by Celia Fenn
by Celia Fenn
The Children of Africa Project has been running for two years now, here in Cape Town, South Africa.
We work within a lower income community called Sun City, in Sir Lowry's Pass, which is on the outskirts of the City of Cape Town. Our aim is to assist children and young people within this community by providing support and skills and training. At this time, we run an organic vegetable garden, a food security scheme that supports nutrition for children from difficult home backgrounds, and an educational support program that includes scholarships.
This Community has a long history of struggle and disadvantage. Their original African ancestors were forced off the land by Colonialism in Africa. Many of them also have Slaves as their ancestors. Under Apartheid, they were also disadvantaged and considered inferior, which means they had little access to economic resources and education.
Our work is to support this community to build a better life for their Children. I see it as a way that we can assist to return the balance to the Earth, by empowering these Young People to empower their communities.
In alignment with our purpose of supporting a community, we work with a "partner" in the Community. This is Wilma Papier, who is on the board of the Children's Foundation. It is her work to connect with the community and keep us informed of what is needed so that we can support this community and its children. As part of our purpose of empowerment, we are also helping Wilma to empower her life and to advance and develop new skills, so that when we expand the program, she will have the skills and abilities to be the Leader and Project Manager.Wilma is a single mother who has raised her son alone. She is in the process of building her own home...literally. Over the past year she has laid bricks, painted walls and fitted cupboards by herself. She is proud of her home, and knows just what she wants in her life. She has the vision and energy of a natural leader and this emerges in her work with the community.
As part of our Food Security and Education program, we also run an organic vegetable garden where the children can learn about how to grown their own food and how to support their own nutrition.
In 2008 we also began a Food Parcel Program, where we deliver food to specific families in need, especially those affected by Hiv/Aids.
This Food Program is entirely supported by donations from Starchild Readers.
2. EDUCATION : In our community, parents often cannot afford to pay for education, and often talented young people fall into lives of drug dependence and crime because there are no other opportunities for them.
Starchild has a commitment to supporting young people to make a difference in the community. This year we funded two Educational Bursaries for College level studies. The first Bursary was funded through the German Publisher of "The Indigo Crystal Adventure" and our German readers. Dominic Papier was able to complete his final year of College study. In 2009 we are going to train him to become our community HIV/Aids counsellor and to work for our program in this role.
We also paid most of the fees for Leigh Ann Jacobs, who would have been unable to complete her course in Human Resource Management without assistance.
Both Leigh Ann and Dominic have agreed to give some of their time and effort to the community in return for the assistance.
This is Dominic, pictured with the letter that informed him that we had awarded him a Study Bursary for 2008.
3. HEALTH : The HIV/Aids Program : HIV/Aids is a big issue in our Community. Sub Saharan Africa has been hugely affected by Aids and TB, another issue in our community. South Africa has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world, and so this is an issue that is part of the daily lives of the people in our community. Illness and the struggle for survival combine with poverty to create misery and suffering in this community.
As part of our desire to support the children through supporting their families and parents, we are starting an HIV/Aids counselling center in 2009. First, we will train a person, which will take 6 months, and then we have undertaken to employ them for 6 months at a fixed salary. In order to do this, we will need at least ZAR 30, 000, which is about 3000 Euros or 4000 US Dollars. So, if anyone would like to help us to sponsor this program, please we would appreciate your help!
Wilma with Natasha and her child, who are both HIV positive. Natasha was receiving a food parcel under our Food Support Program. It is people like Natasha that we hope to support with our HIV.Aids counselling program.
4. LIFE SKILLS and CELEBRATIONS : We also find time in our work to assist young people to become supportive members of their community, by supporting them. We offer ongoing training and life skills where we can. Here a group of young people invloved in a discussion group about HIV/Aids, led by Dominic Papier:
We also like to involve the children in Joy and Celebration, so we have annual Easter Egg hunts, Youth Day Celebrations and Christmas parties, all funded by donations from our Starchild Readers. Here are some Joyous images....
Wilma as Santa!
July Report : Winter, Food Programs and the Youth Day Concert.
April Report : The Children of Africa Project
Back to School and College...with help from Starchild Global
Xmas 2007 at the Children's Project
Spring in Africa and the Planting of the Organic Vegetable Garden for the Children's Project
"My Child is Your Child" and the Youth Day Events
Friends and Visitors at the Soup Kitchen
Monday is Starchild Vegetable Day at the Soup Kitchen
Festive Season Donation Appeal.
I will be posting the progress of our projects here on the web, so you are welcome to follow our project and see how your donations are being used.
This is a chance for us as Lightworkers to bring some Light into the lives of the Children of the Planet, especially those who live in Africa.
I look forward to working with you on this project.
Love and blessings
Celia