Mbonsweni is a community located outside of White River in the province of Mpumalanga, South Africa. Situated on a grassy hilltop with an awe-inspiring view of the valley below, Mbonsweni is located on prime real estate by anyone’s standards.
Unfortunately, for all its surrounding beauty, the people of Mbonsweni are in desperate need. The community health situation is dire, with many people dying of AIDS, Tuberculosis, and malnutrition. The amount of orphaned children in Mbonsweni is staggering and these children are shockingly vulnerable.
Partnering with local pastors and other community leaders, we are currently feeding 100 - 120 children every week, as well as a girls club and other children programs. Plans are currently underway to finish construction on a multi-purpose care center that will provide a venue for the feeding schemes, kids clubs, training, tutoring, and childcare for young mothers & other young people to continue their schooling. Most importantly it will be a home away from home. Providing safety, security, and a nurturing environment. Bringing HOPE & a sense of HOME.
In April of this year, a missionary named Kyle Quarterson asked Ten Thousand Homes to get involved in a local community called Dwaleni. Kyle has been building relationships in Dwaleni with an organization called Sizanani Home Based Care. Sizanani Home Base Care started in 1999 and currently consists of fifteen dedicated female volunteers. Earlier this year, Kyle helped Sizanani HBC purchase a house in Dwaleni. The volunteers has had a drea for the house to some day be a hospice center.
Our team went to Dwaleni a few times to build relationships with the volunteers. We asked them to draw a map of Dwaleni and give us an assessment/insight into their community. They told us the biggest challenges they face as caregivers center around poverty, HIV/AIDS, alcohol abuse, unemployment, and sexual abuse of children. We learned there aren't any other organizations workig with orphans and vulnerable children in Dwaleni. The ladies told us they'd like to start a feeding program every Thursday afternoon for the orphans and vulnerable children.
The past few months we've sent visiting teams to help fix up the house recently purchased in Dwaleni. Currently, Kyle and the volunteers want the house to be a youth center. In June, we met with Kyle again to inform him Ten Thousand Homes would help Sizanani HBC establish a feeding program at the new house every Thursday. The feeding program began on July 16th and about 40 children attended. Since then the number of children coming keeps growing! This past week 193 children were present!
A local pastor named augustine comes every week to teach the children a bible lesson during the feeding program. We are excited about working in Dwaleni and the new relationships and opportunities that continue to grow!
Driving through Kabokweni, the experienced field worker may look around in doubt. It’s not your typical needy, African village. On the surface, the community is relatively clean and looks to be somewhat prosperous. There is a large, local hospital as well as a shopping center and several major factories. While Kabokweni may not look like the typical poverty-stricken community, unfortunately, it’s struggles are far too common.
Kabokweni has one of the highest rates of AIDS/HIV infections in the surrounding area, leading to an extremely high rate of orphans and vulnerable children. Unemployment is also a problem and even if there is a job available the wages are so poor that supporting your family is next to impossible. For all it’s facilities there is no local school. Those children whose parents can afford to buy them a uniform (a requirement for school) have to walk close to five miles everyday to reach school.
As our heart is for the children of the community, we have connected with a local woman who shares our concerns and visions to reach the kids. Elizabeth is the Director of Teka Takho Drop In Center, as well as, a lady with a big heart and the determination to see things through. We’ve started small by serving food to 130 orphans & vulnerable children out of her house three times a week, but plans are in motion to build a care center that will offer more comprehensive care and a place of safety and rest for those kids who have none. She, along with her team of volunteers are now currently serving 200 children every day.
