Woza Moya 15 Year Report
Woza Moya 15 Year Report
Woza Moya 15 Year Report
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EAR LY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT:
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TAKING CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
A Message
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About
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from the Director Us
FOOD SECURITY:
BECAUSE FOOD MATTERS
10 16 20
Water Sanitation and Hygiene:
OUR YOUTH AND MEDIA: Building a safe and
PROGRAMMES LEARNING AND INNOVATING hygienic community
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25
Upskilling staff 25 25
How you
and wor kers Volunteers can help
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Paralegal and advocacy
services: Finding our voices 26
Woza Moya
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Siyabonga
Team Kakhulu
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Writer: Rhonda Klevansky | Editor: Gladys Ryan - Communicating Simply
Design: LUMO - www.lumo.co.za | Cover: Picture of Mzamo Bekwa painted by Maggie Strachan
Sincere thanks to Oxfam Australia in South Africa for their constant support, and for their contribution to the design and printing of this publication.
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PHOTO © Max Bastard | OXFAM
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In the past five years there has been tremendous growth within our programmes, our work and
the personal development of our team. Our two new programmes, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
and Early Childhood Development, complement our existing work and are contributing to our
success in the valley.
Working towards access to clean, safe WASH peer education. Both sites are We encourage professional and student It is fundamental to empower people
water and decent and appropriate equipped with waterless environmental volunteers from other areas in South to find their own voices so that they can
sanitation has become central to our work toilets and rainwater harvesting systems. Africa and abroad to join us to learn make informed decisions about their
and a high priority in all our programmes. We built a multipurpose WASH ‘rondavel’ and to share. While Buddhist principles own lives. This philosophy underpins
It positively impacts on people’s health, on our land, which uses innovative influence our work, most of our team all the work we do at Woza Moya. We
as well as their livelihoods and dignity. and green technologies. We trained all follows a Christian faith and we participate share new information and create space
Our community care-workers now our workers in good hygiene practices in religious sector forums as an for community members to discuss their
emphasize WASH issues and improved and introduced low-tech hand washing ecumenical organisation. issues and concerns so that they can
hygiene in their door-to-door home visits. facilities, aka the ingenious tippy-tap, to find their own solutions. This is
Access to water and sanitation is a basic the valley. Our communion with each other is a sustainable development.
human right, especially for the women fundamental part of our daily existence
and girls who collect water from far-away Our media team is now trained in at Woza Moya and we take relationships
places, and for other vulnerable and photography and video production and seriously. At the beginning of each work
marginalized peoples such as those living has been making short documentaries day we gather in a circle, sing and pray,
with disabilities or with HIV. to show off our work. The videos are and check in with each other. Each
uploaded to our website and to YouTube. person is encouraged to briefly mention
We set up two WASH demonstration sites Our roots remain firmly in the community their state of physical and mental health.
for the community, one at Woza Moya and and because of this, we have been able to Our staff meetings are always reflective
another on the far side of Ofafa at a local build a strong foundation of trust with the and we give time to silence, the relating
high school, where we are also doing people we serve. of personal news and the discussion of Sue Hedden
organisational highlights and challenges. Director, Woza Moya Ixopo
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Woza Moya directly benefits 1,920 people,
and indirectly benefits at least 8,000 people.
In the peaceful rolling hills of the Ofafa Today, our integrated and multifaceted
Valley an organisation is slowly, steadily approach includes the following
making a difference to the lives of people. programmes: Home-based Health Care;
Woza Moya was born out of the extreme Child and Youth Care; Food Security;
and urgent need for a response to HIV Paralegal and Advocacy Services;
and AIDS in the area. Youth and Media; Water Sanitation and
Hygiene (WASH) and Early Childhood
We began by providing home-based Development (ECD).
care and support to those in need of it
but soon realised we could not focus Our dedicated team members are mainly
on health care without also attending to local, which has helped with creating
other issues related to poverty - because trust within the community. This means
poverty and food insecurity have a that we can effectively build capacity
direct bearing on the impact HIV has on within the greater community (an issue
people’s lives. Over the past 15 years of importance as few people in the area
we have grown organically making every have had access to higher education)
attempt to respond to these issues with
the resources we have.
