WSU Student Ambassadors Fundraise for HFL with 'TOM’s Shoes’

Westfield State University Student Ambassadors are not only mentoring Littleville Elementary school children as part of the COMPASS Mentor Program, they have included a service learning project to benefit Hope for Limpopo.

The WSU Student Ambassadors came up with the idea to buy 19 pairs of TOM’s shoes.  Embellished by the Littleville Elementary School children, they are auctioning the new decorated shoes to raise money for the Vhutshilo Mountain School children.

If you would like to bid on a pair of ‘one of a kind’ shoes and support VMS children at the same time, contact us with your offer or call Kim Morgan at 413-572-5400.  The minimum bid is $30.00. Or consider a donation of $50.00 now to purchase a pair without waiting for the bidding process!

Shoe sizes and quantities available:

Youth

3 pairs of size 12

3 pairs of size 2

3 pairs of size 3

3 pairs of size 5

3 pairs of size 6

Adults

1 pair of size 6.5

1 pair of size 7

1 pair of size 8

1 pair of size 9

Thanks for your support!

Meet Evens

Konanani Evens Mutwanamba, 7 years old, was born with a rare skin disease called lamellar ichthyosis. Soon after birth “the skin began cracking all over his body”.  His Mom says that he struggles to cope during hot days, “When it is hot, his skin oozes blood. Most of the time he cries from unbearable pain. During summer, I sleep with a bucket full of water so I can put him in, to cool his body whenever he starts crying. I normally do not enjoy summer because of this torture my son goes through….”  

Evens is a second grader who, while the other children initially shunned him, now enjoys the company of classmates. He is a brave young man.

TVEP and HFL supporters are working to make Evens life a bit easier.

We’ll continue to keep you updated.  Thank you!

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HopeforLimpopo.

Visit our website at www.hopeforlimpopo.org. 

Even's Plight

We’ve just met Evens, a 7-year old boy with an extremely rare disease called Lamellar Ichthyosis. Scales and painful lesions covering the entire body characterize this affliction. There is no known cure for lamellar ichthyosis, but we’ve heard that some of his pain and discomfort can be alleviated with prescribed moisturizers for the skin, and eye drops for his dry eyes. Because this disease is particularly painful in hot climates, Evans is tormented throughout South Africa’s hot summer season.

Our friends at the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program (TVEP) are trying to assist Evens and have reached out to HFL for collaboration in finding information concerning the disease. We are asking our followers to reach out to your contacts in an effort to find out if there is anyone who can advise us as to the best way to ease this young boy’s pain: specific moisturizers, specified prescriptions etc. We are grateful for ‘social media’ and ask for your help to ‘spread the word’ and find relief for Evens.

Thank you. We’ll keep you posted on Evens progress.

Tshivhilidulu Creche and litshani Creche

It’s not unusual to see a sign for a local crèche while driving through a village. Thisyear we were welcomed at 2 different crèches. What exactly IS a ‘creche’?Basically, it is simply a daycare facility for otherwise unattended childrenages 0-5 years of age. In the midst of the most impoverished areas of ruralLimpopo are children who are either left unattended while their mothers work;are left alone while their young mothers attend school; or have been orphanedby AIDS. A 2008 ‘Child Gauge’report claims that 70,000+ orphans live in the Limpopo region and half of theseorphans live in child headed households. 75% of children in Limpopo are fromdisadvantaged backgrounds and are routinely left by themselves and vulnerable.The Tshivhilidulu Creche and the Litshani Creche are two wonderful examples ofprograms striving to provide brighter opportunities for the youngest, mostvulnerable children in the Limpopo area. These creches vary significantly fromothers both in their service delivery and their intent.

Litshani Creche

Tshivhilidulu Creche

Sylviaand Bridgette founded the Tshivhilidulu Creche and the Litshani Crecherespectively and are committed to providing daily food and shelter for needychildren while they prepare them for life’s challenges in a protectedenvironment. They provide a safe haven for these children from 6:30 AM to 4:30PM offering them a nutritious meal and supervision. While the facilities aremeager, both Sylvia and Bridgette take no pay and are working to fulfill theirdreams of a better beginning for vulnerable children. Initially the childrensat wide-eyed staring at our very white faces but they were soon singing andclapping. Well-used picture books sat in corners of both crèches and we droppedoff rubber balls donated by a HFL supporter. At some point, Hope for Limpopowould like tooffer our followers a chance to support these crèches. Watch for thisopportunity!