Feeding Program
Looking
at the organization’s mission, the most essential need is food. That is the
reason why we have established a feeding program where we provide at least one meal per
day to all under our care. Currently, we have 100 orphans who are in
this program. Volunteers are assigned to visit them in their respective schools
whereby we work in conjunction with the teachers to ensure they get at least a
meal in the course of the day. The reason for carrying out this program in
school is to help these children to concentrate more in their studies because
most of them barely have a meal at home. We also supply food to those living in
the slums. This is done on a weekly basis whereby we give them foodstuffs at
least enough to run them fill the next donation. Most families are large and it’s sad to hear
of stories where mothers prefer to have
the young children feed as they
themselves go hungry. This foundation also tries to reach out to as many
widows as it can. We visit them in their specific homed and also those under
the care of nursing homes. Currently, we have 20 widows who are under our
feeding program.
Medical Program
Another
major program this foundation undertakes is bringing medical attention closer
to those under our care. Those children orphaned by the HIV pademic are our
number one priority. The only thing between their lives and death is proper
medication. We ensure they receive their anti retroviral drugs at the right
time. This we also do with the help of their teachers in school. Most of them,
the guardians are too old to understand the do’s and don’ts pertaining to those
drugs.
As
for the children who are too weak to be in school, we have volunteers who visit
then at home and administer the drugs to them at a personal level. As for the
slum dwellers, we facilitate medical care to the pregnant mothers. Some of them
are so poor even to pay for their antennal clinics. We normally facilitate for
a nurse who checks on them until delivery. Even after the child is born, we
continue providing medical care to them and the child. We ensure the child is
given the right immunization. The greatest challenge faced by the widowed under
our foundation is medical attention. It is human nature that as old age
approaches, the body becomes more vulnerable to diseases and infections. For
this reason we ensure we take them to the clinics for regular checkups. For
those who are too weak to walk we try to facilitate wheel chairs.
Educational Programs
We
also have different educational programs at different levels. This ranges from
hygiene, drugs, proper diet, premarital sex and proper medication.
Hygiene-
We try to create especially to the young ones the importance of maintaining
good hygiene at home and in school. Cleaning hands after visiting the washrooms
& before eating, also keeping short nails are some of the key things we
emphasize. Hygiene in the slum is done by educating them on proper refuse
disposal and also proper usage of toilets.
Proper Medication
- Most of the children who are on anti retroviral drugs have no idea why they take them in the
first place. We educate them on the importance of these drugs and also the
risks involved if they are not taken properly.
As
for the slums we educate the women on various family planning methods with the help
of a few doctors who are volunteers in this foundation.
Drug and Premature sex - A
large section of the youth in our country has been greatly affected by these two
factors. Unfortunately, the two go hand in hand. ‘Drugs kill’- this is the
message we pass to our youth. Premature sex brings unwanted babies and also the
risk of more HIV infections. For those who are married and are HIV infected we
encourage them to remain faithful and if necessary use sexual protective
measures.
Counselling
– This session mainly targets the widowed who feel neglected and abandoned by
the society. We have specialized counselors who volunteer to give hope and
encouragement. The message we pass to them is that of love and hope even in
their sunset days.
We
also have counseling sessions for the youth who are victims of drug abuse. Some
may be in it as a result of peer pressure. We advise them on how to choose the
right friends. We also give counseling to those living with HIV virus. Some even
attempt to commit suicide when they realize they are infected.
We
educate them on how they can live normal lives even with the virus. We inspire
them that they still have bright days ahead.
Giving Donations
With
the few resources available, this foundation stretches its hand to meet some of
these people at the very point of their needs. We distribute beddings like
blankets and bed sheets to the widowed and also the young babies in the slums.
We also give them seedlings to plant in their small farms.
We
also give sewing machines to those living in the slums. This helps them to
start businesses to cater for their families. As for the school going children,
we supply school materials like stationary. We also provide school uniforms at
the beginning of the year. As for the girls we give them underwear’s and
provide sanitary towels.
Social Program
Lastly,
we have a social program formed for the purpose of sociability. The message we
try to pass to those under our care is, even despite their setbacks in life,
they still can live a friendly and social way amongst themselves. This is done
in a number of ways. The youths have created a social club whereby they meet on
a monthly basis to share life experiences and also aimed at encouraging each
other. We also hold small parties for the widowed. This is done twice every
year. During this time they eat, drink make merry in their own ways. As for the young ones, we
organize for a fun day out after every three months. Here they are engaged in
activities like swimming, face painting, dancing and many more. We also give
gifts at the end of every year. This applies to those who perform well in their
respective classes in school.
In
a country struck so hard by the HIV pandemic, poverty and unemployment, it
becomes very difficult to reach out to those who desperately need help. This
foundation has embarked on a few fundraising plans to help it continue with
this life saving mission.
i)
Online
fundraising – with rapid increase in communication
channels, this foundation has grabbed this opportunity to raise funds online.
It is not only fast but also very convenient. This plan helps us to target
volunteers not only in our country but also the international world. The
response has been good but the workload on our shoulders is still too heavy.
ii) Business activities
– this foundation has a few businesses it operates at a local level. First we
have a farming business where various crops are grown and sold to the
community. We try to engage those living in the slums because it provides some
source of employment to them. We also run several food stalls. Here we train
some of our youth who have cleared school but cannot go for further studies due
to lack of fees. We train them how to bake and later sell to the community. We
also run a carpentry shop where we also train our youth. The furniture is sold
and all the proceeds go towards our programs.
iii) Getting gifts and donations
–Most of our resources come from well wishers.Despite the hardships, there are
those who selflessly contribute towards our noble cause. This is done in the
form of gifts and donations. Normally, we receive clothes and foodstuffs from those
who are able in the local community. There are also those who chip in and
support us in paying school fees.
