1 Apr 2008 by Jana Zindell
Tags: My Experience with Orphans
The Ubuntu Education Fund's Jana Zindell tells of their work to support, Neliswa a nine-year-old girl orphaned by AIDS living in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. Neliswa is also HIV positive.
Neliswa came to Ubuntu through one of her teachers who had informed us of her HIV status. This nine-year-old girl was intensely shy and did not want to speak to people. We were not surprised when we found out that both her parents had died of AIDS-related illness. We immediately referred her into our support group for young girls living with HIV. Over time we saw a major change in her. She really began to come out of her shell, and now she is a happy child who is always laughing. She attends our holiday camps six weeks a year to ensure she has a safe and empowering environment when school is not in session. In the camps, Neliswa, along with 200 other orphans either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS receives 2 daily nutritious meals and psychosocial and educational support. Neliswa's auntie was struggling to keep her household economically stable so Ubuntu care worker, Nomfundo, assisted her to access a foster care grant. Neliswa also receives an annual school kit from Ubuntu providing her with a school uniform, advocacy to waive her school fees, school books and a back pack.
Ubuntu's family centered approach also ensures that we work with her brother. He too was struggling with the loss of his parents, but now after counseling and attending our camps, our weekly support group for orphaned teenagers and Ubuntu's afterschool tutoring programs, he is dedicated to building a future for himself. He is working hard in our afterschool program to improve his grades so he can go to university. Ubuntu's care and support services have enabled Neliswa and her family to live a healthy and more economically stable life. Neliswa continues to receive ongoing psychoocial, education and nutritional support and care worker, Nomfundo, visits her family weekly to ensure they continue to thrive.
About the Ubuntu Education Fund: Ubuntu Education Fund is a 9 year old non profit organization based in the townships of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Ubuntu Education Fund is dedicated to providing vulnerable children and families with an empowering environment and access to services and opportunities. Our 55-person staff provides over 40,000 children, youth and their families with life-saving HIV support services and essential educational resources. www.ubuntufund.org
