ARTICLE published in Knysna-Plett Herald, 18 August 2005
Nombulelo's house is a "Gift of Peace"
When a local lady who has opened her home to care for other people, was asked what her greatest need was, she said that her leaking roof needed to be fixed. Instead she got a whole new home.
The train of events leading up to this wonderful situation began when Milly Siebrits, co-orinator of the Scouts in Cape Town got in touch with Millicent Seela Director of the Knysna Aids Council on the March 24th, 2005.
Scouting is celebrating it's centenary in 2007 and as part of that, each Scout group has to do a "Gift of Peace". In South Africa it was decided that their "Gift of Peace" to the world would be to do HIV/AIDS related projects, and to begin in 2005.
Millicent Seela then identified Nombulelo who is looking after ten children. Most of these children need her care due to the fact that their mother's are HIV positive and are often too weak to take care of their children. Nombulelo provides after school care and food, sometimes some of the children stay overnight when their mother's are going through a bad patch.
Meanwhile back in Holland, the Dutch Scouts were busy fundraising. They gathered R24,000 and boxes of toys. In South Africa Milly Siebrits told Millicent Seela that the South African Scouts had raised R10,000. All this was go to towards helping Nombulelo in her good work.
Jacques van Eeden, Chairman of the Knysna Scouts also of Homecare Construction, donated free labour, and an entire house has been built. On August 6 and 7, the Dutch Scouts, Knysna Aids Council staff and others got together to provide some of the finishing touches to the new house which now stands right next door to Nombulelo's old house. Since then the new house has had the roof built and beds have been donated, leaving only a need for furniture for the rest of the house. Knysna Aids Council is also busy trying to raise funds for school fees for the children.
Millicent told the Knysna Plett Herald that when a man from George who owns a construction company heard about this project, he told her that he wants to build the next house.
Nombulelo's house is a "Gift of Peace"
When a local lady who has opened her home to care for other people, was asked what her greatest need was, she said that her leaking roof needed to be fixed. Instead she got a whole new home.
The train of events leading up to this wonderful situation began when Milly Siebrits, co-orinator of the Scouts in Cape Town got in touch with Millicent Seela Director of the Knysna Aids Council on the March 24th, 2005.
Scouting is celebrating it's centenary in 2007 and as part of that, each Scout group has to do a "Gift of Peace". In South Africa it was decided that their "Gift of Peace" to the world would be to do HIV/AIDS related projects, and to begin in 2005.
Millicent Seela then identified Nombulelo who is looking after ten children. Most of these children need her care due to the fact that their mother's are HIV positive and are often too weak to take care of their children. Nombulelo provides after school care and food, sometimes some of the children stay overnight when their mother's are going through a bad patch.
Meanwhile back in Holland, the Dutch Scouts were busy fundraising. They gathered R24,000 and boxes of toys. In South Africa Milly Siebrits told Millicent Seela that the South African Scouts had raised R10,000. All this was go to towards helping Nombulelo in her good work.
Jacques van Eeden, Chairman of the Knysna Scouts also of Homecare Construction, donated free labour, and an entire house has been built. On August 6 and 7, the Dutch Scouts, Knysna Aids Council staff and others got together to provide some of the finishing touches to the new house which now stands right next door to Nombulelo's old house. Since then the new house has had the roof built and beds have been donated, leaving only a need for furniture for the rest of the house. Knysna Aids Council is also busy trying to raise funds for school fees for the children.
Millicent told the Knysna Plett Herald that when a man from George who owns a construction company heard about this project, he told her that he wants to build the next house.
Nombulelo with two of the Dutch Scouts
Nombulelo's old home
Nombulelo's new home is nearing completion.
What started as the need for a new roof for her shack became a new home. Thanks to the Dutch Scouts and Knysna Aids Council!
There are more photos in our Image Gallery
What started as the need for a new roof for her shack became a new home. Thanks to the Dutch Scouts and Knysna Aids Council!
