The Choko team has just returned from a visit to the Kodumela Area Development Programme (ADP) project in Sekororo region, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This trip will provide the basis for many newsletters in the next few months. We will send future newsletters on specific aspects of the projects and give an overview in this one. If you would like more information about anything mentioned in this report, please contact any of the people you recognise in the trip photos or write to newsletter@choko.org.uk.
Choko Social
Everyone is invited to the Choko Social, at which there will be a full report back from the trip, accompanied by slides. This will be at Cholsey School at 7:30pm on Tuesday 16 June.
The report below follows the itinerary of our visit, which was arranged by the Director of the World Vision Kodumela Area Development Programme (ADP).
Masekane School
Crowmarsh-Gifford School has now linked with Masekane School and the head teacher from Crowmarsh Gifford, Barbara O’Dwyer, was able to spend time in Masekane School. Masekane is clearly a very poor school, even by local standards and is lacking in basic school furniture and resources. Barbara was able to leave them some materials, which were very gratefully received.
Morabudi Centre
Many members of the Cholsey (and environs) community have contributed towards the funding we raised for a special needs centre. Choko funding has been provided to build and equip a purpose-built building for them, on a large plot of land they have been allocated by the local Chief. We were able to see the foundations and first stages of this building. Of special note is that it includes a gymnasium, for physiotherapy, and indoor plumbing connected to a septic tank (the first building we have seen in the area with this).
We were able to take over a plaque for display once the building of the Moradubi Centre is completed. The fund raising for this is has truly been a Cholsey community project and we would like to pass on the gratitude of the Kodumela community to all concerned.
Founder of Morabudi Centre, Mrs Mashumu, with some of the children
Soccer team
Soccer is a major form of entertainment and the ADP encourage the children to play soccer, as children have so many household chores and responsibilities, there is little time for recreation for them. We were able to take uniforms for the players, who really appreciated the interest shown in them.
Soccer team in their new kit
Sponsored children
Those members of the team who have sponsored children in the area were able to visit the homes and families of the children and take gifts and food to them. These visits were very moving and have allowed sponsors to see the context in which the children live, so are able to make gifts and letters more meaningful. Anyone wishing to sponsor a child can do so through World Vision but should specify that they want a child in the Kodumela ADP. Sponsorship money ensures that the child does not lack any essentials but is shared between the child’s household and the overall project.
Kodumela Area Development Programme compound
A number of the ADP activities take place in their compound. Choko provided the original funding for a grinding mill, they have now purchased another and are kept busy running both mills. Since our last visit, a dairy has been started, currently with 3 cows (one in calf) and 3 calves. Milk is sold and the funds are put back into expanding the project and training more people to keep and milk cattle. A group of boys are being trained in keeping goats and their herd is housed at the ADP. The ADP vegetable garden continues, fertilized by manure from the cattle and goats. Among other things, they produce lemon grass which is believed to boost the immune system of HIV/AIDS patients. There is a market area, where villagers can sell their produce. This also serves as a depot for produce being sent to the more lucrative Johannesburg markets. The structure is used as a centre for community training on days when there is no market. Children visit the ADP regularly to use the computer centre and library.
ADP dairyLafata Women's Enterprise Group
Having received initial seed funding from Choko, this group is now self-sufficient, producing and selling beadwork, tie-and-dye cloth, scones, eggs and also running a feeding scheme for orphans and vulnerable children. The food quality at the feeding scheme has improved dramatically since our visit in 2007.
There has been a long link between Mamakaile School and Cholsey School. Rosina, the Head of Mamakaile, was delighted to see Val Bolt representing Cholsey School and they were able to spend time together discussing lesson planning and the use of the teaching materials Val had taken over. We were distressed to see the damage caused to a classroom when a poorly erected water tank fell over in the night in the sudden hard rains, destroying the roof and contents (books, furniture, food and seedlings) of the classroom.
Children welcoming the Choko group to Mamakaile School
The ADP continue to work with other local agencies to support child headed households (where parents have either died or are away working). A noted case was Mhardee, who is caring for her own baby and 4 siblings. ADP provided funding for building materials for a 2 roomed house for them, but Mhardee carried all the sand and water needed for the building from the nearest river. The 2 photos were taken from the same place to try to show the distance and terrain she has to cover. Now the house is built, she, at 21, has returned to school. We will tell more of her story in future newsletters.
Rain water harvesting project
The next project to be supported by Choko will be the rain water harvesting project, initially focusing on the households of the 4,000 sponsored children in the area, thus reaching around 20,000 people, but with the opportunity to cascade to other households. There were very good rains during the 2008/9 season so those tanks which have already been installed are full.
If you do not wish to receive future editions of the Choko newsletter, please send an email to newsletter@choko.org.uk with the subject line Unsubscribe
If you have friends who would like to receive the newsletter, they can subscribe by sending an email to newsletter@choko.org.uk with the subject line Subscribe
