This is one, mighty-inspiring, young, woman!

 Sometimes you are fortunate enough to meet someone so inspiring they leave you gasping in awe.
 Such a person is 19 year-old, shack-dweller, Martha Come, from Toekomsrus, Randfontein.
 Martha grew up without a father and five years ago the young woman's mother died, leaving behind a 13 year-old girl to care for both herself and her seven year-old brother, Jake.
 "My mom's family live in Mozambique. We have no-one here, so we had no option but to fend for ourselves," says Martha. "It was incredibly tough. Neighbours tried to help where they could but most of the time we had no groceries or money. However, I was determined I'd maintain our home and that my brother and I would live normal lives."
 It is school holidays but Martha is dressed in an immaculately-ironed school uniform.
 "I'm writing my matric exams at the end of the year and am attending holiday revision classes," she says. "So far my school results are very good but I've applied to study at three universities next year. I'll be competing for one of a very limited number of bursaries so I have to make sure I do well."
 It would have been very easy for Martha to fall into the clutches of a "Sugar Daddy" who, in return for favours, took care of her and her brother but that was an option she refused to even consider.
 "I promised I would never sell myself and my values," she says.

Afraid

 The truth is, no-one knew about Martha and Jake's situation.
 "I told no-one...nobody at school knew I was the "parent" in a child-headed household," Martha says. "I guess, in some ways, I was afraid of what might happen. I worried my brother and I might be separated.
 It was a heavy load for a child to carry.
 "My school results suffered and on occasion I missed exams when my brother became ill and I was forced to stay home and care for him," she says.
 In 2010 she suffered a minor stroke that doctors believe was the result of stress.
 But help arrived in the form of Carryou Ministry, who encountered the siblings on one of the organisation's regular house-to-house visits.
 "We didn't know about Carryou before they came knocking at our door," Martha says. "Their help has made a huge difference in our lives. Every day we are able to get a hot meal at the Drop-in Centre and they helped us get the paper-work sorted so we could apply for a social grant.
 "They give us a monthly food parcel and school uniforms at the beginning of each year and they helped with my university applications."

Ship-shape

 The home she shares with her brother is just a one-roomed shack not far from the Drop-in Centre but it is kept spotless and ship-shape.
 Martha is a young woman no no-one would blame for moaning about the hand life dealt her but she does not complain. She smiles constantly.
 "After my Mom's death I accepted my mission was to look after my brother and just decided to get on with it. I don't think I was cheated out of a childhood. I have enjoyed myself and am enormously proud of my brother who is doing well and excels at many things.
 "He is an excellent dancer and has dreams of one day becoming a professional (dancer) or maybe an engineer," she says. "I encourage him to do lots of different things.
 "We fight sometimes -- he is, after all a teenager -- but he makes me proud."
 Martha plans to study human resources or social work next year.
 "I've applied for bursaries but, if that doesn't work out, I'll find a job. I'm certainly not going to sit around and do nothing. At the moment I am looking for  temporary holiday work," she says.
 Despite her commitments and studying for her final school exams, Martha makes a point of spending time with her brother.
 "I work on keeping our bond strong by going out and just having fun with him," she says. "I also make time for my duties as a church Youth Leader, play netball and sing in the church choir."

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Giving back to the kids

Maria and some of the kids

 Maria Peterson (27) knows what it's like to have a difficult childhood. Carryou Ministry's Orphan Co-ordinator and Principal of the creche at the Elandsvlei informal settlement in Randfontein, was herself an orphan.
 "My parents died a long time ago and my younger sister and I went to live with my granny, not far from here," she says. "But she too died while I was still a child and I became responsible for taking care of my little sister. We had absolutely nothing at home but Carryou Ministry was there to help and, the truth is, without them, we would have struggled to survive.
 "So I suppose, in a way, it was natural for me to want to be involved in helping kids," she says.
 The residents of the Elandsvlei settlement are dirt-poor and struggle to eke out a living. They live in shacks and there is no running water. Every day they must haul water back to their homes, in containers they fill at communal water tanks.

