Besides school education, another mainstay of the organisation is Tshega’s Outreach Program. This program includes the projects designed to improve the lives of people outside the Lighthouse Academy in Fobeni Village. Today I would like to introduce you to the four projects of the Outreach Program:
Pig Project – This project was started on the initiative of Mohau e.V. and aims to better care for the inhabitants of Fobeni Village. The basic idea is that needy families each receive a pair of pigs that they have to take care of. Of course, the families are advised and supported in the initial phase. The families have to hand over the first piglets to another family. After that, the pigs belong to them. The start was […] with 5 pairs of pigs. In a very short time stables were built by the participating families and soon there were also the first piglets. There are now 9 families who benefit from the pig project and pass the piglets on to other families as agreed. A nice example of how “helping people help themselves” should work.
(Source: www.mohau.com)
Basic Needs Program – Every week, the most needy families in the village are provided with the most basic things, such as: supplied food packages, toiletries and medicines. Lovely Milly has been living in Fobeni for a long time and knows exactly which family is lacking of what and coordinates the deliveries accordingly.
(Photo from 2015)
OVC (Orphan and Vulnerable Children Program) – Every tenth child of the Lighthouse Academy is sponsored directly by Tshega. The organization thus assumes the school fees and all other costs associated with attending school for the “weakest” children.
Feeding Scheme / Homework Club – From Monday to Friday, around 40 children are daily getting lunch and supported with their homework. None of these children go to the Lighthouse Academy, but to public schools that don’t fulfill their educational mission sufficiently. Among other things, this program tries not to make the educational gaps of these children too big.
With Milly and Sandy I set out to get groceries and objects of utility for the Outreach projects. In addition to 4 new tables for the Feeding Scheme, we also get new dishes, school supplies for the Homework Club and food for the next few days in the total value of almost 5,000 Rand (just over € 300, -). Another 4,000 Rand (almost € 250, -) will be given to Milly for food purchases for the remainder of the year. Milly, now I have seen live, how effectively and responsibly you buy and am pleased that I could provide you with my friends and my family a good financial buffer until next year.
Volunteers also have the opportunity to help out at Feeding Scheme / Homework Club twice a week and, of course, to play with the little ones. And just this week, the annual game day with the kiddies takes place. In the local church, we gather the dwarves, perform a sketch, learn dance choreographies with them, paint them and us with colorful colors and play “Journey to Jerusalem”. To thank us, the children perform a very nice play, which they rehearsed with the wife of the pastor. Each of the last few days has been beautiful, I must say, but that day I feel even a bit more positive energy. Another moment that deeply touches me emotionally – seeing the appreciation and joy of the little ones again gives me a lump in my throat. And now, writing these lines, I feel it again. I better stop at this point…
Peace!
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