There are more photos in our Image Gallery
Toys are distributed to the children
Nombulelo approached the Knysna Aids Council a few years ago with the desire to help children who are HIV positive or those whose parents are infected with the virus. She explained that she wanted "to help them realize that the disease is not a death sentence and also show them that they can live as long as I have." The Council decided to help Nombulelo to set up her project and raised funds to provide her with food supplies. She was then able to feed the children who were coming after school to her home, in White Location, Knysna. She also received training from Famsa (Family and Marriage Society of South Africa) which taught her about home-based care.
Now every day of the week, she welcomes about 40 children in her house who come to come receive a meal and play with each other. Many of these children have parents who are ill and too weak to look after them, and some children are HIV positive themselves. Nombulelo also teaches them about living with HIV/ AIDS and this has helped many children to understand the condition and cope with it. Nombulelo often organizes drama or music activities and also games, which helps these children to learn, express themselves and simply enjoy being children! Sometimes kids also stay overnight when their mothers are very sick and incapable of looking after them.
Recently, the same group of Dutch scouts has managed to raise more funds which went directly to paying for the children's school fees. In February 2006, women from different churches in Knysna came together and raised enough money to buy school uniforms and stationery for the 45 children Nombulelo currently looks after. She also now works at the Council helping out with the cooking and cleaning and receives a small salary which helps her to support her own family.
Nombulelo's commitment and hard work is an example for everyone and the Council hopes this type of project will inspire others who are infected or affected with/by HIV to help people in their communities.
Now every day of the week, she welcomes about 40 children in her house who come to come receive a meal and play with each other. Many of these children have parents who are ill and too weak to look after them, and some children are HIV positive themselves. Nombulelo also teaches them about living with HIV/ AIDS and this has helped many children to understand the condition and cope with it. Nombulelo often organizes drama or music activities and also games, which helps these children to learn, express themselves and simply enjoy being children! Sometimes kids also stay overnight when their mothers are very sick and incapable of looking after them.
Recently, the same group of Dutch scouts has managed to raise more funds which went directly to paying for the children's school fees. In February 2006, women from different churches in Knysna came together and raised enough money to buy school uniforms and stationery for the 45 children Nombulelo currently looks after. She also now works at the Council helping out with the cooking and cleaning and receives a small salary which helps her to support her own family.
Nombulelo's commitment and hard work is an example for everyone and the Council hopes this type of project will inspire others who are infected or affected with/by HIV to help people in their communities.
NOMBULELO PROJECT
Nombulelo Fanti is a strong and generous woman who is giving her heart and time to help people in her community. Nombulelo was diagnosed with HIV about 14 years ago and she is now a strong member in her community as she provides support to anyone in need.
Nombulelo Fanti is a strong and generous woman who is giving her heart and time to help people in her community. Nombulelo was diagnosed with HIV about 14 years ago and she is now a strong member in her community as she provides support to anyone in need.
Throughout the years, Knysna Aids Council has raised funds to pay for daily food supply but also school uniforms, school fees, stationery, etc. One day her roof collapsed and she asked the Council to help her rebuild her roof. Instead, she got a whole new house! Thanks to the work of KAC and the help of the Dutch Scouts and various donors, Nombulelo is now proud to welcome the children in a new and bigger house built next to her old shack. See article below Nombulelo's house is a "Gift of Peace"
Nombulelo's new House
The story does not end there....
On 6th of August, Nombulelo Fanti was awarded Woman Achiever Award 2006, Knysna More...
On 6th of August, Nombulelo Fanti was awarded Woman Achiever Award 2006, Knysna More...
Milly contacted Millicent, and explained to her that 28 Dutch Scouts between 18 and 25 years old would be visiting Knysna on August 6 and 7 2005. The Dutch Scouts wanted to do a project relating to HIV/AIDS in conjunction with Scouts from the Knysna area. Their original idea was to get involved with an Aids orphanage and help to refurbish it, when they were informed that no such thing exists in this area.
A thank-you for the Dutch Scouts!
Click on images to enlarge