Some Photos and Reflections

Brice is visiting homesteads with the orphan care team. As part of determining the level of need for orphan children, TU makes home visits, where the caretaker is interviewed and their story heard. Too often, these stories involve the loss of both parents to HIV/AIDS and a child left behind. Too often, these people must pray and hope for assistance.

The woman in the centre of the photograph is Dudu Tembe. She is TU's memory box and psycho-social facilitator. Dudu holds at least 1 psycho-social workshop a month. During these sessions orphaned and vulnerable children (those living in abject poverty or with a family member near death) are given a chance to reflect on their parents. Dudu enjoys leading these workshops as it too helps her deal with her own past as an orphan.

These two boys are students at…the name of their primary school escapes me now…but its in the Phelendaba area. (The region we work in is divided into 48 isigodies, or sub-districts, Phelendaba is one of those areas). These children, along with their classmates, were later asked what dreams they had. One boy raised his hand high, and with a smile said that he wanted to be a doctor, another hoped to be a policeman, “So that [he] could put away people who broke the law.” While one must always encourage such endeavors, one too needs to reflect on the amazing disadvantage that this child has in achieving his dream. His school lacks electricity and running water, never mind worrying about computers.

More photos and posts to come.