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Gogo Bekwa and her family: Keeping you posted
In our ten year report we highlighted Gogo Bekwa and her family. They have been part of the Woza Moya community for many years, ever since Gogo Bekwa’s own
children died leaving her with six small grandchildren to care for. Now it feels right to highlight the tremendous success of these grandchildren.
Mfundo is now 25 years old. He is mentally disabled and is supported by Gogo Bekwa. Hlengiwe is 21 and has recently completed high school; Vuyiswa,
who is 17, is currently in high school; as is 14-year-old Mzamo.
Mzamo was four when we entered his life and his mother was dying. Mzamo and his siblings started attending our Orphans and Vulnerable Children support groups and they
returned to school where they have proved to be excellent students. Mzamo is an active participant in our afterschool programme and thinks of Woza Moya as his other home.
He is happy and high spirited and likes to come to us for day-to-day life skills advice. He has a dog which he cares for and he loves to draw pictures of the homes
and animals of his community. He is a creative young man. Mzamo also loves karate and he did so well in our classes that we took him and Lizwe Hlangu to a karate
dojo in Durban for extra training. They are now the leaders of the karate group.
Hlengiwe is 21 and has recently completed high school. We were delighted when she started working at Woza Moya this year. She is doing a nine-month youth
internship programme with us in order to help her enter the job market. We take in one boy and one girl under 25 at the beginning of every year to give them an
opportunity to learn many skills such as computers, media and peer education; as well as to experience a nine-to-five work environment where certain policies
and procedures need to be adhered to. After this period she will be able to add this work experience to her CV and receive a reference from Woza Moya.
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Community Integrated local (Ixopo) Department of Health now
Management of Childhood holds monthly clinics at Woza Moya.
Illnesses (C-IMCI) In addition, referral systems are much
stronger, with both parties sharing the
In 2011, together with local and district load of caring for patients, together
Departments of Health and other NGOs, overseeing their continued care.
Woza Moya successfully adopted the
Community Integrated Management Ongoing training empowers our
of Childhood Illnesses (C-IMCI) into its Community Care Workers and keeps
Home-based Health Care Programme. them up to date with current information
This systematic approach to children’s and trends.
Taking care of our community health was developed by the United
Home based Health Nations Children’s Fund and the World
Care : The heart of Woza Moya’s team of well-trained Health Organisation in 1992 and
promotes a holistic approach to child
our work community care-workers are constantly
health. This means a focus on the
keeping an eye out to identify the most
vulnerable families in the valley. If they entire circumstances of the child
“Woza Moya is my life and rather than isolating one particular
find a family or person to be in need,
my second home and family. they make contact with a primary problem. It also means that prevention
We look after ourselves and caregiver in each home in order to share is about both curative care as well
as preventing disease.
each other well here, so that skills, information and ongoing support
we can be strong to support and advice.
Woza Moya is particularly interested in
our vulnerable community. The care-workers are skilled in basic improving family and community health
Sometimes our work is difficult home-care nursing, primary health care, practices. The C-IMCI partnership
involved ongoing training over a two year
and makes us tired, but we palliative care, first aid, HIV and AIDS
and TB treatment as well as general period, with 70 care-workers – from Woza
stand up and continue because Moya, the departments of health and
counseling and voluntary counseling
our belief and passion is for our and testing. Woza Moya includes non- social development, and other NGOs -
community to have good health traditional healing methods such as attending workshops at Woza Moya.
in their lives” mindfulness-based stress reduction,
psychotherapy, non-verbal counseling Many co-operative programmes have
Jane Nxasane techniques, bereavement counseling, grown around this partnership,
Home-based Health Care Manager reflexology, aromatherapy, Reiki and the including campaigns, community
use of traditional herbs. dialogues, and training sessions.
Through Jane’s initiatives the
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Support groups children. LearnToLive assists us with
medication compliance and health
Woza Moya facilitates monthly support education. Woza Moya also takes children
groups for adults and children living and adults with disabilities from Ofafa
with HIV. People come together to the Isikhumbuzo Creighton Disability
from throughout the Ofafa Valley to Clinic, which is about 45 minutes from
discuss health related matters such the centre.
as antiretroviral treatment, co-infection
of HIV and TB, and the side effects of
medication. They also assist people
with practical matters such as accessing
money for transport to and from hospital,
preparing wills and succession planning.
