BACKGROUND

Tembisa is a township populated by destitute families, unemployed youth and child headed families. Many of the children are in orphanages due to separation from their parents due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS. GONEF has in the past years distributed resources to various children’s homes and charities around the Township such as Mealie Meal bags, clothing, blankets, toys, nappies, toiletries and sanitary towels. Due to limited revenue of the foundation, the focus is currently on few selected orphanages although the main plan is to provide a helping hand to all the communities all over the Township.

GONEF has recognised the potential to outsource partners to assist the foundation in its vision to rewrite the stories of the Elderly, Youth, Orphans and Vulnerable Children by assisting in providing the basic needs of these orphanages. The strategic partnership secured will be of great benefit to the charities in ensuring improved living conditions of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). The collaboration will in a long run establish a personal and interactive relationship between the local organisations and these vulnerable communities.

SERVICES REQUIRED

There is an African proverb that says “it takes a village to raise a child”. This proverb basically means that it takes an entire community of different people, race and background to ensure that children experience and grow in a safe and stable environment. Organisations can get their feet wet by supporting GONEF in creating an opportunity for these children to have a normal upbringing by opening their hearts to their plight and physical needs. Children need various types of support ranging from their needs for survival such as food and health care to those interventions that will provide a better quality of life in the future such as psychosocial support. Strategic partners can get involved in this initiative by donating any of the following essential needs/requirements:

• Non-perishable foods
• Laptops
• School shoes
• Clothing
• Blankets and bedding
• Sanitary towels and nappies

STORAGE OF RESOURCES

The resources provided will be kept safe in a secured storage which will be monitored by the Foundation personnel and distributed to various orphanages when a need arises.

LAST WORD

GONEF is passionate about bettering the lives and future of Tembisa Children, but as the saying goes “one finger cannot pick a grain”, the foundation cannot support the whole of Tembisa on its own. The foundation is committed to mobilise resources from local businesses and capable individuals and associating them directly into the hands of the needy children, youth and elderly of this community.

It is critical that local organisations promote this collaboration with GONEF and Orphanages in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to protect and care for orphans and vulnerable children. By supporting Tembisa charities/orphanages, this collaboration will instill hope for brighter future for the children, which will deter them from wandering the streets as they will be growing in a cherished environment.

Together we can ensure that Tembisa, Nguni name meaning promise or hope will each day wake up to a new dawn of HOPE through your contribution. We look forward to your participation in the efforts to improve the lives of our citizens. It should be reiterated that Tembisa Township is inhabited by numerous needy orphanages and the number of needs keep on going higher. It is unfortunate circumstance that this alarming situation has intensified the vulnerability of the most vulnerable, which are children. Together we can bring hope and change people’s lives: I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE AND YOU ARE BECAUSE I AM.

ORPHANAGES CURRENTLY SUPPORTED BY GONEF

• Siyazigabisa Home of Hope
• Ubuhlebezwe Home
• Tshepang Care Center
• Tembisa Old Age Home
• Bulamahlo Day Care and Home
• Phomolong Welfare