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| Mr. Mothusi Matiea |
It has now been almost two years since I left Ladybrand and retired as the Director of the Vumani Outreach Centre. The work at the Centre continues, however, and what follows is an update of the happenings of the past few months at Vumani, as well as the whereabouts and the progress of some of the boys who have been with us for many years.
In March 2010, Mr. Mothusi Matiea joined the staff of the Vumani Outreach Centre as full time residential supervisor. He now lives in a small, independent flat adjacent to the Centre’s main building. The flat was built with generous donations from the Randburg Methodist Church in Johannesburg and friends of Vumani in Lapland.
In March 2010, Mr. Mothusi Matiea joined the staff of the Vumani Outreach Centre as full time residential supervisor. He now lives in a small, independent flat adjacent to the Centre’s main building. The flat was built with generous donations from the Randburg Methodist Church in Johannesburg and friends of Vumani in Lapland.
Besides his duties as resident supervisor at the Centre, Mr. Matiea helps with the administration of the monies put into the Manyatseng Charity Fund (MCF). This fund was created specifically to help boys who have left the Centre but who are still in High School. Mr. Matiea helps these boys to find accommodation, buys their monthly groceries, visits their schools when requested and makes sure that the boys have all that they need as High School scholars. He also helps with the numerous, everyday practical problems that face young boys who have to care for themselves and steer their way through High School. These include monthly rent payments, visits to the doctor, and ensuring that the boys' dwellings are leak-proof and have safe electrical connections! Money which has been placed in the MCF has also enabled Mr Matiea to attend courses on Youth and Child Care organised by the National Association of Child Care Workers.
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| The new flat, adjacent to the main building |
Mrs Sophie Borole, who has been the cook at Vumani since 1998, maintains close contact with the High School Boys, and it is from her that they collect money for their rent, fuel and school needs. I continue to play a managerial and administrative role in the running of Centre, as I audit the books of the MCF, and am continuously in touch with Mr Matiea and Mrs Borole.
Much of the work at Vumani over the past two years has focused on helping boys who have been with us for a number of years to move out of the Centre and begin their own, independent lives. The MCF provides the funding for boys to either build new shacks on the sites of relatives’ homes or to rent an existing shack. This is the most financially viable solution for the boys. A corrugated iron, free standing shack with electricity costs approximately R5,000 to build, or about R100 a month to rent. A room built of bricks, when available, costs about R200 a month to rent. The MCF also frequently helps boys to acquire a mattress, a small table and kitchen equipment.
Monyane Qhoai, who successfully finished high school in 2009, was helped by the MCF to repair and furnish a shack on a family site. The MCF also helped him with ID documents and he was able to get temporary work on the building site of the new hospital in Ladybrand.
Tsediso Rampaleng and Sampi Mokone, who are cousins, were helped to build a new shack on a family site with money raised by staff members of GAP, whose office is in Ladybrand. Both boys have had to repeat Grade 10. They have had to cater for themselves and have been given a monthly food parcel from the MCF. Tsediso has been helped to travel with his church choir. He will live in rented accommodation in 2012 and will continue to be provided with food parcels and money for rent.
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| Many of the 'Shack Boys' are keen footballers. From left to right, back row: Malefane, Seaba, Happy, Khotso, Sampi, Tsediso Front row: Thabang, Sello, Teboho, Moeketsi |
Seaba Rampaleng completed Grade 8 in 2011. He has been set up in a rented shack and gets monthly assistance. He continues to be a good student and a keen footballer who has played for his school in a tournament in the North West Province.
Rethabile Mphoso wrote his school leaver’s exam (Matric) at the end of 2011. He was fortunate to be renting a room in the grounds of a retired school master. This stable environment enabled him to concentrate on his studies. He has been helped with rent and groceries and electricity payments by the MCF. He will struggle to find regular employment in Ladybrand.
In 2010 Khotso Phejane and Moeketsi Makala, both of whom have stayed at the Vumani Centre from the age of 10, moved into a new shack on the site of Kopano’s grandmother. Within a few months Moeketsi moved back to the Vumani Centre. He was placed in a rented shack in November 2011. Both of these boys endeavour to be self supporting as they are no longer ‘school goers’. The MCF helps them when there is a specific need for financial help.
Lefa Lesikare moved into a shack on his aunt’s property in July 2010. He did not return to school in August 2010. In January 2011 the school reregistered him and promoted him to Grade 11 on the strength of his June 2010 exams which he had written while staying at Vumani. With the encouragement of the Friends of Vumani he is now well settled in his own rented accommodation, and hopes to write the school leavers exam at the end of 2013.
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| Thabang's grandmother in front of his new shack |
Thabang Thamae moved into a new shack on his grandmother’s site in August 2010. He was well received by his relatives and, with help from the MCF, is able to contribute to the living expenses of the family. He was the class representative on the Student Council in 2011. He has maintained his keen interest in football and the MCF has helped him to buy football boots and with travel expenses when he plays with his team at league level. He hopes to do Grade 11 in 2012.
Mokete Mothibi left Vumani in January 2010 to stay with relatives in Botshabelo. This was not a successful move. On his return he was accommodated at Vumani until his re-entry into the local High School and his reunification with his father’s relatives. He hopes to write the final exams at the end of 2012, an achievement in itself. The MCF helps with his fuel and electricity expenses.
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| Success story: Motjopi, one of our 'shack boys', now supports himself by fixing radios and mending shoes |
In 2012 the Manyatseng Charity Fund will be helping 10 boys with groceries, rent, school uniforms and stationary, but we cannot do so without your help. We rely entirely on donations for our work, and any financial assistance – great or small – goes a long way. Please do not hesitate to contact me via email at dhmorija@yahoo.com if you are in any way interested in helping.
Wishing you all the best in 2012.
Warm regards,
Dorothy Hall
January 2012.
