Supporting Education for NOAH Orphans

Noah is at its heart a community based and community driven organisation. Our committee members and volunteers represent the communities directly affected by HIV. They incorporate care givers and neighbours of orphaned and vulnerable children, people who are directly responsible for the well being of those children. But our community extends beyond the immediate geographic confines for each individual orphaned or vulnerable child. Our global community includes every volunteer, donor or partner - that means you! Each individual contribution helps to consolidate our communal effort and brings additional layers of support to each child that we care for and each family that we include in our network of care. I would like to share a few short stories with you that illustrate the difference your contribution has made: My Name is Sandile Ngubeni. I am 14 years old. I am a boy. I am doing Grade 6. I live in Blaauwbosch, near Newcastle in KwaZulu Natal. I live with my grandmother and 7 siblings. I would like to say thank you for our cosmetics pack. Since I was a child we always share the face cloths, comb and even a tooth brush. This is my first time to have my own set. I feel so good. I promise I will take good care of it always. Sometimes in this life we take for granted the simple things - a hug from our mom, a warm bed to sleep in and our own tooth brush. Sandile's story reminds me that these things should never be taken lightly as there are children, almost 3.7 million of them in South Africa alone, who do not have them. Through your assistance we were able to give Sandile his own tooth brush and comb. We are also able to help his grandmother take care of him by providing help with his homework, counselling, nutritious meals and most of all - hugs every day and a place where he is welcomed and loved. The second story comes from one of our Arks near Johannesburg, eGoli - the place of Gold. In this city where extreme wealth and poverty live side by side lives a young boy. He is being raised by his grandmother. He comes to an Ark every day in Midrand where he attends the day care. He is always quiet and shy and his teachers let him be. On a hot afternoon in February a volunteer took the time to sit and play with him. They played peek-a-boo, hide & seek and then she read to him. She thought he was shy and did not understand English but continued to play with him as he laughed at her funny faces and games. At 4 o clock in the afternoon his grandmother arrived to collect him. He turned to her and said "Go Away!" the grandmother immediately started crying and the teachers gathered around. The volunteer was apologetic - afraid she had offended the grandmother as the boy was obviously having so much fun he wanted to stay and she thought the rejection had hurt the old lady's feelings. But the tears were of happiness as these words were the first spoken by the boy in the year since his mother had passed away. They say it takes a village to raise a child and every donor and volunteer, no matter where they are or how they come to know Noah, is a part of our village. Thank you for your constant support and ongoing assistance.

The Big Little Caravan of Joy hits South Africa !

In July Sarina Condello from Toronto Canada spent 4 weeks volunteering at 4 individual Noah projects. She brought joy, laughter, dance, music, inspiration and art to children made vulnerable ny the AIDS pandemic. The following is an extract from Sarina's newsletter to her supporters. I hope this extract inspires more volunteers to get involved and make a difference in the lives of children affected by AIDS:

"I have just returned from one of the most inspirational and successful international trips that I have created to date! With the help of hundreds of friends, performing arts and dance students and supportive contributors from across Canada, I was able to do the following with the $14,500 that we as a loving and generous community raised for Noah:

Facilitated four summer arts camps for over 600 of Noah's children in total, ages 4 - 18, for 5 - 6 days. Directed and produced three theatrical productions, casts ranging from 40 -130 children, from three townships in and around Durban. Lotus FM radio did an hour special on my program as it was chosen to be part of Nelson Mandela's Birthday Celebration and his mandate for the entire country to volunteer 67 minutes of their life to a cause. Facilitated three Volunteer Appreciation Days for the fifty women, many of them grandmothers, from nearby villages who help the orphans daily. Creative movement, salsa lessons, T-shirts and running shoes were given to each woman involved at Noah's Arks. Hired, trained and collaborated with five amazing Zulu artists. (Circus Artists: Bongiwe, Busi, Mr. Fish and Musical Artists: Sibonile, Stmebiso) Supported a rural FC Team Mates soccer team who had no equipment whatsoever - bought 5 balls, team uniforms, goalie equipment, carrying cases and water bottles so as to pay-it-forward and honour Margaret, Gavin and Jamie who geneorusly put me up for three weeks! Bought art and circus supplies, cake, prizes for all the campers, staff and volunteers, this included stilts, masks, parachute etc. Rented a van (and drove that van South African style - whew!) that took us and all of our supplies into the townships and rural regions of Durban.

Please check out my youtube slideshow that captures The Big Little Caravan of Joy's adventure in South Africa!

In the summer of 2010 I will return to South Africa with The Big Little Caravan of Joy for two months and will do another 4 week placement at Noah to be followed with a two week journey to Swaziland. I am open to any fund raising suggestions and guidance from any of you to help make this happen. Thank you for your support and guiding light.

With gratitude and love, Sarina Condello

Links:

• The Big Little Caravan of Joy in South Africa