The Sakhelwe Trust

The Sakhelwe Trust

FAMSA Northern Mpumalanga: Annual Report - 2008 Text from the Annual Report 2008 to be presented at the FAMSA AGM in Sakhelwe Hospice on 6 September.

FAMSA Northern Mpumalanga, with our focus on family life, has faced many challenges over the past year due to the increasing number of deaths of young parents from AIDS related diseases leaving many orphans and vulnerable children in need of care. Often their role is filled by elderly and frequently disabled grandparents who face difficulties in obtaining documents to access grants and food relief.
Our staff and volunteers work with care and commitment to assist these families – we presently have 1000 orphans and vulnerable children in our municipality.

We have trained six social auxiliary workers (through SACSSP and FAMSA) who are now registered and employed, two with us, and have two more students awaiting final examination results. We much regret government’s decision to discontinue this opportunity at the end of this year, as community members are unable to leave their family responsibilities to attend University.

Following a community needs assessment three years ago and letter of request to Dept of Health, we commenced a process to build a hospice to provide palliative care for terminal AIDS patients, many of whom ended their lives alone, without family support. This was initiated as a public/private partnership for which we received support from Emakhazeni Municipality, who have leased 12.5 hectares of land in Sakhelwe to FAMSA Northern Mpumalanga on a 20-year lease. In last years IDP (integrated development plan), the hospice was voted as a priority by our Emakhazeni communities.

With the financial support of the Sakhelwe Trust, established in UK by family and friends, and the Anglican Church in South Africa, we were able to purchase a 16-bed prefabricated Hospice for Sakhelwe from Solid Built Mobiles, which was delivered on site in April.
We are now in the process of equipping our hospice, and raising further funds towards running costs. Meanwhile we are using the hall as a Training Centre and the offices for Counselling, as we are adjacent to Siyifunile High School and easily accessible to the Sakhelwe Community. We also distribute food and clothing to our 157 local OVC.

This would not be possible without the wonderful support we have received from the Sakhelwe Trust in UK, Churches, family and friends, both in England, Australia and here. We thank Anglo American Chairman’s Fund for their much appreciated financial support for our OVC Coordinators’ programme, which has enabled us to extend our work to adjacent communities. We also thank the Department of Health & Social Services for their financial support and interest in FAMSA Northern Mpumalanga’s work and development in the Emakhazeni communities.

Thank you to our auditors DH Levine & Associates for your kind assistance over the past five years.

To our staff, volunteers, students, colleagues and friends, and the community of Dullstroom Emthonweni, my grateful thanks for your ongoing commitment, enthusiasm and support.

Sue Solesbury