Most importantly, these meetings provide a
space for emotional support and sharing.
PHOTO © Max Bastard | OXFAM
There are currently over 350 adults and 59
children attending these support groups.
Four times a year, during school holidays,
the children and the community care-
workers who oversee their households,
come to Woza Moya for a full day. They
have time to get to know one another in a
formal meeting, to play and to socialize.
All get together through the annual
Christmas party, a very special occasion
for everyone.
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Support groups
, Child and Youth and Thandanani Time
Sandile s story Care : taking care
of the future Woza Moya facilitates support groups
for orphaned and vulnerable children
Sandile, who is seven, lives with his father. Our community care-worker
Children are often most severely affected and their guardians, most of whom
intercepted after Sandile was born and persuaded his mother to take him to
by the consequences of HIV. Woza Moya are grandmothers or Gogos. Through
the hospital for immunizations and HIV testing. He tested positive. His mother,
assists the vulnerable children of the Thandanani Time (Thandanani means
who had had a tragic life of abuse, became increasingly ill and died of AIDS and
Ofafa Valley and their guardians through love one another) the organisation
drug resistant TB. Sandile was also in and out of hospital with TB and his father
support groups, life-skills training, local focuses on improving communication
was struggling to take care of him.
childcare forums and home visits done by and relations between the guardians and
the care-workers. children under their care. It also offers life
When our care-workers intervened further, they learned that his father, a difficult
skills training and creative play activities
man, believed that Sandile’s ARV treatment was the cause of his illness. He linked
Many of the children in the Ofafa Valley for the children. All the support groups
the illness and the medicine to his bad dreams. He said that he dreamed that a
are orphaned and live with guardians and/ meet once a month in the outlying regions
snake bit him when he tried to give Sandile his tablet and thus decided to stop.
or other family members. Woza Moya of Ofafa. The children who live nearer
Our care-workers explained the way the tablets worked and the side effects that
does not believe in removing children to Woza Moya come to the centre every
can occur. They persuaded him to follow through with the treatment and Sandile is
from their community of origin unless week and many of them attend afternoon
doing well now. He attends school and is part of the children’s support group.
absolutely necessary. It works to help programmes such as karate, circus
these children stay in the community school, library and sports. All the children
by supporting them and their primary come to the annual Christmas party.
caregivers. It also supports
14 child-headed households. While this Hand-in-hand
, is not ideal, it is the best solution with local schools
Thuleleni s Story currently available.
Woza Moya works closely with seven
Thuleleni is 40 years old, widowed and without any income. Her husband died primary schools in the Ofafa Valley.
of AIDS. He did not believe in HIV testing. When we approached her she was The Child and Youth Care Manager
bedridden and living with her four children in a house with neither road nor water has regular meetings at the schools to
access. Even though her mother-in-law was present, she was not interested in see how orphaned and vulnerable
caring for her. This situation was very stressful for our care-worker so our Home- children are coping in the school
based Health Care Manager went to visit the family. Woza Moya assisted Thuleleni environments. Likewise, teachers refer
to get to a clinic for HIV testing and now she is on treatment, doing well and an learners who are having problems to
active member of our support group network. She now has work on a nearby farm Woza Moya so that care-workers can
and supports her family. She helps others who are in similar situations. intervene where necessary, providing
support to the household.
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Through the School Support Programme, been invaluable. These specialist partners
Woza Moya has sponsored 25 children greatly enhance the organisation’s
,
in the past five years. Private donors work and capacity to respond Thabisile s story
provide funds for uniforms, shoes, appropriately and effectively to the many
tracksuits and other school accessories, challenges facing vulnerable children in
and Woza Moya in turn supplies the donor the community. Inspired by Woza Moya’s Thabisile, who is 12, lives with her grandmother and her little sister. Their mother
with a photo and short biosketch of the work, Clowns Without Borders South died from AIDS and tuberculosis. When our care-worker came across this family,
child they have supported. Africa developed their own sequel to Thabisile was not well and the family often went to bed hungry because her
Thandanani Time - Njabulo Residency grandmother was unemployed and wasn’t receiving any grants assistance.