Huge need

 "There was a huge need to prepare the little kids for school and life," says Maria, "and a creche was started in April 2012. Currently we have 25 children, aged from three to five.
 "They are taught to write their names, the alphabet and how to count, as well as other skills designed to enhance their learning-abilities, motor-skills and co-ordination.
 "We also spend a lot of time teaching them life-skills, like basic hygiene, how to wash their hands and brush their teeth, what road-signs mean and what to do when they see them, basic road safety and how to use water wisely.
 "And, because fires are always a significant danger in informal settlements, we place great emphasis on fire safety and fire prevention," says Maria.
 Parents pay just R70 (about US$8) per month to send a child to the creche where, in addition to receiving a pre-school education, each kid also gets a daily, cooked meal.
 The need at Elandsvlei is great and many more parents living in the settlement would love to enrol their toddlers at the creche but simply cannot afford the monthly fee.
 "Some do not have identity documents, which means they can't apply for social grants," says Maria. "We then help them navigate through the paper-work needed to get the relevant documentation."
 Although Carryou Ministry receives funding from Government and private sponsors, providing services to a community with such great need, remains an expensive business and a constant uphill battle.
 "We get vegetables and food donations from nearby farmers," Maria says, "but there is always a need for more food, stationery and teaching aids."

If you would like to help Carryou Ministry, please contact us.

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Sue's report

Sue Heywood is a US citizen who is deeply involved in not only raising funds in general to help with Carryou Ministry's work but also has been instrumental in getting US sponsors to help specific children and families. She recently visited Carryou Minstry, as well as many of the kids and families she has come to personally know over the years. Of the reasons she did so, was to see what the current needs are and to report back to the US sponsors.
 This is an extract from her report. To respect the privacy of many of the people concerned, we choose not to publish the names of some of the aid recipients.

 When I was there in early October I was again aware of how much our funding achieves. While I was going round the homes and schools this time, I was able to buy three months supply of milk for an orphaned baby whose grandmother had run out of milk and money to buy it, food for a number of hungry families whose shacks showed no evidence of anything for today's meal, paraffin for cooking and text books for school. I also brought  with me two bags stuffed tightly with beautiful clothes, some jump ropes and frisbees! I always first asked Rev Lawrence whether the money I gave would be a help and appropriate. The joy it brought, I wish you all could see. Thank you for your past support of this wonderful organization.

Photos from October 2012

At the Toekomsrus drop in Center, table tennis which was bought by a friend in New Jersey last Christmas. The caregiver was teaching a long line of eager kids. To the right on the floor a small crowd played monopoly and scrabble!

Finger board was equally popular

 ***** girls wearing T shirts donated by Tuxedo Library. They live in a one room outhouse on a farm with one bed. They were hoping for a government low cost house, but so far nothing has happened.

More T-shirts for the ***** family. Their caregiver  (in blue) tries them for size.

Martha Come is one of the most promising people I have met. She is taking every opportunity offered to her through the DIC, her church and her school. She is going into 12th grade. She and her brother live on an orphan grant of R250 a month...about $35. Carryou is applying for further assistance for them. The neighbors showed me several sheets of corrugated iron which they had bought to repair Martha's roof which leaked in many places.

Next door this grandmother was very happy with a new T-shirt.

***** is another girl whom I have watched develop and have hopes that she may improve her conditions through her own efforts. The youngest of three sisters, she has seen both her parents die and just recently her eldest sister. She seems healthy, and grateful for Carryou's support.

 **** ...a sad little boy. I couldn't get a smile out of him. When you see the home situations it stresses the urgency for Drop in Centers, creches and extended school programs. There's such a 'nothingness' about life in a squatter camp.

Pamela Serage went with me on the first day. What a joy she is! She is working in Gauteng hospitals, putting an orphaned cousin through college and plans to support one of Carryou's orphans when she has finished paying for her cousin's education. Our sponsorship of her has really changed her life and she is now giving back.

***** still smiles but her teacher says she isn't doing well at school because she is frequently absent. She walks 5 kilometers to school across dirt roads and scrubland all by herself. No wonder she doesn't always come. I keep thinking about this little girl and wishing I could do more.

I admired the construction of this house. It even had a porch.

Rev Lawrence Mabaso was with me in Tshediso's house, a low cost government house left to him by his aunt. Tshediso was studying for his first year's law exams but Carryou told me that he can't afford the text books to study. I was able to help.

Setholele Primary School Several of our sponsored orphans attend this school. Behind me is ******, another young lady with some spunk and promise!

With Brenda Naholo, the orphan manager and coordinator, sorting out the bags of clothing I had brought and deciding who would get what.

If you would like to help Carryou Ministry please contact us.

