Happy Holiday!

Dear Friends of Hope for Limpopo,

We are all well aware that the pleasure is in the ‘giving’ and not the ‘gift’ so we humbly thank you for your many gifts of encouragement, time, kind words and ideas as well as your generous financial contributions that were sent on behalf of HFL throughout 2012.

We wish you all a Holiday filled with Peace and Joy and a flourishing New Year!

In Solidarity and Mourning

We join the world in mourning the loss of the valuable children and teachers of Newtown CT.  Speaking for all of our HFL followers, we share Newtown’s grief and send our heartfelt sympathy and support to the victims, families and friends of this recent senseless tragedy.

"....and then an Angel appeared"

Phathu is a young 11 year old boy born HIV+. His mother was also HIV+ and died before Phathu’s 1^st birthday. He was left in the care of his unemployed, impoverished father. When money was available, Phathu’s father bought toys rather than the crucial nutritional food needed to nourish a sick young child. When his father remarried, Phathu was often left alone and unsupervised for long periods of time. As a way to make money, Phathu’s father began to circulate allegations that his young son was practicing witchcraft and he sold these erroneous stories to local newspapers. vBecause of this harmful exploitation and improper supervision, Phathu’s elderly, unemployed aunt took Phathu to live with her in a neighboring village. She struggled to give him adequate food and necessary medication and Phathu was hospitalized several times with malnutrition, dehydration and breathing issues.

In September 2012 outside sources appealed to VMS to temporarily care for this very ill youngster. Although VMS is a day school and not an orphanage or medical facility, Sue-Anne and the VMS staff are specially trained to care for children who are HIV+. Phathu was placed in the VMS Halfway House, supervised 24/7 and fed highly nutritious meals. He was closely monitored to ensure that his medication was taken at the correct times each day. The sores on his head and face have now healed and he has gained weight. He can frequently be seen laughing and playing with the younger children who attend school at VMS. Since his father has now abandoned Phathu, and since the VMS Halfway House is a temporary way station, VMS has attempted to find permanent housing for this needy child.

Enter Takalani, our VMS Outreach Assistant and resident “angel”. Since numerous attempts at finding a foster home for Phathu have failed, Taki has stepped forward and agreed to foster Phathu along with her other foster child despite the fact that her 2 room home has limited space.

Thanks to our generous HFL donors we were able to wire the money needed for an addition to her house. Once again, ALL of our HFL supporters have made a HUGE difference in children’s lives! Thank You!

“Tis the Season!”

Something New! VMS Tutoring Program

We may not always have the money to fund them but when the ‘Need’ arises, someone at VMS or TVEP finds a way to make it happen…at least temporarily!

VMS has just launched a weekend tutoring program for children who are part of their Outreach Program. At the urgent request of several Gogos (grandmothers) and their struggling grandchildren, Principal Florence, Teacher Joyce, Teacher Memory and Julie committed themselves to providing educational assistance to several children who are finding public school a challenge. Because of household issues, personal medical issues, emotional insecurity and a myriad of other problems, some of our SA children are falling through the educational crack! Since a basic HFL premise is that ‘education’ is the key to a better future for our Limpopo friends, we are heartened to learn of this all important VMS initiative.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported last July that, “Based on a sample of 10% of schools in Limpopo, the recent Metcalfe Investigation determined that 22% of learners still do not have textbooks. Survey results reported in the (SA) Sunday Times indicates that 70% of Grade 10 learners in the province have failed their June exams.”

Would that we could help them with money right now! Unfortunately, our funds are short but our desire is bottomless. We are suggesting that we put our collective heads together and try to think of a creative way to fund this worthwhile program for one year. Librarians, retired teachers, school service organizations, anyone who has an interest and a belief that a better world begins with educating our children, then please consider this:  

For $40 we can provide one 4-hour tutoring session that includes transportation, breakfast & lunch and small group instruction. For an additional $5 we can begin to purchase books for the students.

Just give this some (creative) thought. Thank You!

Donations

Thank you to VW of America for the $2500 check donated to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Gratitude is also extended to Andrew Larson and the International Union of Painter's and Allied Trades PATCH Fund for Children who donated $1000 to the hospital. 

In the spirit of ‘giving’, VW of America also donated $2500 to the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.  

These donations were greatly appreciated and will go far to ease some of the difficult disadvantages we observed at both hospitals. Thank You.

 

 

'Pay it Forward' Weekend

We are convinced that the majority of people inhabiting this earth really DO want to help whenever and wherever and whomever they can! The best evidence of this is the compassion and immediate rallying of individuals around those suffering from the ravages of ‘Sandy’.
We are fortunate to be representing HFL in Chicago this weekend for a ‘PAY IT FORWARD ‘ event contributing our time and services to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

Yesterday we delivered care packages including donated backpacks, toys and books, pajamas and blankets to the oncology wing of Lurie Children’s. We settled in for a ‘pajama party’ morning reading stories and playing games with patients and their families.
In minutes we leave for another heartwarming day of delivering much needed supplies to the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center where we have a patriotic assembly planned for 250 veterans and their families.

Every one who is reading this blog can take pride in being a part of this ‘giving’ intention. More later….Thank You!

'Pay it Forward' Weekend - Part 2

The second half of our ‘Pay It Forward’ weekend in Chicago was equally as humbling and gratifying as the first half. As ‘O’ reunion members and representatives of HFL, we took part in a moving Veteran’s Day celebration at the Kizer Conference Center honoring all who have served in the military. We were honored to have been asked to lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, which was followed by moving speeches and remarks made by various Veteran representatives. We were pleased to have been instrumental in getting the University of Chicago Glee Club, Voices in Your Head, to sing several selections during the ceremony. And we were privileged to serve a donated pizza luncheon to all of the Veterans and their families. Thank you to our wonderful HFL friends who donated items that went into the 150 care packages we distributed to the patients at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

The friends that we met this weekend and the opportunities we had to reflect on the gratitude we feel have been priceless. Thank you!

'Pay It Forward' Weekend

We are convinced that the majority of people inhabiting this earth really DO want to help whenever and wherever and whomever they can! The best evidence of this is the compassion and immediate rallying of individuals around those suffering from the ravages of ‘Sandy’.

We are fortunate to be representing HFL in Chicago this weekend for a ‘PAY IT FORWARD ‘ event contributing our time and services to the Ann & Robert  H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

Yesterday we delivered care packages including donated backpacks, toys and books, pajamas and blankets to the oncology wing of Lurie Children’s. We settled in for a ‘pajama party’ morning reading stories and playing games with patients and their families.

In minutes we leave for another heartwarming day of delivering much needed supplies to the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center where we have a patriotic assembly planned for 250 veterans and their families.

Every one who is reading this blog can take pride in being a part of this ‘giving’ intention. More later….Thank You!