Letter of thanks from Venda
Update
from February to April 2021
In this year with every odd
stacked against us, together we acknowledge the importance of Education, social
welfare, Joy, and Hope in the children’s life. You saw value in
supporting our little school, empowering and uplifting underprivileged children
in Venda South Africa. Not only did COVID-19 expose the
inequalities in the education system of South Africa also worsens this to a
crippling new level, where many children have altogether stopped schooling.
Among the most severe effects of COVID-19 in the lives of children in South
Africa is the loss of their parents to the pandemic As we come to the end
of the school 1st term on the 23rd of April 2021(one week
school holiday), we would like to thank you for educating, empowering children,
and feeding families.
This year 61 students have been enrolled at our school. The children are divided into three groups toddlers aged 1 year to 2 years old with 19 students, pre-school aged 3 to 4 years old with 22 students, grade R aged 5 years with 7 students and Grade 1 with 13 students. We have been credited COVID-19 compliant school and we are doing the very best to keep the children and staff safe from the virus. Also, this is a great opportunity to teach our children how to properly clean their whole body and the importance of washing their hands regularly. Since the school open, we have seen a huge improvement in children’s physical health, and very few children getting flu and the flu only lasts for 2 days. In our nutrition program, we have added more healthy food such as having two fruits a day instated of one and more vegetables and protein to keep us healthy. With the rate of domestic violence being very high here in SA, our kids are much safe at school than at home.
In December 2020 the COVID -19 virus hit Venda so hard and we had lost lots of people in our community and left many families without their breadwinners. The hospitals were full of sick people and it was very scary. A quarter of the children in our HIV+ support group has had COVI-19 and we are grateful that they have fully recovered. If there is anything that the pandemic has taught us, is that we should always wash our hands, disinfect our belongings, and always take a bath or shower daily especially when we went out of the house.
With more and more South African people losing their jobs have left more family without basic food and with government schools not allowing children to attend school full time, more kids are going for days without food. VMS is providing quarterly food parcels to all 43 vulnerable students in our care and this wouldn’t be possible without your support, the VMS family and community appreciate your support very much.
Our vegetable production
Limpopo had heavy rainfall from February until the beginning of March 2021.
In this challenging weather condition, our vegetable garden still manages to produce vegetables to feed the children at the school and the community. And in our nursery, we have to plant over 10000 seedlings to plant in our garden and to give to the family to plant in their homes. The first seedling will be ready to plant on the 26 of April 2021.
Outreach program
We have been given a slot on the local radio station to educate or make awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexual assault issues. the rate of domestic violence has increased a lot since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. so we are very proud of our peer educators for the work they are doing.
On behalf of VMS staff members, the children and the community, we say THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Regards,
Khathu Nemafhohoni
(Director)
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