Spreading a little joy and happiness

 Last week Sue Heywood and her husband, Alan, were in Randfontein to visit some of the Carryou Ministry programmes as well as the people concerned.
 Sue, an American citizen and resident has supported Carryou Ministry for the past eight years and has, during that time, raised in excess of $365 000! In addition to raising funds, she has also found sponsors from her community who provide financially for individual children and families. These kind people have improved the lives of many children, particularly orphans.
 Sue brought bundles of clothes, including T-shirts donated by her local library, as well as many toys.
 "It's absolutely wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of the kids," she says.
 These are some of the pictures shot during her visit.

Read more about Sue Heywood.

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From orphan to Project Manager. Meet our people: Kenneth Malepe

 Kenneth Malepe (28) is a remarkable young man!
 Today he is a project manager at Carryou Ministry but it's been a long, hard road he's had to travel and, because of his life-experiences, he can identify with and understand the struggles of the hundreds of people he helps every day.
 "I was the fourth of six children," he says, "raised by a single mother, in Itirileng, a tiny village in the Northern Cape.
 "My mum eventually moved to Randfontein with my two younger sisters, to try to find work. In 2000, aged 16, I moved there as she needed help caring for my sisters.
 "I did much of the washing and cooking when I got home from school in the afternoons."

Head of the household

 A few months later his mother died and the 16 year-old boy found himself thrust into the role of head of the household, with the responsibility of taking care of his sisters, aged 10 and 14.
 "I only started school when I was 11 so, here I was, a Grade 7 (Standard 5) youngster, faced with the responsibility of making sure we survived," he says. "I had to do the cooking, help with the cleaning, make lunches for school and worry about keeping us all together, all of which became increasing difficult when I started high school."
 But fate smiled upon the little orphaned family when Sister Pam Jamison, Carryou Ministry founder, got to hear of their plight.
 "She set things in motion," says Kenneth, "and arranged for Penny McRory, a wonderful woman, who became our guide and mentor, to sponsor us.
 "Penny visited us in November and bought us clothes, Christmas presents and stationery for school. In addition, every month, she supplied money that covered the cost of food, groceries and school-fees.
 "We also had an uncle who lived on the East Rand who visited and helped."
 2002 was the start of a whole new life for the kids.
 "Penny was like a mother to us and Sister Pam took me under her wing. She would take me shopping and teach me how to buy groceries, budget and run a household," says Kenneth.
 Two years later the youngster had to make the tough decision to send his youngest sister back home to their village.
 "I just couldn't cope with taking care of two teenaged girls while at the same time, trying to run a household and give attention to my school-studies," he says.
 "It was difficult to do but I knew she would be well cared for by my granny and aunt and, every month, I sent some of Penny's sponsorship money home to help provide for her.
 "I visited her every school holiday and we spent many hours just sitting and chatting."
 Sadly, some time later, it was discovered she was born with a serious lung-deficiency and she died before her 20th birthday.

University

 In 2006 Kenneth graduated from school and, with Penny's help, enrolled at the University of Johannesburg, studying for a degree in commerce and accounting.
 In his spare time and during the holidays, he helped at Carryou and also assisted, teaching accounting at his former high school in Randfontein.
 "So many people had helped me that I just wanted to give something back," he says.
 But the pressure of being at university every day and continuing to take care of his sister, eventually became too much.
 He decided to continue his degree studies through the University of South Africa (UNISA), the country's best-know distance-learning institution and, at the same time, enrol in an internship programme with Carryou Ministry.
 Two years later he was appointed Programme Manager, where he now oversees the operations of the Toekomsrus Drop-in Centre.
 "I am not too far from completing my degree," he says, "but I know I really should have done a Bachelors' degree in social welfare and intend to do just that when this degree is done."
 There are marriage plans on the horizon for Kenneth and, whenever he can, he likes to travel.
 "I love exploring, seeing new things, new places and meeting new people," he says.

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Meet our people: Lawrence Mabaso -- a gentle man

 Reverend Lawrence Mabaso (59), is a gentle man. He speaks quietly and few people can remember an occasion when he raised his voice. But don't let that fool you -- he is a man on a mission to help South Africa's most vulnerable people and has dedicated 40 years of his life to achieving that goal.
 As Carryou Ministry General Manager, Mabaso is in charge of the day-to-day operations of an organisation on which hundreds of people rely for their very survival.
 Married for 26 years, with two grown up children, Lawrence was born in Sophiatown on the western side of Johannesburg and soon after, moved to Soweto.
 "My father enjoyed socialising and drinking which left my mother somewhat disorganised, so, in truth, in my formative years I did not have any adult role models," says Lawrence, "I had to find my own ways."
 Like so many other disaffected youngsters in South Africa, Mabaso could just as easily have fallen through the cracks, were it not for the fact he came into contact with Siza Molebatsi, leader of Youth Alive in Soweto, as well as anti-Apartheid activist, Rev. Frank Chikane.
 "Rev. Chikane became my mentor and role model," says Lawrence. "Every Friday he preached at Orlando High School, where I was a pupil. He lived nearby and I spent many hours talking to him and when I was 20, I became a Christian."

