About the Orphan Centers--We can make a difference!
Because the majority of those dying from AIDS are between the ages of 20 – 40, the middle generation – the parents – is disappearing! This leaves aged grandparents to care for large numbers of orphaned grandchildren. One grandmother we visited was caring for 18 grandchildren as all 5 of her children had died of AIDS. Many times, there are no grandparents left to care for the orphans and the oldest children must become the breadwinners to keep the family alive. This means they must drop out of school and do whatever they can to survive. Often times this means prostitution for the girls and theft for the boys. It is a dangerous life and their childhood is lost.Orphan centers take children off the street, get them into school, and give them back their childhood! You can help bring hope and healing to the children of Africa!
Each orphan center serves up to 100 children School aged children are given meals before and after school. They are provided with the money to buy a school uniform and for school tuition and books when required. The center also provides day care for the pre-school children so that older siblings do not need to drop out of school to care for baby brothers and sisters. In doing so they are also providing a valuable pre-school experience that will benefit these children when they attend public school, and providing adequate nutrition for their physical development. The centers train foster mothers to care for the orphans as well as training care-givers to be able to move to the additional centers as they are developed.
Additionally the centers provide medical care, homework assistance and support for children seeking to navigate the system – public education, health care, pension benefits, etc. Where possible they also train the children in computer and gardening skills and hopefully other vocations. Care packages are sent home for family members who are ill.
These Orphan Centers are being built by AFnet Aid, the humanitarian relief branch of AFnet, Inc., a 501(c)(3)corporation. All gifts to AFnet and AFnet Aid are tax deductible. AFnet Aid’s primary goal is to meet the physical needs of the people of Southern Africa – AIDS relief, food, housing, employment, education, etc. AFnet, Inc. has spread beyond South Africa into Botswana and Zambia – its main objectives being the planting of churches and the training of pastors. For more information regarding AFnet, go to their website at www.afnet.org.
AFnet Aid has targeted Soshanguve as an area of great need and great potential. Soshanguve is a township of roughly 100 square miles and is situated approximately 45 miles northwest of Pretoria, the location of AFnet’s headquarters. Soshanguve is an area hard hit by disease and poverty with an unemployment rate of around 65%, and an HIV infection rate as high as 30%. It was the scene of riots in January of 2006 as the people protested the lack of government services to the area. Partnerships have been established with 4 schools and churches. The ultimate goal is to have an orphan day-care center serving every school in Soshanguve. Two buildings in Soshanguve are completed (one of those being Tsakelani), and two more are in the negotiation process. There is also a center being developed in Zimbabwe, and a team of TLC men may be going to assist in the construction phase. Over 50 children are being fed at the center.
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Annie and Dan Erickson are doing missionary work for AFnet in Pretoria. Below is an excerpt from Annie's recent blog. This illustrates what a difference the orphan centers will make for these children. *" The behaviour of Refilwe is good. But sometimes is sad. When you ask her what happened she cries." * "Lebogang's mother passed away on the 12th of August, and the father went away and was never seen again after the funeral." * "Matete is stubborn and sometimes acts strange after her mother died." * "Malebo has a short temper and cries easily." * "Prudence's parents died - one in an accident and one from the national death." * "Lonia is not understanding." * "Lives in a shack. * "Dead." These are comments on some of the orphan profiles sitting on my desk this morning. My heart aches for each one. I have no words of wisdom, no profound thoughts today, no answers to all of the "why's" and "it's not fair's"- only this do I know: they are not forgotten in the sight of the Lord. He both knows and cares." Annie Erickson |
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Our Orphan Center - Tsakelani
New Orphan Center during Construction. |
Santa Cruz Cares has provided the funds to build the Orphan Day-Care Center (Tsakelani=Celebration) pictured at right and below.
Prior to its opening, over 60 Aids orphans had been identified through the school, and were being fed at the church. In June of 2006, members of the Santa Cruz Cares team visited the site at Tsakelani, had lunch with the children, and saw the early stages of remodeling and construction. Phase One was opened in March of 2007. The pre-school program is running and the staff is largely in place. There was a grand opening of phase 2 on July 22nd. Santa Cruz Cares had a simultaneous celebration at Twin Lakes Church.
To learn what you can do to join our efforts to maintain this center, including sponsoring an Aids Orphan, please go to the Donations page.
Questions? Please contact us by e-mail at santacruzcares@calcentral.com
Or phone us at 831/761-2162.
Questions? Please contact us by email at santacruzcares@calcentral.com
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Newly completed orphan center. |
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