Child sponsorship update from Mbabane, Swaziland

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Mbabane, Swaziland from June 2008

The children, SOS mothers, staff and management from Mbabane village extend their warm greetings to all friends and supporters of SOS Children’s village Mbabane. The year has started on a high note with all children rearing to go back to school and start their year studies. The good of this is to most of the children there is a certain level of commitment to their education as they strive to do well. The commitment has been raised also because the village has started to integrate children into other local schools and this has not only created interest but also a healthy competition amongst the children. Their continuity at school is made possible by your unending support, which is of great value and will always be highly appreciated.

In Swaziland we have had a wet, cold and windy winter. Politically the country is focussed on the forthcoming elections for our next government, which should be in place hopefully before end of this year.

The village has grown to thirteen families all with children who have fully settled into the village life and culture. There are currently one hundred and twenty six children in the village. Five were admitted at the beginning of this year. Eighty six are in primary school, ten in the nursery school, ten in secondary school, thirteen in the special programme and only seven are still at home. All children are in good health except for a few that needed dental attention. They were taken to the Dentist for the different treatments and they are now looking beautiful with healthy teeth.

Children growing up happy

A workshop was organised for the children, youth and staff during the April school holidays facilitated by Swaziland National Aids Program. Topics covered were positive living, drivers of HIV and AIDS epidemic in Swaziland, Stigma and discrimination and management of information for children’s HIV status. The latter topic was mainly designed for staff. The facilitators talked widely on self-respect and change of attitude. They encouraged more openness on people’s conditions by the affected. Further emphases were made on acceptance and total elimination of stigmatisation. On the same day there was voluntary testing conducted. Some staff members and one youth girl took the opportunity to voluntarily undergo testing.

The youth homes are now housing a total of thirty-five youths, made up of nineteen girls and sixteen boys. All the youth are in secondary and high schools. They too are taking their education seriously as they near re-integration back to community after tertiary education. The youth held a three days workshop on career guidance where topics like good and healthy choices were covered. Self esteem and knowing one’s strengths were also discussed at the workshop. The youth were told that there comes a time in life where parental guidance supports child’s choice. They also assisted a needy old man with re-building his outside toilet structure during the past school holidays in April. This was good experience for them to see the other side of life outside the village. They also engaged in sporting activities mainly volleyball. There was a tournament where the boys’ team got the first position and the girls third.

Education and training opportunities

The kindergarten teachers continue rendering afternoon classes to the young children. The children enjoy every minute of learning through play approach with the teachers. You would hear some of them talking about their lessons and looking forward to the next day.

The clinic provides primary health care to all village children and youth when needed. The nurse supports the SOS mothers and provides on the spot advice to them and the children. She holds one afternoon session with the mothers each week on health related matters.

April 26th was the national fund-raising day and all the children, youth and staff were excited before and during the day. The children enjoyed the proceedings of the day as there were live gospel groups rendering soul soothing music and other exciting activities like face painting, horse riding and many others. The staff participated in different roles and stalls were manned selling different nice items.

The staff has had in training workshop on job orientation where the SOS mothers and aunts were taken through their job description. They took turns in putting a meaning and interpretation of the different tasks listed. On the other hand five assistant SOS mothers went for a four months Basic Mother Training at Herman Gmeiner Adult Training Centre in South Africa. On their return they were motivated and ready to take on their jobs.

The village staff had an in training on “Keep Children Safe” This was facilitated by our student Social Worker. The workshop focused on how best children can be kept safe under the guidance of not only the SOS mothers, but also the staff at large. There was also a team-building excursion for staff members directly involved in the International Sponsorship Programme. Once again the village management, children and staff take this opportunity to express their heartfelt gratitude to your support.