Full-time ministry

 In 1975 Mabaso was awarded a four-year scholarship to attend a theological college.
 "I looked forward to entering the full-time ministry when I completed the course," he says, "but life has a way of setting it's own direction. When I graduated my father was not working and I had no option but to find a job, so I could support my parents.
 "I started work as a Salaries Clerk with the country's largest bus operator and have never, in fact, been a full-time pastor."
 From there Mabaso moved into a clerical position with one of South Africa's largest life insurers but continued his work in the ministry as an Associate Pastor.
 "I became something of a thorn in my employer's flesh," he says, "as I got involved with the trade union and ended up recruiting around 140 staff members."
 But rather than fire him, the insurance company realised that a man with his ability to influence people, was wasted in an administrative position.
 "They figured I would be good at sales and I eventually became a Professional Consultant, selling pension schemes and insurance investments, to companies," says Lawrence.
 A few years later he was head-hunted by a large banking group and then later by another bank.
 "I never stopped working as an Associate Pastor," he says, "and still had an ever-increasing desire go into the ministry full-time. So, when the bank started a programme of retrenchments, I took a package and left."
 But being a full-time pastor was not to be. After a slight career deviation where he worked at a training college, Lawrence was offered the job at Carryou Ministry.
 "This is the best job I have ever had," he says. "Here I can make an enormous contribution to God's work.
 "When I see what we do in informal settlements, I know we are role models and could be changing kids lives in the same way Siza Molebatsi and Frank Chikane changed mine. And who knows what contribution those youngsters may make to our country in the future."

Realist

 But Mabaso is a realist. He knows it's an uphill battle and one that will not easily be won.
 "Education is the key," he says. "Not just academic education but life and skills education so people can work their way out of poverty. But, at the same time, South Africans in general, will need to be more disciplined and productive.
 "But I am confident, we at Carryou Ministry, can make an even greater contribution. I have a young, motivated, team behind me who are disciplined and flexible," he says.
 When not working -- which is not very often, as he is still an Associate Pastor at a church in the area and is involved in a leadership role with 80 other Non Profit Organisations -- Mabaso enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music and reading.
 "I am a voracious reader, particularly of management and business books," he says.

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The house that Carryou Ministry built

Carryou Ministry Programme Manager, Brenda Naholo, outside the shack they built for Daniel.

 Daniel and his nine year-old sister lived in the bush on the outskirts of Randfontein with their father, who was unemployed and severely ill, as his HIV-positive status progressed to full-blown AIDS.
 His body was covered in sores and he grew weaker every day, as his children struggled to care for him. When news of the family's plight reached the nearby community, a plan was made to get them into a shack where, at least they would have some protection from the elements. It was by no means Hollywood but was a rudimentary roof over their heads.
 But life was still no picnic for Daniel and his little sister, as they struggled to care for their dying father and had to rely on hand-outs to keep them alive. A little while later their father died and, like thousands of other AIDS orphans in South Africa at the time, the kids were left to fend for themselves.
 One day, while Daniel was away, a neighbour raped the little girl, leaving her traumatised and deeply emotionally-scarred.
 "We got to hear of their situation and immediately decided to do something," says Brenda Naholo, Programme Manager at Carryou Ministry. "The little girl was moved to a children's home and we bought everything needed to build a new shack for Daniel, in the Elandsvlei informal settlement near the Carryou Drop-in Centre.
 "That way he is able to get food every day, get help with school homework and receive the care that a 14 year-old boy needs.

Carryou Ministry staff members and the Elandsvlei community begin the building of Daniel's shack.

 "Just a few metres away is a woman who cares for five younger orphans and she keeps a watchful eye over him. I suppose you could say, both Carryou and the community has adopted him."

 There can be no doubt, Daniel is far better off than he's ever been in his young life but he's been left scarred and hurt and is struggling to adjust.
 "He's not doing well at school and says he no longer wants to attend school," says Brenda. "Though we make sure he sees his sister regularly, he is battling to come to terms with being separated from her. But we are going to make sure he doesn't fall through the cracks."

