US praise for self-help projects
David Masango
16 July 2004
Five self-help projects that received grants from a US funding programme for development have been lauded for using the funds effectively.
The projects form part of 45 projects that received money from the US Ambassador Cameron Hume's "Special Self-Help" programme, through resources from the US Agency for International Development, in 2003 and 2004.
The programme helps local communities achieve goals of improving their lives by providing development grants based on their needs.
The five projects that were honoured are the Maboloka HIV and AIDS Organisation, Ikemeleng Development Forum, Nomasonto Child Development Centre, Ithuteng Early Learning Centre, and the Hlanganani Ma-Africa.
The Maboloka HIV and AIDS project is operated by 25 young volunteers and offers home-based care, provides HIV and AIDS education and runs a peer education project to teach life skills and positive lifestyles to the youth in their communities.
The
project received $20 000 to build a hospice housing 10 terminally ill patients, including those infected with HIV and AIDS, those who suffered strokes and cancer patients.
The structure has been built and now needs furniture before it becomes operational, the project's secretary Judith Mmola said.
However, she thanked the US government and other funders for the donation, saying it opened the eyes and hearts of other donors. The National Lottery has donated over R600 000 for the building of a second phase, which will increase the capacity of the hospice to 32.
"Our challenge now is to find donors who will provide us with beds and money for other equipment for the centre.
"We have approached hospitals in our areas to donate old beds and Impala Platinum Mine for funds. The US Embassy has further requested us to furnish them with a list of the things we need," said Mmola.
The Ikemeleng Development Forum, which cares for 16 orphans and 26 disabled
children in Zebediela, Limpopo, operates a health care programme for the homebound and terminally ill and a school and boarding programme for disabled and orphaned children.
It received over $20 000 for the construction of a new centre for disabled children.
The Nomasonto centre received over $11 000 to build a hospice for HIV and AIDS infected children in Stinkwater, in North West. The centre addresses the high incidence of HIV and AIDS infections in the community and cares for 119 infected children from nine months to six years. It has six trained caregivers.
"We appreciate what the US government and other donors have done since the establishment of the centre. However we also urge local businessmen to offer any form of assistance to the centre as it cares for the community they work in," said the centre's Christopher Thani.
He said the hospice would be able to care for 20 patients.
The Ithuteng Early Learning centre, which was established in
1997, received $10 000 to construct a new building in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, after the municipality reclaimed the building it had provided in 1999.
Another project, Hlanganani Ma-Africa, provides basic education, self-care and social skills training to disabled children in Maboloka in North West. It is operated by a group of women from Maboloka and Lethakaneng area together with parents of disabled children and some young adults.
The project was granted $19 000 to build a six-room school and to erect a fence around the premises.
Hume said his country's efforts to assist depended on the cooperation with the recipient communities.
"These are projects that you can be proud of because they were identified and established by yourselves," he said.
Source: BuaNews
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