The Vicariate Orphans' Project advocates on behalf of the children for different services (birth registration and other necessary documents, Social Grant registration, access to education, provision of food, school uniforms and school materials for children in need). We do a lot of home visits and follow up, referrals to the pertinent institutions. Care and support to sick parents, etc.
Weekly we plan our work but we never know who and in what situation we'll find our children. They keep us very busy.
One of our positive stories...
Last 17 February 2011 I was working with one of our care giver from Hlabisa. We visited a family of six (both parents and 4 children). The children ages are 10, 8, 6, and 4 years of age. The children's mother needed a lot of support to be able to assumed her parental responsibilities. She and all her children had no Identity Documents and none of them ever went to school even though they are in the age of attending school. The nearest school is located 11 km away from their home. They explained to us that they did not have money for the children's education.
The children's father works in the sugar cane. His salary is not even enough to buy enough food for the family.
I listened carefully to the eldest child and I observed tears in his eyes when he shared his dream: he wanted to go to school. Moved by compassion I spontaneously promised him that he would be at school very soon. I assured him I would do whatever was in my power to get him and his siblings into school. That night I hardly slept. I was planning strategies to make this promise a reality.
The following day I went with the nearest care giver (she lives 28 km away from them) to visit the family. We told the mother our plan. The children were listening. They were delighted. Their eyes were shining with joy with the thought of going to school. The mother dressed herself and the children and we went to Monzi Primary school. The deputy principal welcomed us and registered the three children in grade one. The teachers are willing to support them with their school work. They suggested a transport from the area who is already transporting children to that school.
We then went to Mtubatuba to buy their school uniforms and to Home Affair for their Identity Documents. We started first with the mother's ID. The Department of Home Affair requested a letter from the Induna (chief), a maternal relative ten years older than the applicant and the death certificate of her mother. To be able to get this document she had to go to Eshowe which is approximately 150 km from her place.
Two weeks' later we visited the family again and we observed a great change. The children were at school. The mother was very happy because her children are enjoying it. Every day they come back home with many nice stories and homework. The father assists them with the homework! At the end of March we visited them again and we discovered they already know how to write their names.
This case is still far from over. We still need to travel many kilometres and we don't know how many times to get the ID's mother issued but we rejoice already at this first step and the big impact of our action in the life of these children.
We hope against all hopes that our children will overcome all this problems and they will success in life. We never give up and continue encouraging the children to follow their dreams of a better world. Many children are now doing university studies, which gives us hope and joy knowing where they are coming from.
And another one...
Let me share with you another example of great courage and faith of our children. These are four children (both parents passed away). They were staying in Durban but after the death of their parents they ended up living in Hlabisa with a maternal aunt. We were helping these children with food, education, application for social grants, psychosocial support... The eldest child (a girl) finished high school with very good results at the age of 18 years. She asked me to take them back to their parent's home in Durban. The house was empty and abandoned. She insisted that all of them should go back to their house. She felt ready to take responsibility for her siblings. She was determined. I took them back to Durban. It was a day journey. They did not have much to carry. Finally we reach the place where they told me their house was. The house was dilapidated and vandalized. I felt so sorry for them and I wished I could take them back to Hlabisa but all of them starting cleaning and preparing their new home. I helped them. This happened three years' ago. Now the eldest child is at the university and she is working part time. They are independent in all senses. All the children are progressing well at school and they are very happy to be together. This is happening only because God is with us all, giving us hope never to give up. This is possible also because there are people in the world like you and me who believe in the goodness of the people especially of our children. God Bless you abundantly. Have a Easter of Resurrection full of Joy, Peace and Love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you so much and we wish you a blessed lent and a Happy Easter of resurrection! May the Risen Lord fill your heart of Joy and live. United in Prayer and eternal gratitude.