Active partnerships - which uses song, dance, drama and
mindfulness-based stress-reduction As an interim measure, Woza Moya bought food parcels for the family and
Exchange visits to Cape Town based (MBSR) techniques. paid for Thabisile to get to the clinic for an HIV test. At the same time,
organisations RAPCAN (Resources Aimed we assisted the grandmother apply for a foster care grant.
at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Woza Moya organizes and facilitates local
Neglect) have helped both organisations Community Childcare Coalition Forums Thabisile’s test was positive. In order for her to receive antiretroviral medication the
grow; Clowns Without Borders South (CCCF) and has a representative on the family was required to attend training. However, her grandmother was uneducated
Africa has provided psycho-social care district CCCF committee. Here, those and unable to attend. Our care-worker stepped in, took the required course and in
to the children and guardian’s support who work with orphaned and vulnerable turn taught Thabisile’s grandmother. In time, her grandmother received a grant and
groups; Woza Moya is a member of the children come together to address the could feed the family. Thabisile’s health improved and she did well at school.
CINDI (Children in Distress) Network; challenges facing them in order to
and the relationships with Children’s provide appropriate, effective, and Tragedy struck once again when her grandmother died. The two young girls
Rights Centre and World Vision have sustainable support. had to move into a foster home with a relation. Our care-workers helped
them with this transition and continue to watch over their welfare. Thabisile
and her sister are now in good health, attending school and Thabisile is
part of our children’s support group.
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PHOTO © Matthew Willman | OXFAM
that they can grow up to be With this information in mind, the ECD practitioners made a special effort with this
Active partnerships
great adults. I especially little boy and taught him to respect the other children, not fight them. They shared
good stories with him and encouraged good behavior. Mxolisi changed. Now he
love to see how much our Save the Children South Africa has
plays well with the other children and they have grown to love him. He received his
children enjoy to work with become a great partner, providing on-
immunizations at the monthly children’s mobile clinic, as well as ringworm treatment
going training, support, resources, and
the persona dolls.” which the ECD practitioners apply. He has blossomed on every level.
monthly forums connecting the team with
the greater ECD community. Woza Moya
Ncami Shabalala Jane and the community care-worker are working with Mxolisi’s grandparents
also works with Training and Resources
ECD Practitioner to teach them how to take better care of him.
in Early Education (TREE) and Persona
Doll, organisations which focus on early
In 2009 through the support of Patricia
childhood development.
Shafer, Mothering Across Continents,
Gavin Harrison and the Hawaiian
Sangha, Woza Moya built a crèche, The
Play Centre, at Woza Moya. At the time
there were no play schools in the valley.
Two supporters of Woza Moya, Linda
Stone and Helen Hancock, both ECD
specialists, spent a year helping set up
the play school and training three local
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Youth and Media: “Woza Moya means a lot At the same time, S’Bonelo Ndlovu, In order to raise awareness of this
the Paralegal and Advocacy Manager issue more generally in the school,
to me. It is shelter from all
lear ning and has been working with the school they ran a survey of 120 students to
storms. Woza Moya guides
innovating me in my life and is giving me
community to support them in advocating uncover their attitudes. After they
for better facilities. have taken this programme to all four
“Woza Moya played a huge hope for a brighter future.” high schools in Ofafa they plan to
The young media team is learning to return to partner with other NGOs and
role in my life. Now I have so document the impact of Woza Moya’s do more in-depth work. This will culminate
Mthobisi Mthembu
much knowledge about how to Youth and Media Manager work and to raise its public profile. As in a community dialogue, bringing
make videos, such as writing part of an Oxfam Youth and Technology students together from all the schools for
project three young media gatherers an open forum discussion around gender-
scripts, gathering raw footage, Woza Moya works with young people
in the community to promote positive, have learnt techniques in interviewing, based violence.
editing, making subtitles and photography, videography, audio
equitable and sustainable change.
