By Mercury reporter

Little children are not supposed to die before grownups, but a staggering number in South Africa do, because they are left without proper care by a society overwhelmed by the rising need for social welfare.

In many state-funded child welfare centres, social workers – who are among the worst paid professionals in the country – are battling with 300-500 cases each, says Antje Hockley who runs the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation, founded by Unilever.

Hockley, speaking at a fund-raising function organised by Unilever this week, said an estimated 25 000 new social welfare cases were presented to social workers countrywide every month, and children’s homes were battling to cope.

In such an environment it was virtually impossible for orphaned children to live normal, stable lives, which would give them a chance in society, she said.

By 2010, it is estimated that there will be 2,5 million orphaned children in South Africa.

But for a small number of children whose parents have died from Aids, there is hope through the successful Thokomala project.

With the intention of providing a home instead of merely a roof over their heads and food to eat, the Thokomala project has led to the building of six units for children in KwaZulu-Natal and eight elsewhere in the country. Unilever funds the administration costs of all of the homes.

Each home is run by a house mother, who is responsible for six children only.

“More than a roof over their heads, our homes create a family environment and with the love and stability of a family, they have a chance in life.”

Siblings were also kept together because after losing the most important people in their lives (their parents), it was important to retain as much of the children’s former lives as possible, said Hockley. Orphaned children are housed in their own communities and are mentored by volunteers from the community too.

The homes are unmarked so that the children do not have to grow up with the stigma of an orphanage or being disadvantaged.

Discipline

And as Noloyiso (not her real name), who has lived in a Thokomala home for more than four years, said, in addition to the love and support her new family had given her, she was taught discipline and had her share of family responsibilities.

Urging guests and businesses to support the project with funds and other resources, Gail Klintworth, the head of Unilever South Africa, said it was a “clever” thing to do.

“South Africa will not be a country with which it will be wise to do business if we don’t start managing our orphaned children,” she said.

“Imagine what will happen to our society living with two million children who have grown up without a stable home or family, schooling or role models. Imagine them as teenagers. What will they become – what will we become – if we don’t get involved?

“The problem is too big to leave in the hands of the government or a few organisations alone,” she said. “Making a contribution is making a good investment in South Africa.”

And as Klintworth said, when you tuck your child into his own bed tonight, spare a thought for the children growing up with love and think about how you can share a little of your privilege so they can have a better life.

o This article was originally published on page 5 of The Mercury on October 24, 2007

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20071024040720732 C989989