By Ndileka Xameni | Project Leader
Word is getting out and progress is happening on all fronts. In the midst of goodness, there is also hardship.
The local council has informed Siyaphambili that it will fund the construction of offices for Siyaphambili and social workers who can help Siyaphambili's outreach in Bedford - the easterb Cape location of our second soup kitchen. Letters are being written to the municipality for a lease agreement and the land desired has already been identified; construction should start soon. Meanwhile, Siyaphambili, with small grants and giving from recurrent donors from the USA like Cynthia Clark and Willard McGraw and Lillian Ross, has been able to start a much needed outreach program in Bedford - a men's support group for those who have lost their wives/children to AIDS as well as a program to work hand in hand with the local hospital; the group for women who have HIV/AIDS is ongoing.
In other good news, the NGO Clover Mama Afrika has just contact Ndileka and is coming to meet her and see the organization next week. "The Clover Mama Afrika project identifies women who are already making a difference in their communities and helps them to become self-sustaining women with skills they can derive more incomes from, in order to support orphaned and abused children and the elderly and infirm. Once having learned these essential skills, our Mamas then pass on their knowledge and teach others in their communities to empower themselves and uplift their communities." Ndileka is very excited to be a part of this amazing organization and how it will help her expand the services she is providing in both Langa and Bedford.
The house where the second soup kitchen operates in Bedford was Ndileka's mother's house. In addition to having been turned into an ever growing soup kitchen with help from Global Giving donors, it has just been turned into temporary housing for four children whose mother is HIV/AIDS positive and cannot tak care of the children any more on her own. Siyaphambili was housing them in a 2 room bungalow but it was too small. With volunteer help, the family has moved into the non soup kitchen part of the Bedford house until something better can be found for them. We need money for school, clothing, food - they came with nothing. Ndileka took all 4 children to the clinic and, thank goodness, they are all HIV negative.
This is the spirit of Ubuntu - this is the heart of Siyaphambili and its mission and its endless work - helping the weakest with the most minimal resources. Our goal is to raise substantial funds for operations this calendar year to enable Ndileka to move forward and take advantage of opportunities being offered her. God bless our donors and may Ndileka's strength remain strong!
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