so on. I can do all this by The Youth and Media Manager, Mthobisi recording and editing. Film Craft, a Youth leadership, sport and the
myself now. It makes me feel Mthembu, attends a youth forum run Durban-based media NGO, gives training Afterschool Programme
very excited.” by Religions for Peace South Africa and ongoing support to the media
where he meets with other young workers, as do a number of media Our Youth Programme is bringing young
Sinethemba Ndlovu people from all over KwaZulu-Natal. savvy volunteers. leaders to the fore. The Afterschool
Youth and Media Worker The topics they discuss include gender- Programme, headed by Thembelephi
based violence, HIV and AIDS, Using video in gender-based Chiliza, now has over 100 children signed
voluntary counseling and testing, violence workshops up and the numbers are growing. On
“Woza Moya helped me a lot Friday afternoons the Woza Moya girls run
Millennium Development Goals,
and means the world to me. mental health, teenage pregnancy In early 2015 our youth ran a series of netball teams and the Woza Moya boys
I have learned everything in and careers guidance. After this training, workshops focusing on gender-based soccer teams. Every three months we
my life here at Woza Moya. the Youth Team conducts peer violence. Working closely with five have play-offs between all the netball and
education workshops in the schools boys and five girls in the school they soccer teams in our greater area with two
It develops me and all my
throughout Ofafa. introduced this topic with ten open- rotating trophies to be won. We predict
colleagues - not only our ended questions. After separating the there will be more teams up-and-running
work but also how to be well Woza Moya partnered with One Voice girls and boys into two groups they in the near future.
inside ourselves. This place South Africa who trained the youth in videoed them answering the questions,
facilitation skills. In Dingizwe High School, as well as the ensuing discussion.
is our family.”
the location of the main youth peer
education project, Woza Moya worked They then showed the video to all of them
Thembelephi Chiliza
with about 120 teenagers, focusing on together. After watching each others’
Youth and Media Worker
WASH issues. video comments, the boys and girls found
it much easier to understand and discuss
gender-based violence more openly.
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and Sock Monkeys) and self-help
Food security: groups. These projects help ensure that
because food matters families have access to enough good and
fresh food.
“Woza Moya is my life; it
covers all my needs, in flesh A positive spin-off of this work is to see
how people grow in self-love and esteem.
and soul. Woza Moya is my In acquiring skills people feel good,
teacher of how to live with worthy and dignified, and their respect
other people with respect and within the community is developed. Woza
love. Woza Moya is of value, Moya strives for a balance between
encouragement and quality work, and
supporting the poorest people
by doing so, effectively navigates the
of my Ofafa community.” competitive external handcraft market.
The Sock Monkeys have been such a
Dumisile Mbanjwa big success that the crafters are now
Seamstress producing 200 each month.
“Woza Moya is like the best There are 25 crafters, knitters and
home where we are all embroiderers and four seamstresses
working on handcraft projects. They come
accepting one another with
to the Woza Moya community centre for
warm hearts, and growing one day each month, bringing all the
and developing all the time in products they have made at home.
PHOTO © Rhonda Klevansky
mind and soul and skills.” These crafts are sold locally, direct
from Woza Moya, and all across South
Benedicta Memela Africa; and the Sock Monkeys are a hit
Food Security Manager in Australia, where they are sold in the
Oxfam Fair Trade shops.
The Ofafa valley suffers from high
unemployment and deep poverty. As a Woza Moya has just begun a relationship
result, many families don’t have enough with SWIFT, Swaziland Fair Trade,
food. Woza Moya’s Food Security supported by Oxfam Australia. The
Programme includes farming projects training process will enhance the
(vegetables, eggs, milk and meat from handicraft projects to ensure that the
chickens and goats), income generating business growth is sustainable and the
handcraft projects (hand-embroidery, crafters earn a fair wage for their work.
card-making, knitting, bag-making
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Woza Moya recently started self-help In 2012 Woza Moya started a village
groups in partnership with Sinamandla, chicken project supported by Dr Ed
an NGO which focuses on empowering Wethli, a local poultry expert. He taught ,
vulnerable women socially and that traditional Zulu chickens provide a
Sindi Mtolo s story
economically. Each member of the group reliable, viable, sustainable agriculture
saves a small amount each week. This resource for rural families. Since then, Sindi came to us in 2008 through one of our community care-workers. At the time
money, in the end, makes a significant Woza Moya has run three training she was bedridden, coughing, sweating, not sleeping at night and angry with
difference to the households. sessions for community care-workers the world and everyone around her. Her young children were her only support.
and local farmers in Ofafa and in doing Jane (our Home-based Health Care Manager) visited her many times and learned
Active partnerships so has managed to reach 500 families. that after Sindi was abandoned by her parents she was eventually taken in by a
Village chickens have been such a grandmother. She was 16 when her grandmother died and was left to fend for
Woza Moya works closely with the South great success that there is now a need herself. She then had three children and contracted HIV.
