12/3/10 "Oprah Show"

By now many of you know that as a result of beginning the Hope for Limpopo journey, Jo Ann and I were invited to be ‘Audience Guests’ on Oprah’s “Inspirational Heroes” show which we taped on Nov 16th and which aired on Nov 22nd. If the subject of this audience group held true, then we would have expected to see every one of HFL’s supporters sitting right next to us in that audience. It is because of each and every one of YOU who have stood beside us with words of encouragement and acts of selflessness that we (ALL) have been able to leave our heart prints on those women and children in the Limpopo Province who are so much less fortunate than ourselves.

We are pleased to say that we stood toe to toe with Oprah and that she is as kind, genuine, and compassionate as she appears to be on television. Her entire staff stands as testament to her generosity and kindness for every one of them was also pleasant and considerate signifying their own contentment with their jobs.

We are pleased to say that this ‘Oprah exposure’, while not exactly the national exposure we had hoped to get for HFL, did indeed open other doors for us. The local television, newspapers and social networking groups have supported us and allowed us to spread word of HFL’s mission.

And so we move on in the hopes of embracing more friends who believe that we can generate an attitude of zero tolerance towards all forms of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, HIV and AIDS stigmatization in the Limpopo Province of South Africa through education of the children and planned program implementation for all victims.

11/22/2010 - Segal Family Foundation

We are overjoyed at the continual support Hope for Limpopo is receiving from a variety of sources. Last month we were pleased and honored to be invited to NYC where we met with Mr. Barry Segal, Mrs. Dolly Segal, Martin Segal and Andy Bryant from the Segal Family Foundation. They graciously listened as we explained Hope for Limpopo’s Mission and Vision. In turn, we were fascinated to hear about the worthwhile projects and significant charitable organizations SFF has contributed to and continues to support through their foundation http://www.segalfamilyfoundation.org/. Thanks to a quarterly donation from SFF, we will be able to contribute to detailed projects in South Africa specifically geared towards education, creation of self-sustaining jobs for HIV/AIDS stricken women and victims of domestic and sexual abuse, and advocacy/support for women through the long awaited procurement of birth control. Thanks to The Segal Family Foundation we are able to send an invited representative from the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program (TVEP) to a December workshop organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Our TVEP representative will have an opportunity to review and discuss requirements and procedures necessary to produce and procure quality assured female condoms for the public sector and social marketing. Information garnered from this workshop will enable manufacturers to make an informed decision on whether they wish to enter the female condom market. Thank you to SFF for sponsoring this most important opportunity! We will try to post a report on the results of this workshop before the new year.

Hope for Limpopo September 2010

It’s hard to believe that summer has passed and we are heading into Fall although our South African Friends recently wished us a “Happy Spring!” reminding us that they are heading into their Spring/Summer seasons. Everything we “know” to be real and true, everything we take for granted in the United States is not so in South Africa.

It has been a difficult few months for our TVEP friends who found themselves in a “crisis situation” this past July/August. Let us remind you that TVEP is the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program whose mission it is to generate a zero tolerance towards all forms of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, HIV and AIDS stigmatization in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. One of their very important programs, the ‘Access to Justice Project’ is in jeopardy due to rejection of their ongoing Open Society grant. No legitimate reasons were given for their exclusion of these monies and they are forced to consider the unthinkable: shut down this critical division of TVEP. This would mean “no more 24/7/365 trauma center services for victims of sexual abuse, child abuse, rape and domestic violence; no more follow up to encourage post-exposure prophylactics; no more monitoring of cases ensuring that everyone takes corrective action when necessary; no more helping victims through the difficult court system and pushing for a speedy trial; no more holding the system accountable; no more data collection to inform future interventions …” Think about it. No more assistance and support of victims in accessing their human rights! Shutting down this critical program is unthinkable.

Right now HFL needs something more important than your money. We need you to step outside of the box and to give us your ideas. We need your inspirations re: prospective plan(s) of action, suggestions for potential grants, proposals for ways to spread the word, ideas to help this essential program become self-sustaining. We have spent the last couple of months researching every aspect of the Access to Justice Project and have the information ‘at the ready’ right down to the cost per hour of justice. We are ready to listen to your ideas and/or to partner with you. Please think about it.

Hope for Limpopo July 2010

Should you ever doubt the importance of your donations, however small, please read this update on our dear little friend, Thendo. At the end of 2009 we received an urgent message from our friend Suzi, Director of Vhutshilo Mountain School (see January 2010 blog & picture). She told us of a former student who was very ill from persistent vomiting caused by a reaction to his HIV drugs. While volunteers were able to drive him to a hospital in distant Johannesburg, funds were unavailable for his gogo (granny) to accompany him nor was there money for incidentals and transport home. Because of your donations, HFL was able to immediately assist Thendo and his family. Recent correspondence from Suzi updates us on Thendo’s progress: “Upon a recent visit to Nwanedi…..I was bowled over by a very happy, very robust little boy. I wanted to weep as he looks so different from that thin, frightened little boy that we had to rush to JHB….and then I hear “I love you Suzi, I fine.” So far the new regime is working well and he does not seem to suffer from side effects that we were so worried about. After years of fighting with the authorities we were able at last to access his foster grant, and also his gogo’s pension, so they have money to buy food etc. which will also make a huge difference to his well being. Thank you to all HFL supporters!”

There is very little we can add to this joyful ending except, “Thank You! “ and “Stay Well!”

