November 2018 Newsletter

Welcome to this longer edition of SSP News. We particularly wanted to include features about a community that desperately needs our help and a young woman we are supporting as we are sure you will find her story inspirational.

Salakutjielwa

Johannes Simelane, one of our team in Swaziland came across a very poor community in an area called Salakutjelwa. The local chief had allocated some land to the community to set up a Day Care Point (these are designated areas for distribution of food, medical treatment and education). The community were trying their best to provide water and food and the long drop toilets need replacing. Their main source of potable water is a pond dug for cattle. At the top of this news is a picture of a sample of the water which was used by the children for drinking and washing their hands.

The fact that they share their water with livestock without any means of filtration and purification means that they are at significant risk of infection. They cook food for the children under a tree (see photo).

Working with our partner charity Changing Futures and the Rotary Club of Mbabane, we will provide a large water container to store clean water and to build a toilet block, kitchen and classroom. This work will probably start early in 2019.

Projects
 

This month's list shows the variety of projects being undertaken by the amazing SSP team in Swaziland.
 

Forbes Reef Primary School
 

The floors of the two new classrooms have been concreted and the new toilets are nearing completion.
 

Carpentry Apprenticeship
 

Working with male mentoring organisation called Kwakha Indvodza (KI) we have asked them to repair 123 desks at Forbes Reef, using apprentices who they train on basic carpentry. Not only does the school get new desks for half the cost of buying new ones, but the young carpenters earn money and self-respect.

Phephile Sefundza
 

Phephile is a talented young woman who has the opportunity to go to University to study medical laboratory services but she has no money to pay for rent, food, books, clothes and basic toiletries. This is her story:  I was born of Sifundza George and Masuku Lindiwe at Lesibovu. I grew up at Ntshanini area living with my grandmother. My deceased parents had two children. When my mother died in December 2008, life hasn't been easy for us. As my father had long died too, she paid my school fees until she died when I was doing grade 3 and I had to stay at home for two months without my fees paid for the next class. I got a sponsor from government who paid my fees till the last year at school. It was hard for me to make ends meet because I had to fully depend on my grandmother who gets money for the grants once in three months. Since the homestead is situated near Ntshanini schools, I would help the teachers in washing their clothes on weekends to earn some money to support myself.

I did my primary education at Ntshanini Primary School and I was able to get a first class in grade 7 in 2012. I proceeded to do my secondary and high school at Ntshanini high school and managed to get a merit in form 3 in 2015. I completed my form 5 last year and was able to get 8 credits. Since I solely depend on my unemployed grandmother in the absence of my deceased parents, things had been bitter for me while applying to pursue my tertiary education. I was admitted at the Southern Africa Nazarene University to study a four-year degree programme in medical laboratory sciences. Since accommodation is costly in the university, I reside off campus during my course. Whilst waiting for a scholarship award from government, I am struggling with the high costs of living off campus which includes rent payment, food, electricity, uniform and books for my course”.

SSP does not usually support university students but when we heard what Phephile had to overcome to be offered a place at University we decided to support her and now she is able to go to University. Here is a picture of a very happy Phephile.

AGM
 

At our AGM, a special thank you was made to Bridget Tibbs-Hamilton and Sara Tibbs who are taking a break from the charity. They are replaced by two more daughters of John Tibbs: Lucy Millar and Anna Edwards. Keith Fossey was elected Chairman; Matthew Lawson Secretary; Bob Thompson Treasurer and the other Trustees are Carolyn O’Donnell, Brian Woodrow and Paul Gooday.