcels we provide feed only a fraction of the people in need of help, but we do the best we can with what we have. Often one parcel, given to a granny or sick mother caring for several children, will be used to feed the whole family of 4, 5 or more people.

Whenever possible, members of St John's congregation visit the various communities, accompanied by the community worker.  They often take food parcels, blankets or clothing for the families.  They also visit the vegetable gardens to view progress and offer help or advice.  But the purpose of these visits is not just dispensing physical benefits.  They minister to and pray for the people, and offer friendship and love.  These sick, often desperate, people feel abandoned, and are sometimes ostracised by their families because of the disease.  A demonstration of love and support goes far beyond receiving food or a blanket, it makes the person feel accepted, and know that someone cares.  When two voluntary workers from Holland, Patty Balm and Willeke de Mos, were in Pinetown recently, they visited some of our families in Clermont.  Their caring is so much appreciated, as much as their offer to raise funds for us in Holland.

Right: Willeke blows up balloons for the children.

Left: Patty with two of our young ladies.

VEGETABLE GARDENS / Izingadi zezitshalo

Vegetable gardens have been established in several of the communities to supplement the food supply.  In many cases, these are worked by the elderly and those out of work, which gives them a sense of usefulness as well helping to feed them and others.  Many problems have been encountered - steep ground, wandering animals (in one case, the landlady's chickens ate the spinach crop!), lack of water, etc.  In spite of the difficulties, several flourishing gardens have been established.  Funding was largely provided from a church in England - one of their members, Charlotte Hornsby, through the USPG programme, spent six months working in the Pinetown community, and, when she returned to England, raised funds in her own community.  The money thus realised was used to buy garden tools, seeds and fencing.  One of our community workers, Winnie Ngcongo (above left, with co-worker Vusi, and left, centre), has been instrumental in starting a number of "door sized" gardens in her community of Cleremont. These gardens are approximately the size of a door, hence the name, as this is a large enough area to grow quite a variety of vegetables, while not being too large to cultivate easily with only rakes, forks, spades and hoes. The relatively small space does not require a great amount of water, which usually has to be carried from the nearest tap in a bucket.

Below: Winnie helps two other ladies in their Clermont garden.