 Because Daniel is a minor, we are prohibited by South African law from identifying him or showing him in photographs. This story is however, 100% true! No one really knows for sure how many child-headed households there are in South Africa. Some studies have put the number in the tens of thousands. But, according to Brenda, since the government introduced a monthly cash grant for families that take care of orphans, the situation has improved significantly.

Five orphans are cared for in this shack.

If you would like to help the work of Carryou Ministry or would like more information please contact us.

One person can make a huge difference!

Sue Heywood, an angel of hope.

 It is sometimes said that a single person can't really make a difference in the lives of many but Sue Heywood, an American citizen smashes that myth!

With two kids she helped supply school uniforms

 In the past eight years, her efforts have been directly responsible for providing food to hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children, providing an education for others and enabling many terminally ill people to receive comfort and die with dignity. She has raised over $365 000 in the US to help Carryou Ministry's work.

 “I became involved with Carryou in 2001 when I asked Mark, our son, to introduce me to a grass roots organization that dealt directly with the effects of HIV/AIDS in an area of poverty and had a Christian mission as its driving force,” says Sue. 

 “I wanted to be able to make a big difference to a small organization where what money I could raise, would go directly to the people it was intended for. I also wanted to develop a personal

relationship with the staff.

  “I was taken to Randfontein where I met Tony (Jamison), husband of the founder, Pam. He took me around and showed me what they were doing and hoping to achieve and I went back to the US, determined to help.”

The start!

Sue and Pamela Serage. Pamela was an orphan who received

support from Sue that allowed her to attend university. She has

subsequently graduated with a bachelor's degree.

 At the time, Sue and her family were members of St John's Church in Ramsey, NJ. Where Sue was in charge of the Church School and a member of the Vestry.

 “We made a donation of $1000...and that was the start!” she says.

 “Later we moved to Tuxedo Park NY and to St Mary's Church, Tuxedo. In fund raising I also

wanted to raise the awareness of people in the US, particularly children, of what it is like to be really poor, be affected by HIV/AIDs, and to have to rely on people like the Carryou caregivers to survive. I want children who have so much, too much in many cases, to be aware that they can help others who, in many ways are like them but living in circumstances that are very different.

 “In the US, to raise money, I have given slide show presentations in schools and organized walkathons and tee shirt sales for the students, similarly in churches which have developed into annual fund raising, Mardi Gras breakfasts, garden parties, yard sales and musical concerts,” says Sue.

Sue visits one of the child-headed households that Carryou supports

 “And by identifying individual orphans and vulnerable children I have found sponsors who take a direct interest in the welfare of these children and donate regularly. Their contributions provide food and school uniforms for the children. We have also sent donations to assist in specific building projects like the Drop-in Centre in Toekomsrus. 

 “In the last two weeks Episcopal Response to Aids sent $150, the National Honor Society of Baker High School donated $500, specifically to help a high school graduate being cared

for by Carryou and we had a Yard Sale that raised $700,” she says.

 “The truth is, without Sue, her family and friends, we simply would not be able to do much of the work that we do and many people would suffer,” says Carryou Ministry, General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso.

 If you live in the United States and would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Carryou Ministry, you can do so via Sue Heywood.  Her email address is sueheywood@optonline.net. 

“Our donors make cheques to St Mary's in Tuxedo (www.stmarysintuxedo.org) with the memo indicating payment to Carryou. The money then goes into our outreach account and when we have enough we wire it direct to the Carryou account. St Mary's sends the donors a letter so they can get a tax deduction for their charitable gift,” she says.

Providing health and dignity right to the last breath

Africa can be a tough place and, although the South African government has made progress in setting up clinics and primary healthcare facilities in many rural communities, the simple fact is, sometimes patients are just too ill to get to one of those facilities.

It is for this reason that Carryou Ministry operates an extensive home-based care program.

“Teams of workers walk from home to home, caring for people who need physical and emotional support during their illness,” says Mzi Tshikitsha, Home-based care Programme Manager.

“Part of the service we also provide is to be with patients during their final hours.”

Mzi Tshikitsha

It's an emotionally difficult job but it is both vital and rewarding.

“The Home-Based Care program strives to achieve and maintain a high standard of palliative care that is both empathetic and offers dignity to all patients unable to access alternative medical care,” says Mzi.

“We do this by carrying out basic but essential tasks like washing and feeding the patient, moving them to help prevent bed sores and ensuring he or she takes medication as prescribed.

