Today we dropped food and supplies to our after school club and from tomorrow over 500 children will have a hot breakfast thanks to your donations. Each student takes such pride in their school uniforms, all gleaming white and always hung up pride of place in their bedrooms.
I spotted a young man around 12 years old when we dropped the food off, painfully thin and struggling to walk, but all the time smiling and laughing proud clutching his school books. This young man has HIV which sadly for him has turned into AIDS.
Children in Africa are encouraged to have only one sexual partner as many are Christian and this is the Christian belief. Sadly 70% catch HIV but if treated this can be managed. Sadly without food, medication can’t be taken and this is the cause of the numbers remaining so high.
We then left to meet Spee, a 21 year old who works on the CoCo’s foundations projects. We also met his family and new daughter. It was so humbling as we asked if he needed food but he replied ‘no’ then when everyone’s backs were turned he said softly to Debs “we have no food” very humble and of course he was supplied with food for his family.
A nursery is being built by the foundation along with an area for that community to grow their own food. The land and cost of building have been met but a further £6k is needed to feed the community and to grow their own crops. This was situated near our first home we will build.
On arrival at the damaged and cracking shacks we found a woman making rugs for 30 SA rand which is £1:30 each! She took in two boys recently after both parents died. She now houses 6 boys and will care for them all. This we found out would be our first build, complete with bunk beds so they no longer slept on the floor.
It’s been a crazy first few days with very little sleep but wow, what a few days!
Love, the Creations in Africa team.