African Department of Agriculture; the for an outlet for organic chicken meat.
Durban Botanical Gardens has assisted This would complete the circle and Encouraged by Jane, Sindi joined the support group for adults living with HIV. On
us with permaculture projects; and make an even greater impact on these meeting many others like herself her life changed. She became such a positive
community members have received vulnerable homes. member of the group that she was voted their representative to the National
animals from Heifer. Heifer is an NGO Association of People Living With AIDS (NAPWA) in Johannesburg.
which contributes to building households Through the Community Care Worker
through providing gifts in the form of network, Woza Moya monitors the food Sindi initially joined our craft project so that she could earn transport money to
goats and cattle to help families make an situation in Ofafa. Nesta Khoza, the Food get to the Ixopo hospital. We trained her “from scratch” and she is now one of
income; and perhaps even increase their Security Assistant Manager visits families our best, most creative sock monkey crafters. She has built her own house
wealth and wellbeing. that are reported to have food shortages. and supports three children - her 16-year old daughter, her 9-year old sister
She assesses their situation and helps and her 18-month old son. She helps others who are HIV positive and
Oxfam Australia Trading and the Hillcrest them improve their vegetable gardens and continues to be an inspiration to all around her.
AIDS Centre Trust stock and sell Woza their animal husbandry, and encourages
Moya crafts; and the recent partnership them to raise village chickens.
with SWIFT will make a huge difference to
Woza Moya.
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,
Sibongile s story
One of our community care-workers identified Sibongile in 2010. She is widowed
and positive, and has two children she could not support. She received 18
egg-laying chickens and two female goats and through this managed to
produce enough food for her family and surplus to sell. But she had a
diminished immune system and the physical work was taking its toll on her
thin body. We moved her across to a craft project and trained her to make Sock
Monkeys with our crafting team. She is now taking anti-retrovirals, can support
her children and has even built her own room.
,
Jabulani s story
PHOTO © Angela Buckland
Jabulani, an elderly man with poor eyesight, lives with his wife, two unemployed
daughters and five grandchildren. His old age pension is not enough to support
the family. After our Food Security Assistant Manager taught the family how to care
for chickens, Jabulani built a chicken hock and began with seven hens and two
roosters. He now has a flock of 35 chickens, many chicks and has begun selling
chickens to cover family expenses.
,
Thabane s story
Thabane, an elderly farmer who lives with his wife, children and grandchildren had
some chickens and goats, but little knowledge of animal husbandry. Our Food
Security Assistant Manager taught him how to build a chicken hock with roosting
boxes. In no time he acquired wood from the nearby forest and with the protection
of the new structure, his chicken flock has tripled. He has eggs and chickens for the
family and surplus to sell.
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spread. When girls walk long distances tippy taps for hand washing; push taps month of school because there are no
Water Sanitation alone to fetch water and firewood they are (to save water); swales for harvesting facilities at schools and the families
and Hygiene WASH : vulnerable to rape and are often abused. water for gardens; drip irrigation in the cannot afford to buy sanitary pads. The
building a safe and The WASH Programme aims to reduce terraced vegetable gardens; wheel chair girls generally stay at home and use
the vulnerability of marginalized groups ramps and railings; incinerators; a green leaves or whatever they can find. Woza
hygienic community such as women, children, the elderly and off-the-grid rondavel with a paraffin rocket Moya is exploring various options such
the disabled. shower; solar lighting; a household sized as re-useable sanitary pads and installing
“Simple innovations, like the enviroloo and ground run-off gutters. The small incinerators in the girls’ toilets.
