Orphans

ORPHANS

One of the most heart-breaking aspects of our ministry is the number of children who are left orphans when their parents die. Every effort is made to care for these children in the community - often they are left in the charge of a grandmother, who survives on her old age pension.

Sometimes there is an aunt who is able to take them in, but too often they are left in the care of an older sibling. These older children, sometimes as young as 13, are forced to become the head of the family. They have no means of income other than begging or crime, and are usually ignorant of the grants provided by the State, or, if they know these are available, have no knowledge of how to go about making their application.

This has become a large part of Ukukhuthaza's work - identifying the children eligible for grants and helping them through the "red tape" of the application. This can take several weeks, or even months, and in the meanwhile the children have to be fed and clothed, and have somewhere to live. We help where we can, but the problem is huge and our resources are few.

Enye ingxenye enkulu ephula izinhliziyo msebenzi wethu inani labantwana abasala beyizintandane ngokusweleka kwabazali babo. Yonke imizamo iyenziwa ukunakekela laba bantwana emphakathini, esikathini esiningi basala ezandleni zogogo abaphila ngempesheni yobudala.

Kwesinye isikhathi o-anti abanakekelayo esikhathini esiningi banakekwlwa odadewabo noma abafowabo. Labo dadewabo abanye babo baneminyaka engu –13 nje kuphela, bayaphoqleka ukuba yibo abaphethe imizi. Akukho la bethola khona imali baze benze ubugenbengu, basuke bengenalo ulwazi lokuthi kukhona imali abangayithola kuMnyango Wezenhlalakahle, uma benalo ulwazi, basuke bengazi ukuthi iyiphi imigudu ekufanele bayilandele.

Lokhu sekubeyingxenye yomsebenzi we “Ukukhuthaza-ukuthola abantwana ekufanele bathole imali nokubasiza ukuthi benze njani ukuze ba sizakale. Lokhu kungathatha amasonto noma izinyanga, kusalindiwe kufanele kwenziwe imizamo ukuthi ainikwe izingubo nokudla, nendawo yokuhlala. Siyasiza lapho singasiza khona kodwa inkinga inkulu futhi asinazo izinto ezanele.

This grandmother ("Gugu") is responsible for 9 orphans (right), whom she supports with government grants and help from Ukukuthaza.

WINNIE'S ORPHANS

Winnie Ncgobo (below, with some of her charges) describes some of the families under her care. The stories are heart-rending, not least because of the matter-of-fact way in which they are told. This is part of the every day work of the social and community workers in the townships.

There are in 6 of them using 3 rented rooms. The eldest of the family was arrested and was given 25 years in jail for armed robbery. He had been looking after the 6 children. Now there is no one to take responsibility. One of them is working in a temporary job. The attorney has given them written notice of 30 days as they owe the landowner a lot of money. They owe rent and water and not one of them has any money. Three of them are still at school – two at high school and one in Durban University Technicon (DUT). There is no one to look after the needs for school next year. This family was referred to the councilor, social worker and DUT councilor. Winnie will attempt to get the school fees exempted.

Another case is one of 4 orphans who need someone to look after them when the young lady who is their cousin goes to a job far away. The grandmother does not want the children. One of the girls was raped but the case was not investigated. The cousin has not applied for grants because she did not get the death certificate from the funeral parlour, who were not paid by the municipality (Parks Board). Could these children be taken to an orphanage as that is a place for keeping children without parents, relatives or community members who could care for them?

The mother of 7 children is critically ill. As there are some relatives and the parents still there the children cannot be taken to an orphanage. There is no income as the mother is waiting for her ID. This family sometimes receives a food parcel from St John’s. Ekukhanyeni church contributed money for transport in June. The Community Health Worker is going to follow up this case and bring it to the attention of the councilor and the social worker.

ORPHANS' CHRISTMAS PARTY

The annual Christmas party for orphans, sponsored by Ukukhuthaza, was held on 12 December 2009 at 38th Hall, Clermont. More than 200 children attended - the hall was full and it was hot!!

Several interesting speakers spoke to the children and their carers, but the highlight of the afternoon was the meal provided for all - a good dinner, followed by ice cream. \second-hand clothes which had been donated, were also handed out.

Two of the speakers at the party.

All were in a festive mood, with children and grown-ups alike dancing.

Winnie Ncgobo (right) sang for the people.

The food was eaten with great concentration and enjoyment.

Each child received a gift.