Child sponsorship update from Mthatha, South Africa

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Villages Mthatha, South Africa from Summer 2008.

Situated in Sidwadwa view, Eastern Cape Province, the heart of Walter Sisulu University, flanked by Eastern Cape Technikon - the SOS Children’s Village Mthatha is perfectly positioned not only to serve as a learning inspiration but a healing environment to 141 children.

It is that time of the year when we remember people like you, people who makes it possible for us to bring smiles to the faces of the children. We are very excited about affording you an opportunity of updating you on our village and our country’s news.

A bright start to the year 2008 saw the village being under new leadership. Mr Soka Matlala is not new to the organisation. He had been with the organisation for fifteen years and comes from our sister SOS Children’s Village in Nelspruit to serve as Village Director.

Team spirit is really his way of contributing to the village; about bringing some enthusiasm to all the negativity in this Village.

At this stage the village is providing a home to 141 children in need including four new admissions who joined us early in the year. We are paying serious attention to the issue of moving teenagers, 10 boys and 8 girls that are above sixteen years old to the youth facilities before the end of the year.

We committed ourselves to respecting children’s Rights and to fight all forms of abuse and the village has done a great deal to better the lives of children. A young 11 year old boy insisted that he be placed with his father after he was hosted during December 2007 school holidays. After consultation with the Department of Social Services the child was taken back to his family.

The academic progress of children in the village is satisfactory and we are doing all we can to maximize our children’s educational potential. The Child and Youth Development team together with mothers have embarked on a homework programme which starts from 16H00 to 17H30 Monday to Thursday and children are divided according to their school grades.

Children growing up in Mthatha, South Africa

Two SOS children are enrolled at SOS Nursery School and 76 are in the SOS Primary School which is situated in the village vicinity. 47 children are in Secondary schools, 7 children are at Special schools and 6 Youth are in tertiary doing Further Education Training with an internationally recognized institution called Boston College.

International Mother Language Day was celebrated on 22 February here at our SOS Primary School. The school was presented with two books from guests who happened to be authors of those books: Mrs Ntshangase donated a Xhosa book titled – “Singcamla Ingqaka” meaning we are tasting the best) and Mr Mngomeni’s English poetry book titled –“It all begins”.

Our Community Outreach Programme termed Family Strengthening Programme is also growing in strength with 168 families being reached out to. Through this programme we strengthen the capacity of families and communities to care for vulnerable children by supporting terminally ill parents. These families range from child headed, granny, aunt/uncle, non relative or terminally ill parent headed families. 641 children are beneficiaries to these programme activities.

Round about the end of this month, the weather will start to change in our country: mornings will be crisper, evenings will draw in earlier. Outdoor activities will become less appealing and as a result the committed 13 SOS Mothers together with 9 SOS Aunts will spend quality time with their SOS families. Scholars will be assisted with homework in preparation for half-yearly examinations before winter’s school holidays.

Without your unwavering support SOS Children’s Village Mthatha unilaterally would not succeed in achieving these goals. Your valued contribution to this worthy course will for ever resonate among those that were left orphaned, abandoned, severely neglected. Thank you.

Soka Matlala
Village Director – SOS Children’s Village - MTHATHA