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Sunday, August 24
West Coast Pre-school Visit
Children Desperately Need Basic Amenities West Coast, South Africa
The needs for West Coast preschools are:
Eikevlei - 36 preschool children
Lutzville Wes - 40 preschool children
Bo Vaalkrans - 60-80 children of which 36 preschool age children
Spoortjieskool, Koekenaap - 40 preschool children Prefab container must be moved to their land and they need to set up a community kitchen and a food garden.
Klipheuwel preschool, Nuwerus - 30 preschool children?
The following report was complied by Hedwich Tulp after completing a field trip with the CWD up the West Coast, South Africa. Margie was present and thought you would appreciate the feed back.
The ripple effects of TB, HIV/Aids, poverty and alcoholism (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, FAS) have caused a crisis in the rural area of the Western Cape. As a result more and more babies and young children have lost traditional child-protection mechanisms. Children on farms are now among the most vulnerable people in our society. Their extreme vulnerability exposes them to a great number of social ills, which gives them a great developmental disadvantage.
On our visit to 5 preschools and one primary school in the Matzikame District (West Coast) we realized the devastating effect of alcohol abuse. Children's lives are permanently altered by alcohol (through FAS) and alcohol consumption. Unbelievably they were encouraged by their parents to drink at a young age or they themselves started drinking due to negligence, hunger and boredom. Some of these children walk bare footed to school daily just so they can have a meal and a little stimulation. Sometimes they walk home hungry and some times they can't come to school on a Monday because the only set of clothing they have is wet.
"Teachers and pre-school staff haven't learned how to deal with FAS", says CWD Early Childhood Development-coordinator Rebecca Davids who supports the 5 pre-schools in this area. "You will have to repeat things over and over for these kids, they forget easily. Patience is the key with these children. We should actually design a course to teach teachers how to deal with children with FAS", says Davids.
Many children on farms have little or no direct access to educational facilities. They have to either travel long distances to public schools or go to farm-schools set up on neighboring farms. Rebecca Davids: "When visiting a preschool in Nuwerus, one child couldn't come to preschool, because their clothes were washed and were still wet. The child didn't have other clothes, so the child stayed home."
According to Davids there is little or no access to Early Childhood Development facilities to these marginalized children. In many cases, parents are not able to afford minimal school fees (one school quoted only R70/year for school fees), clothing, food, transport therefore children drop out or the schools suffer from inadequate funds.
 
The staff at these pre-schools show a great deal of dedication and commitment, educating children in these increasingly difficult environments; where they suffer from a lack of access to basic facilities such as books and toys, basic items such as chairs, tables and most importantly food. These things are all essential for learning but none are a given at any of these centers. Where staff can, they pay for food, clothes and stationery out of their own pocket. "What do you do if children haven't had paper for a week to write on?" asks pre-school principal Corrie in Eikevlei, near the town of Klawer. These teachers carry many burdens and often need to teach more than one grade at the same time. "We have three grades in one class. And I am the principal and teacher in one", shares Bernie Martin from Klipheuwel primary school in Nuwerus.
Malnutrition is a big problem and children cannot reach their full physical, intellectual and mental potential without adequate sustenance. "We didn't have food for the 40 children today, and that means that most of the kids will only have a meal tomorrow again. Where we can, we are inventive", says a preschool teacher in Lutzville Wes. Kitchens are not guarantee and where they are available it is not a foregone conclusion that the preschool children can access the food made in these community kitchens. "The kitchen sells a meal for R1 to the poor, but if the school doesn't pay- no matter how poor they are- we don't give the children food", was the comment of one of the kitchen operators in Lutzville Wes.
"This is what happens in an area of grinding poverty", says Davids. "It's fighting for survival here."
It is clear that without greater access or upgrading of current pre-schools and schools it is unlikely that these children will have any economic growth opportunities later on in life. These schools are some of the most needy in our country. The CWD is working hard towards change and improving the quality of life and future for these farm children.
The current reality can be brought back to the days of the dop system- the system where farmers paid a portion of the workers' wages in wine or allowed workers to buy wine on credit. The system was officially abolished in 1961 but its use only declined in the nineties, and it continued thereafter in a clandestine way despite the toll on children.
Posted at 12:05 pm by Margie
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Thursday, July 17
Email to UK Jersey Donors
Pre-School Visit with the CWD
Mbekweni Paarl Region
For our pre-school visit we drove out with representatives of the CWD (Catholic Welfare and Development) to 4 pre-schools in the impoverished area of Mbekweni near Paarl, South Africa. Mfuleni village in Bluedowns is a assembly of wood and iron structures with a new section being laid out and built of solid building materials creating more permanent homes with power and running water! We handed out 64 jerseys received from UK donors at 2 of these pre-schools. A very special thank you to all who knitted the garments. Both the teachers and children were overwhelmed and quite delighted. The Headmistresses just could not believe that ladies so far away would bother to help their little pre-schools.
The pre-schools generally have approx. 60 children, ranging in age from 3 months to 5 / 6 years old. The very little ones have two helpers in one section of a shipping container and the others are in a separate room with one or two helpers (CWD is about to implement a specific training course for women who look after the very young children). In this extremely impoverished area there are generally 3 or 4 disabled children, either blind, mentally disabled, physically disabled or downs in the class. As you are possibly aware South Africa is the worlds leader in Foetal Alcohol Syndrome a tragic problem in out lying areas.