Hope for Limpopo - May 2010

It has been a few months since we last blogged but so much has happened that we scarcely have had time to keep up with the day to day operations of your growing non-profit, Hope for Limpopo. Here is our valiant effort to update you.

We were thrilled to learn that our dear friend, Fiona Nicholson, Chief Executive Officer for the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program (TVEP) was recently nominated to speak in Washington DC for the Vital Voices for Global Partnership (VVGP) partnering with the Avon Foundation for Women. Vital Voices for Global Partnership is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies emerging women leaders around the globe. This organization grew out of the US government’s successful Vital Voices Democracy Initiative established in 1997 by then First Lady Hilary R. Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright. VVGP’s mission is to “bring visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities.” Though Fiona was not the final selection for speaker, we were proud to see that she stands out in a crowd of important female leaders and has been recognized as a woman who is making a difference. Jo Ann well remembers the early days when she and Fiona researched and struggled to establish the first trauma center. It is with great pride that Hope for Limpopo is able to say that we continue to support this most important initiative.

Tian Johnson, Support Services Empowerment and Advocacy Coordinator for TVEP also reports that Masikhwa Tshilidzi, Senior Legal Officer for TVEP, was invited to make an important UN sponsored trip to Washington in January; Fiona made a Parliament presentation and Tian himself went to an Amsterdam conference and just last week attended a 4 day workshop in the United States. Unfortunately we were unable to accommodate Tian’s kind invitation to “perhaps join me in Atlanta for a cup of coffee.” We are grateful for TVEP’s friendship and HFL is honored to be listed on TVEP’s website as one of their Regional and International Strategic Partners.

The Vhutshilo Mountain School (VMS) has also been making great strides. Suzi, Director of VMS, recently e-mailed that they were expecting a total of 30 children and teens for their quarterly ARV workshop. This greatly pleased Oxfam since there are many huge HIV/AIDS issues with the local teenagers. Guest speakers from Center for Positive Care (CPC), TVEP, and the local hospital were expected to interact with the group.

Many new children have been added to our website as needing sponsors, but thanks to the generosity of HFL’s supporters, several of them have already been sponsored. Of course our goal is 100% sponsorship so we continue to be so grateful for your philanthropy. Check out our beautiful new faces!

Hope for Limpopo has recently made some wonderful, kindhearted new friends. A group of co-workers from Fidelity Investments not only have sponsored 2 orphaned siblings, they have created an important geography lesson for all of the VMS students by arranging to have 200 post cards sent to the school. Very special friends from the Segal Family Foundation have given us a generous donation which has allowed us to be the initiating funding source for a sorely needed classrooms/bathroom addition to the school. This contribution will provide roofing for the entire project. More on this at a later date.

Please continue to follow our blogs and our attempts to keep you abreast of where your money is being spent. As always, we appreciate your patronage.

“Kha vha sale zwavhudi”… (Be Well!)

Hope for Limpopo, January 2010

“Happy New Year!” to our dear Friends and HFL Supporters!

Today, as we reflect back on the unconditional support that our many old and new friends have lent to HFL over the past year, we are struck by the significant accomplishments that have stemmed from your generosity. While we have reported on many projects HFL has contributed to such as the building of a home for a mother and her 8 children; assistance with the community garden; new roofing for an asthmatic family; seed money for self sustaining work for the women in our support group and of course, food, clothing, books for our Vhutshilo Mt School children and families, we have yet to share with you the latest crisis and HFL’s response.

As you know, 99% of HFL’s donations go directly to support our causes. We leave a very minimal amount in the HFL bank account to cover normal fees for which all non profits are responsible. As we approached the end of 2009, our coffers were quite low when we received a generous and timely donation from Germany. This contribution couldn’t have come at a better time for just as this donation came in we got a desperate e-mail from Suzi, director of the Vhutshilo Mt School, requesting our assistance with a former Vhutshilo Mt School student named Thendo. The following are excerpts from her e-mail:

“ ….our Thendo got very ill. We got a call from his school, went to his house and rushed him to casualty. He weighed 11.5kgs!! (25 lbs) and looked like an old man. The Dr. does not understand the problem. Some of the children seem to have a late reaction to the drugs and he could not stop vomiting….we arranged to have him transferred to Constantia Hospital in JHB (Johannesburg). Elias Nengwenani (bless him!) drove him and the goggo (granny) down. Our problem is that the school is having to cover all the costs of her stay and it could be a while. We don’t have this sort of budget in our outreach programme. It costs approx. R40 for her transport to the hospital, R100 for her accommodation and then approx R40 for her food. When he is well he will need to get back, which might mean a taxi if I cannot get away (to pick him up). Another R500 ! Is there any way HFL can help? At this stage we are not sure how long he will be there. I feel terrible because we should have checked on him more often….but it is less easy to personally oversee all the problem children. Some are slipping through the cracks!! PLEASE see if you can help……”



Once again, because of your generosity, HFL was able to immediately respond and the money was wired the same day.

Finally, HFL was pleased to be able to contribute to honoring and recognizing the 33 Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program volunteers. In the past 12 months TVEP has assisted 445 survivors of rape (20% children), 1285 survivors of domestic violence (2% children), and 40 people impacted by HIV/AIDS. Their workshops and campaigns have empowered 110,893 people on their rights and responsibilities pertaining to matters of gender and child violence, and reached another 950,000 through radio. HFL is proud to have supported this worthwhile organization and its volunteers who dedicate their time, energy and skills for the betterment of their communities.

You, dear Friends, are making a difference! Thank you! We wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!