Isibani Newsletter

Dear Supporter,

Thank you for all your feedback on our last newsletter, Isibani is as busy as ever hence the delay in producing another.

In order to make the newsletter not quite so lenghty we have added in links to the relevant part of the webiste should you wish to read more about a certain topic. We've also updated the website with more sections and more photos for your viewing pleasure.

Project Updates

VCT

We continue to offer HIV testing onsite and have been working with AgriAids, a Pretoria based NGO, in offering on site testing and counseling to local farms. The response from farmers has been very positive and we have been thrilled at the number of farm workers who have chosen to test during these sessions. During our campaign in March we were able to visit 7 farms over a 4 day period seeing just under 250 farm workers.

In order to offer these outreach services we need more testers and counselors so have recently run a training session to upskill local testers. From those attending we were able to select a few ladies to work with us on future testing campaigns.

 

Recycling

Since starting our recycling project we have collected over 7,000kg of “rubbish” which has now been sent away for recycling. We have been very impressed by the support we have received from the Winterton community. We are hoping to expand this programme and to have recycling bins all around town !

Charity Shop

The charity shop has been going well, all thanks to Rosie and Iben. It has raised over R13,000 since opening. The proceeds so far are being used to fund school clothes and uniforms as well as helping to support the baby day care facility.

Primary School Awarness and Well Being Programme

Sofi and Sue (a local nurse) are attending Celimfundo school twice each month to meet with students; during these sessions they are able to give advice on health issues, home situations, emotional concerns and offer ongoing support where needed.

High School Programme

Miriam and Sbo having been offering tutorial sessions to Ntathakusa High School students. Students have mandatory study time between 5pm and 8pm after class each day. They have been offering help during some of these sessions, with maths so far but we hope to extend our range to include other subjects.

Change Agents

Together with their life orientation teacher a group of students also from Ntathakusa High School have been running sessions to identify and deal with problems that young people are facing in their community. Lisa and Sbo have recently started working with them as they have run sessions on issues such as drug abuse, sexual harassment and teenage pregnancy.

We have been very impressed with the student’s professionalism and enthusiasm and are thrilled that they are planning to roll out their programme into other areas

Crisis Care

In March of 2011 our area was hit by ferocious storms. Several houses collapsed completely and many more were damaged

Click to read more details...

 

Volunteer House

The NG Church who allow us use of the Isibani site have also now allowed us use of their church house. It is very close to Isibani and within walking distance of Winterton shops and amenities. The house will accommodate volunteers coming mainly from overseas, our first volunteers arriving in the next few weeks.

Thanks to the generosity of the local community we now have a collection of furniture, bedding and crockery for the house. Thanks to Triss and Chrisse (volunteers from Belgium) for organising the painting for us, assisted by Lisa and Miriam.

So bring on the volunteers !! Anyone interested in coming to work with us for a while we now have somewhere for you to sleep.

 

Rural Creches

We have received lots of donations towards our rural crèche programme. We now have a “crèche box” containing everything teachers will need to help the children with the activities we have created.

We will start rolling out this programme after the upcoming school holidays. We have been very encouraged and excited by the reactions of crèche teachers. We have come across some amazing women with a real heart for the children; they are doing an amazing job with very basic resources.

These women will be provided with basic lesson plans, the crèche box and training in how to implement the activities.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed towards this programme and to Lisa for organising the lesson plans and materials.

 

Mobile Clinic

The mobile clinic continues to visit every 2 weeks; they are often understaffed and patients have historically had a very long wait to simply collect medication.

We are delighted to say that the hospital has now handed over the distribution of chronic medication (mainly ARVs) to Isibani. Anne was delighted to be able to create a system for this process and so far everything has gone very smoothly.

We have had reassuring feedback from clients who are very happy; we hope we have streamlined the system to make waiting times less whilst also allowing the patients more time with the nurses to discuss any health concerns.

 

Vulnerable Children

We are sad to say that we are coming across more and more cases of rape and abuse and are working hard to find a social worker to help us with these cases. We are keen to find qualified counsellors to help these young people come to terms with what has happened to them.

Click to read more details..

 

Our Clients

We've added a new section to the website with the personal stories of some of the people we are involved with.

Click to read more details..

 

Volunteer news

We now have a Volunteer News and Volunteer Gallery on our website.

Click here for News or here to see all the beautiful people..

As always, best wishes from us all at Isibani and thank you for your interest and support.