The New Year Begins with a Positive Story!

We begin the New Year sharing a ‘feel-good’ story with a very positive ending. On August 27, 2015 we blogged about 'A Positive Teen on the Run.'  Philly, a young HIV+ boy who had been a member of the VMS Support Group from the tender age of 7 was the star.  Teresa, our VMS PC volunteer, reported that Philly was always “sickly and depressed” because he was not scholarly and had aged out of VMS. But his passion, his hopes and dreams were all tied up in running, the one thing in which he excelled.

Your donations to HFL helped Teresa put together a group of teens who called themselves ‘Positive Teens on the Run’.  Slowly, donation by donation, 24 “extraordinary, determined and goal-focused adolescents” became proud, confident competitors no longer defined by stigma, poverty or discrimination.

Earlier this month, VMS hosted a World Aids Day ceremony with over 300 attendees. Some of the older support group teens spoke openly about their HIV+ status, the purpose of support groups, the importance of testing and the folly of being “ashamed”.

Philly stood out as keynote speaker. He stood tall and spoke about the change in his life through the VMS running club. He showed off his medals and had the audience laughing as he repeatedly called for “no stress and must relax”.  

THIS is what YOUR donations do. They save lives and build futures. Thank You and

Happy New Year!

It’s Here…A New Year and HFL’s New Web Site!

Check out HFL's new website!

We appreciate your feedback…to make the new site interactive, provide for easy navigation and inform on all things HFL.

We remain thankful to web developers Nancy Paris and Dimitri Rimsky who gave so much time and energy to make the new web site a reality and a sincere “thank you” to Dave Mason of Dave’s Logo Design for his ongoing support.

Happy New Year!

It’s Time to Head Back To South Africa

We never take your donations for granted. It’s important to us that we monitor where and how your money is spent. Time to head back to South Africa to check on the charities you so graciously support.

These trips are important but infrequent since the expense is always on us and NOT on Hope for Limpopo, Inc. Travel dates are from January 10 through February 20.  Please be patient with us if communication is slow or non-existent during this period. We promise to return with updates, new pictures and exciting video. For now….

Ka vha sale! (Remain well) 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to All!

A sincere “Thank you!” to everyone who has created a ‘gift opportunity’ for an impoverished child in the Limpopo Province of South Africa through a donation to Hope for Limpopo. You have truly put smiles on children’s faces and joy in their hearts.

We wish you and your families a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Kwanzaa, and a New Year of peace, good health and prosperity.

Help Our Children and Families This Holiday Season

One child lived with their Grandmother and 10 other family members, one of whom is physically disabled. The father is unknown and mother died from HIV+/AIDS. This family’s story is similar to others in Limpopo.

Please consider sending a donation for another child in a similar situation.

One of our charitable friends is a VMS gardener and cook. She lives in a surrounding village and supports 5 children, 3 sisters and a brother. On several occasions, she took HIV+ children from the VMS Outreach Program into her home. We know of many wonderful villagers like her who contribute as much as they can.

Please consider sending a donation to assist kindhearted villagers like this women and her family.

They Need Our Attention This Christmas

One child lived with a mentally challenged grandmother who used to take the child with her to the roadside to beg for food.  Often the child would accompany her to the local bar afterwards. Mother and Father had both deserted the family and were not seen again. The family barely survived on a small government grant. 

One child lived in a small village with his unemployed mother and 3 siblings.  His father died after a long illness leaving the family destitute and in debt.

 

Unfortunately stories like these are common in Limpopo.

Please consider a Christmas donation for children in similar situations.

Woo Continues to Make a Difference!

The group left to right. Zinzi Maweni, Vhuhwavho (Woo) Nevhungoni , Nomazizi Menze, Katleho Mosimanegape, Conrad Jani, Bongiwe Motsa, Lebogang Motsumi, Kagoyarona Kakanyo.

Recently, Woo, the youngest and only school age participant, was invited to an EHPSA (The Evidence for HIV prevention in Southern Africa) technical forum on adolescents and HIV.

The overall objective of the EHPSA-hosted technical forum, Adolescents and HIV Prevention, was to provide a platform for regional stakeholders to debate pertinent issues related to HIV prevention and adolescents in the eastern and southern Africa region.

This young girl continues to make a difference! Congratulations, Woo!

We Asked and You Answered!

On December 2^nd we asked you to donate funds enabling us to send an impoverished child to school for a year. Timing was important for in honor of #GivingTuesday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is matching your funds up to $1000. We are overjoyed to report that you have met and exceeded our goal. Current donations are allowing us to send 2 needy children to school, which doubles our original expectation.

Please do not stop giving. We have 8 days left in the challenge and cannot wait to see exactly how many disadvantaged children your donations will support. On December 13^th we will announce the final number of needy children you will be sending to school. Please consider joining our #GivingTuesday Team.  

Donate via Facebook Fundraiser 'Send a Child to School'

Donate via HFL website 'Sponsor a Child'                                                           

Send A Child To School

 

Help us reach our goal to send a child to school for one year!

 

About this Fundraiser

In honor of #GivingTuesday, the money raised for this fundraiser will be matched up to $1,000 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Facebook is waiving all fees. Please support Hope for Limpopo's cause, and your donation can be doubled!

 

Amount Raised To Date:   Donate Now through Facebook.

$300 / $600

 

Please consider donating to this Facebook Fundraiser!  Like us on Facebook! 

What Will It Take To Save Our Children?

Too frequently we receive sad news from Sue-Ann, Director of VMS, announcing yet another young, preventable death.

“Last week, Andries, a young boy of 14 died.” By the time Andries was admitted to the hospital, he was already quite ill. His caregiver challenged the hospital’s decision to discharge him after only 4 days and a short time later Andries died at home.

It is at these times HFL recognizes just how important our work is….how critical your financial support is ….how tenuous the difference between life and death.

Andries, an impoverished HIV+ teenager lived in a desolate, isolated village. He and his elderly caregiver regularly attended the support group meetings run by VMS, until funding from Oxfam stopped last April. Funding stopped…outreach workers were let go…outreach support group meetings stopped ….home visits to outlying villages stopped….Andries and children like him died.

HFL has always supported the ARV Workshops for children and adolescents focusing on skills training, healthy diet information and discussions on the social stigma associated with HIV+/AIDS. We continue to support the local adolescents but we just do not have the funds needed to support the entire outreach program.

VMS may have lost Oxfam funding, but they have not stopped caring. HFL continues to support efforts to educate our HIV+/AIDS youngsters and their caregivers. It is crucial that they understand the importance of adhering to their drug regimen so our most recent contribution will be spent on a workshop for caregivers to let them know that at the first sign of a child falling ill, VMS MUST be informed.

HFL will always attempt to find emergency funding for any child who needs immediate medical attention. We are interested in any new ideas on how HFL can best support our HIV+/AIDS youngsters and the Community Outreach Program.

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