Touching Acts
AIAIA Board Member Spiwo Xapile commented: “These children are not the children we saw at Itipini (Sowetho). What would have happened without the opportunity they were given?” Your continued support of Arm in Arm will help ensure a brighter future for the children of Sowetho. Thank you!
Arm In Arm In Africa has had a long time partnership with the community of Itipini, a settlement in the Eastern Cape of over 100 people. The environment of Itipini is one of great despair with no public sanitation, one water source for 100+ people, chronic unemployment, alcohol and drug abuse, and crime including murders, rape and domestic abuse. The settlement has been renamed Sowetho because of its similarity to the chaos in the township in Johannesburg with the same name.
In 2019, an inspiring woman, Noluyolo (Yolo) Zintle Mehlomakulu, who has worked with this community since age 12, was named the Mother Teresa of Etipini (Itipini) (read about Yolo at aiaia.org under News,10/10/19). Yolo’s commitment and passion to assist this community inspired her to form the NGO Touching Acts. The Touching Act’s goal is to raise funds and support the education of 20 children, ages 6-15, residing in Sowetho by enrolling them in St. Patrick’s boarding school outside of Umtata. In 2019, the OR Tambo Municipality (the local government) paid the room, board and tuition for the 20 students. AIAIA financed uniforms, shoes and camps during the students’ school break.
In 2020, Touching Acts saw a need for the 20 children to be in a homelike environment instead of boarding at the school. With great effort and the approval of the children’s parents, TA moved the children from the boarding school to a 5+ bedroom home in a smaller, more nurturing environment with a compassionate and caring staff of 7. This move serves the safety, emotional, spiritual and educational needs of the students. The parents see their children monthly to share a meal.
The teachers report that children are improving academically; some of them scoring 87% in Math. Those who need academic support get assistance from the Education Department which also provides social workers for psychological and emotional issues stemming from the children growing up in a violent environment.
This year the boarding home has been financed by OR Tambo with rent, tuition and food. AIAIA finances uniforms, shoes and transportation to the school.
With the COVID shutdown this year, the children were homes- chooled by the caregivers who were supplied with schoolwork by St. Patrick teachers. School is now in session full time for ages 6-9 and part time for the older learners.
Parents have commented about how happy and healthy their children are since moving into the home. AIAIA Board Member Spiwo Xapile commented: “These children are not the children we saw at Itipini (Sowetho). What would have happened without the opportunity they were given?”
Your continued support of Arm in Arm will help ensure a brighter future for the children of Sowetho. Thank you!
Parents have commented about how happy and healthy their children are since moving into the home.
Julie Vogl, Board Member, Chair of Education Committee