The internet connection where we are based is a dial up and often that doesn’t work or is extremely slow and I lose the connection before I have a chance to send an email I am going to have to find a better way to stay connected.
There are two things I want to share with you. This trip had a different twist since the container didn’t arrive in Matsapha until the day we left. This is a bittersweet circumstance because the people like to come and see the Americans while they get their clothing but it is also not such a great job. The fear of the Swazi’s as well as me is that there will not be enough is heartbreaking. Usually everyone gets something but it might not be their size or even gender. As you can imagine the hundreds that line up someone has to be last. Anyway I received word today that all the distribution was done and hopefully we will have pictures in a couple of weeks to share. Since distribution didn’t happen I had the opportunity to meet two fabulous women with two great causes.
Earlier I told you that we visited an orphanage. That day I was busy with the children and never had an opportunity to walk around or even speak with the director. Evelyn, Bishop Nelson’s wife, set up a meeting for Barbara and me to meet with her and Collette, the director, and get a better understanding of what is happening there. This is not an orphanage in the traditional sense. It is really a care point for children who have lost their parents to HIV/Aids. Many are refugees from Mozambique who were just left by their parents and spend their nights with their grandparents. The children come to this care point each morning for two meals a day and the best education that can be given in this climate.
Collette was 14 years old in 1969 when her father died. She found herself orphaned but a community enveloped her with care and helped to provide Collette with an education and training. Since then it has been her desire to “give back”.
In 2009 Collette was given a small structure in the Thembinkosi (Trust in the Lord) Community of Manzini to feed the many orphans of the area. This structure called a care point is two rooms the size of a master bath here in the states. In these rooms she and another woman cook two meals a day for 60-75 children and one teacher provides the best education she can give when you have 20 students ranging from 2-15 years old all in one tiny room.
I can continue to tell you the struggles these children have but other stories told can paint that picture. I want to tell you about how this woman refuses to be beaten. When we met Collette you can tell that she was the “Gogo” to all. She was warm and respected by the children.
Collette travels each day by bus to the main road and then walks down a narrow steep dirt road to get to the care point. I have walked this road or path to us and it is not a steady downhill hike, yet Collette does it with bags of fresh home grown veggies and her ankle wrapped up.
Collette struggles to provide food, education, training, counseling, clothing, medical care and even a place where they can use a toilet but her faith and hope come easy and she will never turn anyone away. All the obstacles in her way like lack of money, help, too many children in need will not let her dream to give back get derailed. Everyday she continues her struggle for support but will not give up.
Collette is determined to raise money so she can provide basic human needs but also help these children to learn to provide for themselves by teaching them how to plant seeds, about personal hygiene, safety and how to save money. This is a lot to do for one woman.
For as little as $300 a month Collette can feed 75 children two meals a day of substantial nutritional value. This will consist of peanut butter and jelly, bread, milk, oat meal, oil, soup, mealy along with home grown veggies. A little extra and she can throw in some meat! I spend more than $300 a month and it is just Tom and I. Sinful when you think about it!!
Lungile is a Pastors wife and mother who is employed by the Swaziland chapter of FAWESWA in short the Forum for African Women’s Education. She is bright and caring but even though she is employed it is a non profit so not only does she have to do her job she has to raise money to get paid. Anyway one day she shared her history with Barbara and I as well as telling us the story of a young girl she was trying to help. Lungile touched our hearts with the sadness of young Tenele a 15 year old girl with special needs who was raped. Tenele needed money to finish the last 6 months of the school year not to mention a uniform and visits with a therapist. Needless to say we went to MAC and got the $300 so she wouldn’t miss a day of school.
Lungile brought her superior to meet with a group of us and explain the mission and needs of the FAWE. We learned that many of the young girls are physically vulnerable, mostly orphans and often pregnant or need to drop out of school to take care of their younger siblings. It is tradition and the culture to raise girls to be married and not educated.
FAWE is trying to raise money to keep these girls in school for higher education, teach sexual maturation and hygiene, and provide sanitary products so they don’t miss school as well as skills training. For as little as $600 a year a girl can go to school, get a uniform and books. A little extra can help with personal items, food and transportation. Tom and I can give up one weekend trip and have that $600.
Please don’t read this as a story but really open your heart and mind to what I am saying.
