|
|
|
|
As in other parts of Africa, AIDS is rife and there are ten funerals
each week in Clarens leaving many children orphaned. In February 2005, local churches and volunteers were feeding 56 children daily at the Orphan Family Shelter. By October 2005 the number had risen to 90. The children are housed at night with local families, but they are so poor that they cannot afford to feed them. Hence the feeding programme. Education is the key to the future of these children and can be part of the battle against AIDS. Education can help the children to help themselves in the future. Some members of Christchurch, Downend, Bristol, UK - together with a party of teachers, and a computer expert visited Clarens in 2005. This visit took place as part of a global partnership between schools.
There is also a local school, Mojelafo, for the children of farm workers some 5 miles out of Clarens. This is now state aided to the extent that teachers' salaries and educational materials are funded but the buildings and equipment less so. In the UK, Christchurch, Downend, has now corporately 'adopted' the Children of Clarens as one of their mission projects with the aim of building relationships with the schools and individuals and providing support for them to achieve their aims. Two children from Dihlabeng, together with their Head Teacher and some staff, visited Christchurch in June 2006 and met many people involved with the project. The children provided us with a CD presentation of how they try to re-use (not just re-cycle) everything and the presentation formed part of a workshop event for primary schools in South Gloucestershire, UK. |
|
Copyright © 2006
Children of Clarens - South Africa
|
Clarens is a small town on the border with Lesotho. Although the main
town is an attractive tourist area with fine shops and restaurants, the majority
of the population (3,500) live in the township on the edge of the town in small
mud, stick or corrugated iron houses. 
One such school is Dihlabeng Christian
School (see links) which started in 2000 with 9 children in the Head Teacher's
garage. It now provides for 80 children daily. All the children have to
pay or be sponsored to go to this school, which is completely voluntary aided.