Ndileka and the AIDS orphans at Siyaphambili are without transportation as a crash totaled the old van during the summer - no one hurt by miracle. Without a van, Ndileka cannot take the children to school, cannot go to the food bank for the bulk of the food given for the orphanage, cannot transport the sick to doctors or hospitals. For now, Ndileka is relying on friends and taxis [expensive], and a new, USED van, would make all the difference, as we can all imagine.
Lack of transportation affects all aspects of life for the lives Ndileka's work affects - from getting food to her soup kitchens, to transporting her orphans and others to schools, hospitals, work. She also needs to get around the township to visit her outreach programs from child-headed households to teen mothers and to take supplies to those in need. Without reliable transportation, the work of Siyaphambili becomes about impossible - taxis and relying on friends with old cars is not viable.
A functioning van will allow Ndileka to continue her many programs that help the lives of over 100 people in Langa from the AIDS orphans who live with her to the after-school and creche, and especially for getting food supplies from the food bank and visiting her outreach programs in Langa and nearby townships. A functioning van, used but good, will restore and move forward all the work achieved to date since 2009.
With the new van, 35 children will continue their education and be fed and housed, and, once finished, these are the leaders of tomorrow who will have the opportunity to attend higher education and use their skills to help those less fortunate and move their lives out of poverty. Long-term, more children can be helped by living at Siyaphambili, having a safe haven, food and school, books and shoes and transportation. In addition, 20 teen mothers, 10 child-headed households will get services.