All children are given breakfast and lunch at school, as parents are often not able to provide food. Mums and Dads are encouraged to pay something, but in many cases are not able to contribute. Those children who live close by come to school regularly, those further away often cannot afford the transport fees, so miss out from time to time. CWD helps with all these problems, buying food in bulk, paying teachers salaries and giving something towards transport.
 
The pre-school above is in the process of being built with a overjoyed head teacher, Patricia, standing in the doorway of her shipping container school. The second picture is Patricia's first solid home, in the process of being built, next to her container school. A structure will connect her home to the school providing a shaded playing area for summer heat and protection from the winter rains. Her home will house the very little ones, probably about 10 children. Sadly she had just had her school broken into and has lost her precious stove and fridge, vital parts of the service she provides. The furniture consists of simply kiddies chairs and tables, a few books and puzzles in a little cupboard next to the empty kitchen. Patricia has about 50 older children and one helper. She feeds them something in the morning, probably porridge or bread and jam then a warm meal for lunch. We put jerseys on those children who were at the school and saved the rest for those who were absent. They sang for us saying thank you in three languages, can you believe it!
All the schools were delighted with our visit. If you wish to help these children with everything will be valued and appreciated.
Anyone who is interested in viewing the CWD website click this link -
Margie Garratt
Posted at 10:38 am by Margie
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Thursday, July 10
Three happy little girls from Goedgedacht
May we introduce you to the little girl in the above photograph, D, in the green striped jersey. She is a Foetal Alcohol Syndrome child. Goegedacht is not quite sure at this stage how bad D is but all three of her siblings take refuge in the Safe House which is set up on Goedgedacht farm. Mum used to be a beautiful young woman but is now terribly damaged as a result of years and years of drinking. When mum is drinking and becoming abusive with the next in a string of boyfriends the girls make use of the refuge. The Safe House mother, Regina has been trained in Home Based Care and child development, she has been a saviour to little children like this. We continue to support Goegedacht in conjuction with lots of Knitters scattered around the Western Cape.
Goedgedacht Trust is an registered charitable and educational trust which operates as an olive farm near Riebeek Castel providing employment, education and various other upliftment project in the rural communities of the Western Cape.
Goegedacht
Contact Number: +27 022 482 4369
Posted at 11:54 am by Margie
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Wednesday, July 9
Imizamo Yethu need contributions
Imizamo Yethu: An upliftment Initiative
Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
Imizamo Yethu (our efforts) was established in 1992 and is situated at Zanokhanyo which is a home management training center based in Harare, Khayelitsha.
Nolwandla Lutshethu and Nobandla Manqola initiated and run this programme designed to train and empower rural women. The unemployed and unskilled are taught sewing and clothing design. Classes run in the mornings, thereafter machines are put to use by passed students who use the facilities for income generation. This project provides an ever-growing number of women with the tools to find employment, feed their children and support their families. It also creates an environment of support while disseminating information on HIV/AIDS, child abuse, health and nutrition.
The above scanned in picture is an example of a child's dress, made from donated off cuts, proudly exhibited at the annual 'fashion show'. This event is a wonderful end of year opportunity for the ladies to encourage each other and see the progress and skills they have acquired throughout the year.
The letter below, received in March 2008, will help you to understand how valuable contributions have been in the past. These two women, who earn almost nothing, rely on your donations to keep this initiative going. I can't tell you how many women have been trained and enabled through this initiative. This really is a remarkable project run by some very remarkable Xhosa women.
"Dear Quilt & Margie
We have a lovely Easter. We hope had a same. We had recieved the material thank you very much. This is keeping the project going we do not have Funder. Through this material we make dress, skirt, pens, apron, tracksuit and shirt. This material keep project survive.
We like to recieve big material. We wish if you can saport use Finance we were three ladies working at this Project two they drop because of money.
Thank you again for your sapport.
You
Faithfull
Nobandla
GHQG (Good Hope Quilters Guild) Newsletter - May 2007
Your generous support of Imizamo Yethu over the years has been much appreciated and valued. Nolwandla Leitshethu the remarkable leader of the project battles on with daily training of women in need. Her afternoons are filled with the sound of sewing machines as yet another group of women make use of the machines till sundown. Every reel of cotton helps any contribution you would like to make is always appreciated and put to good use. Nolwandla and Margie thank you for your support.
Can you collect donations of fabric, thread and other sewing aids for Imizamo Yethu? The women will gratefully welcome anything you choose to contribute.
Donations for Imizamo Yethu: Margie Garratt margie@inno.co.za Margie undertakes to deliver all donations for you.
Contact:
Imizamo Yethu
Nolwandla Lutshethu: +27 (0)21 363 1190
Posted at 10:38 am by Margie
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Thursday, May 1
Featured in the GHQG May Newsletter
Khayelitsha School jersey drive
I would like to thank everyone who helped in making the 70 jerseys and about 50 tracksuits for the Khayelitsha School that burned down at the end of May. The Cape Quilters Guild made a great contribution and we continue to appeal for any fabric you can contribute to these ongoing projects. We are helping desperate orphanages, hospitals/clinics and schools in the Western Cape to clothe their babies and children.
Did you know that 3 meters of brushed cotton @ R30 made 7 tracksuits for 3-6 and 6 - 12 month olds - amazing!
Remember EVERY contribution helps.
Good Hope Quilters Guild : President : Jenny Hermans =27 (0)21 531 6771
The Cape Quilters Guild : President : Marian Benneton +27 (0)21 671 2240
The South African Quilters Guild : www.quiltsouthafrica.co.za
Posted at 11:29 am by Margie
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