“In addition, Care workers also assist the patients' families by feeding the family, cleaning their houses, washing clothes and collecting water from community taps.

“The Care workers are also trained to counsel children and adults, and as such, can offer emotional and spiritual counseling to patients and their families. They also ensure children are not exposed to traumatic situations,” he says.

But, as always, money needed to do the important work, is in short supply.

“We do our best to provide food parcels for destitute families and orphans,” says Mzi.

“Parcels include maize-based porridge, soup, sugar, salt, oil, beans, peanuts, matches and washing powder. Fortified nutritional meals are provided free of charge for individuals infected with HIV and those with compromised immune systems.

“But, in truth, without the financial support we get from US-based, Sue Heywood and her supporters in the USA, we would not be able to supply many of these essential items.”

Yet, despite the difficulties, Carryou Ministry's Home-Based Care program still manages to make life easier for more than 250 people every month.

Their work has seen some Tuberculosis sufferers and patients on anti-retroviral drug programmes, recover enough to be able to return to work.

In addition, door to door awareness campaigns were conducted at 15 informal settlements where 200 000 male condoms and 16000 female condoms were distributed in an effort to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

“We are starting to see the message get out there,” says Mzi “and now people are starting to voluntarily disclose their HIV status – something that did not happen in the past.”

If you would like to help with this vitally important work please click the “How you can help” link on the right or contact us.

More than just a feeding scheme: a vital community hub

 Today, standing in the dry, dusty, OR Tambo informal settlement some ten kilometres outside the town centre of Randfontein, it's hard to believe, or even imagine that last year this was the site of fierce flash flooding that saw some families’ homes and possessions washed away.

  But, at 3am on 20 February, that is exactly what happened when the heavens opened causing some shacks to collapse and washed away furniture and belongings.

  Carryou Ministry, who operate a creche and feeding program in the settlement, together with the West Rand Disaster Management team was called in to help. All in all, 37 families were affected.

 “Carryou Ministry undertook to accommodate the women and children of the affected families in the Carryou Drop-in Centre (DIC) while the men decided to stay with their belongings and re-build their shacks,” says Brenda Naholo, Programme Manager for the DIC.
 “For the next week the women and children had a roof over their heads and running water and each day the families, including the men, received two cooked meals. The local municipality donated blankets.

 “We prepared breakfast and lunch and Pillar of Strength, an organisation doing home-based care in the area made supper,” she says.

 “Women and children slept in the DIC centre at night but the men chose to take care of their belongings and returned to their shacks after having their meals.

 “Since then we have also assisted families to apply for and obtain important documents lost in the floods such as identification documents and birth certificates.”

Vital Hub

 

  The Carryou DIC was established as a feeding point for orphaned and vulnerable children but it is much more than that. It is a vital hub and beacon of hope for the impoverished community.

  Kids are not only fed but receive assistance with homework and schoolwork, some of it given by unemployed men in the settlement.

  But conditions are not ideal. Children do their homework in one of the containers but must sit on the floor as there are no chairs or tables yet. It is a challenge but still better than that experienced by many other kids in other parts of the country.

  The DIC also offers, counseling services, life-skills programs that cover issues like HIV/AIDS prevention, TB awareness and teenage pregnancies and help given to community members who need to obtain birth certificates and identity documents.

  In the past year the following Community Involvement and Education Programmes were run at the centre:

• Teenage pregnancy awareness campaign
• Community mobilisation on vaccination
• Pap smear awareness
• Mobilisation on child  negligence and their rights
• Candle light event
• HIV AIDS Awareness
• Awareness on Foster Care for foster parents

Many other activities also take place at the DIC including:

• Caregivers support group once a month
• Boys and girls support groups separately  once a month
• Youth support group
• Child care forums
• Teenage support groups
• Community leaders support group  to discuss issues affecting the community

  It’s a huge task that must somehow be done with limited financial resources.

 “We get many referrals and requests for assistance from surrounding schools and communities, “ says Brenda.

 “It is a great challenge that we face as increasing numbers of kids are being orphaned as a result of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. In just the past year, the number of people receiving assistance at the OR Tambo DIC has increased by 25%!

 “But we receive assistance from many quarters, even internationally, For example, at least 22 food parcels are distributed to child/granny/sick parent households every month as a result of the fund-raising efforts of Sue Heywood and her supporters in the USA.”

If you would like to know more about the work of Carryou Ministry or would like to offer assistance, please click on the “How you can help” link on the right of this page.

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