| Bizana - Nomlacu and Mt. Zion |
Nomlacu and Mt. Zion are two rural communities located approximately 10 kilometres north of the Eastern Cape town of Bizana. Both communities suffer from gross unemployment and infrastructural deficits. A 2006 Provincial Government Report highlighted that in the Mbizana Local Municipality, of the OR Tambo District less than 5% of households had access to “free basic water”; less than 40% had access to electricity; and less than 2% had access to “basic on-site sanitation”.
Friends in Ireland met with committee members of a community based organisation “Sinosizo Sisonke Isikelo” to attempt to address the ever-growing burden of HIV AIDS; and the subsequent rising levels of orphaned or vulnerable children in the area. After receiving a plot of land from the Tribal Authority, Friends in Ireland undertook to partner this care project, in 2007 construction of a new Drop-in Centre and Care facility at Nomlacu began.
The Centre was completed in early 2008. It currently facilitates a Nutrition Programme that feeds 90 Orphaned or Vulnerable Children, twice a day (both before and after school) five days a week. The large garden at the centre, cultivated by community volunteers with assistance from the Department of Agriculture produces a wide range of vegetables that supplement the Nutrition Programme.
In July 2008, the Department of Health, through St. Patrick’s Hospital in Mbizana undertook to deploy a Mobile Clinic to the facility each Month. The clinic uses the facilities at the centre to offer primary healthcare services; TB testing, HIV AIDS Voluntary Counselling and Testing, vaccinations and other health interventions. The Mobile Clinic, serves the Centre’s orphaned and vulnerable children and as well the broader community.
Friends in Ireland have piloted an after-schools programme with the Centre’s committee and volunteers to strengthen the life skills of the children who attend the centre. The program included homework clubs, crafts, gardening and sports. Due to the great efforts of the centre’s volunteers a safe and supervised environment has been developed for these children.
The Sinsizo Care Facility in partnership with Friends in Ireland have developed a strong Nutrition Programme at Mt. Zion approximately 6 kilometres further north of Nomlacu. Here 90 Orphaned or Vulnerable children are fed breakfast and dinner five days a week, these children also have access to the Primary Health Care mobile clinic and the after-school programme at Nomlacu.
Friends in Ireland have undertaken to advocate in both Nomlacu and Mt. Zion to address, in partnership with The Sinosizo Sisonke Isikelo and the Department of Social Development the circumstances of child-headed households within the two communities. To develop a situation where these children receive the appropriate level of governmental support, entitled to them under the constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
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