Thank You, Student Volunteers Abroad (SVA)!

Upon their departure, the Univ of Glasgow’s Volunteers generously donated $3500 (USD) to VMS. Their contribution was gratefully accepted and will be used to support projects the Volunteers deemed important. Cupboards will be built in the classrooms replacing the current cinder blocks and planks; picture frames will be purchased for photos and certificates to be hung on the walls; a portion of the funds will support the HIV/AIDS Children’s Support Group and their puppeteering program. The balance of this generous gift will go to the VMS building fund.

Thank You, VOLS! You will be missed but remembered with admiration and affection!

Choose our CNN Hero

Friend, founder of The Nyaka AIDS ORPHANS Project and author, Twesigye Jackson Kaguri, has been selected a 2012 CNN Hero…BUT…we need your HELP! There are 24 CNN Heroes this year and TOMORROW at Noon ET the Top Ten Heroes for 2012 will be announced.
 

We are proud to say that we met Jackson, founder of the Nyaka AIDS Orphan Project, 2 years ago at a SFF annual board meeting and were immediately smitten with his intelligence, charisma and passion. His book, The Price of Stones: Building a School for My Village, has been an inspiration to us.

Read about Twesigye Jackson Kaguri and let CNN know that you want Twesigye Jackson Kaguri on the Top Ten list on CNN Facebook Heroes at http://www.nyakaschool.org/cnn.php..

Each Top Ten Hero will receive $50,000 for his/her charity..HOWEVER…the #1 Top CNN Hero for 2012 will get an additional $250,000 and that is EXACTLY what we want for Jackson, his children and their grannies.

Our HFL followers make a difference! Thank you.

Happy Birthday Anaia Miller!

Happy thoughts and gratitude go out today to Anaia, who is celebrating her first birthday! Thank you to her Mom and Dad who requested that donations be made to Hope for Limpopo (through Charity Birthday http://www.charitybirthday.com ) in lieu of birthday gifts. Several South African children and classrooms will be receiving the desired book, THERE’S A DRAGON IN HER BLOOD due to this family’s thoughtfulness and that of their friends and family. HFL is making an effort to get this requested book into the hands of every school child in the Limpopo Province. (see our ‘CAUSES’ on http://hopeforlimpopo.ning.com/groups) A bookplate is currently being designed announcing, “This book has been donated to a South African child in recognition of ANAIA MILLER’S 1^st birthday!”

We welcome any and all similar acts of kindness.

A New Look, An Updated Focus

For some interesting views, insights, and “additional information that  (may) enhance your awareness and/or spark your curiosity, “ check out our friends at Segal Family Foundation www.segalfamilfoundation.org .  They are sporting a new, improved website in conjunction with an updated primary focus on “reproductive health, food security and building the capacity of youth”.  

Segal Family Foundation was an initial supporter of Hope for Limpopo and we will forever be grateful for their encouragement and assistance in helping us to become a wiser, more informed non-profit. 

TVEP Receives International Attention With ZTVA Model

 

The Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program (TVEP) has completed their Zero Tolerance Village Alliance (ZTVA) pilot program and is receiving international attention as a strategy for “positive behavior change”. Results will be published in several scientific journals and the University of Pennsylvania, known for their research, has applied to USAID/WHO for funding to test the ZTVA model over a period of 3 years. We are so proud of our TVEP friends!

TVEP goals have always included “the creation and capacitation of community members about their rights and responsibilities as they pertain to sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and HIV/AIDS.” Their research and growing database demonstrate increased sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and domestic violence (DV) in the Thulamela municipality of South Africa.

A female resident of Tshiombo echoed the sentiment of her female neighbors, “…We (kept) quiet when we were being abused because it seemed natural.” TVEP recognized the importance of activism on a community-wide level. An effort to determine the reasoning for survivor reluctance to exercise their legal and human rights prompted TVEP to develop a needs-based intervention program, The Zero Tolerance Village Alliance (ZVTA), that would theoretically increase crime reporting while simultaneously increase personal knowledge and support.

SGBV “non-reporting” is considered a major barrier to health promotion, risk reduction efforts and human rights empowerment. The ZTVA model provides incentives for a partnership with and commitment from the village officials including the kings, chiefs, councilors, police and clergy as well as their constituents.

This huge project involved 6+ years of development and implementation, input from many individuals and support funding from 4 different sources as well as faith in the project and Stakeholders. The end result of the ZTVA program has serious implications for reducing sexual and gender-based violence and domestic violence.

We are excited to see that the importance of TVEP’s ongoing efforts is finally being recognized by entities outside of the Limpopo Province. TVEP’s research and its resulting programs have far reaching implications and deserve consistent financial support, which is currently lacking.

Lets get creative in considering ways to support TVEP’S critical endeavors!

Download and read an abridged ZTVA report at http://www.hopeforlimpopo.org/main/tvep/tvepmaterial/ or to read the complete 68-page evaluation please contact Fiona@tvep.org.za