Tippy Tap, often have the The WASH Programme is a five-year Woza Moya site also has an overall water-
most far reaching effects. initiative supported by Oxfam and the saving permaculture design. While the duty to deliver essential
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs services such as water, sanitation and
I’m proud that we earned the
and Trade’s Australia Africa Community Now that the WASH hardware is installed, hygiene rests with the state, Woza
Tippy Tap Project title, as this Engagement scheme (AACES) the focus is on promoting change through Moya believes that citizens should have
shows that we are making Programme. Through this programme the the care-workers at a household level a voice and play an active role in the
headway when it comes to health of the community has improved (hand washing, installation of tippy design, implementation, governance and
tremendously, through better hygiene and taps, water filtration and storage, and monitoring of these initiatives. It is working
grassroots interventions.”
cleaner, safer water. waste management) and through the to strengthen the capacity of community
Dingizwe school peer education and members and those in positions of
Alan Hofland Water is scarce in South Africa and so it advocacy project. power, such as the traditional leaders,
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Manager is important to keep trying out alternative local government and municipalities. The
technologies. Woza Moya is exploring At Dingizwe, with the help of HCI aim is to improve WASH governance
Woza Moya is working within the rainwater harvesting from roof structures, Foundation, a rain water harvesting and effectiveness so that more WASH
community to improve their access water filtration, solar powered water system was installed; and Oxfam funded programmes are implemented and
to good supplies of water and better pumps for irrigation, solar geysers and two enviroloos for educators to pilot, become sustainable.
sanitation and hygiene. In 2012 the lighting, paraffin rocket showers, and as well as tippy taps and Push Taps. In
organisation completed a survey of all the compost toilets. The organisation is 2015 Woza Moya is busy with building The media team will document the
available water sources (springs, streams, also educating the community in waste incinerators and making the school easily programme so that ultimately the
boreholes and community taps) in the disposal methods and increasing their accessible to children, the elderly and results can be shared, the public can be
Ofafa valley in order to plan educational environmental awareness. disabled by creating wheelchair access engaged and regional government policy
and technical interventions. and friendly facilities. This is leading can be influenced.
Oxfam Australia chose Woza Moya as to increased school attendance and
In the patriarchal Ofafa community, a WASH demonstration site and the healthier students. Woza Moya is pleased at how successful
woman and girls collect water for their organisation was gifted with a 30,000 it has been with integrating the WASH
households, often far away down litre rainwater harvesting system; a solar In their peer education workshops Programme into existing programmes.
steep dirt tracks, at unprotected and powered water pump that pushes water at Dingizwe the Youth Programme is The home-based care-workers are
contaminated communal water sources, through a series of filters; solar lights; two addressing menstrual hygiene. Girl teaching people the importance of hand
where water borne diseases can easily be waterless enviroloos (industrial sizes); learners miss on average five days per washing, water filtration and clean water
20
storage. As a result there have been fewer
incidences of diarrhea and other water ,
borne diseases. Better access to water
Nomathemba s story
with the use of swales and permaculture
techniques is improving crop success and Five-year-old Nomathemba attends the Woza Moya play school where the children are taught to always wash their hands
food security. The Paralegal Programme before eating and after going to the toilet. They use the ingenious Tippy Tap, which is made from sticks, string and an old
is raising awareness that access to clean five-litre plastic container. Tippy taps, set up at just the right height for children, are like play therapy tools and the children
water and decent sanitation is a basic have all come to love using them.
human right and a part of South Africa’s
Constitution. Woman now have more When Nomathemba went home after school to her grandparents’ house she was sad. There was no Tippy Tap to wash her
input into the implementation of water hands with! She eventually persuaded her grandfather to make one and taught everyone at home how to use it. She now
and sanitation. The organisation has makes sure that all the other 11 family members always wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet.
worked with Save the Children South
Africa and Training and Resources in At first everyone thought this was very funny but now more and more of the family are washing their hands without five-year-old
Early Education (TREE) to establish Nomathemba checking on them. The positive impact on this household’s health was huge. The simple tippy tap has
good hygiene practices for the children greatly reduced the incidence of diarrhoea in this household. According to the Home-based Health Care Programme
in the ECD Programme. The routines reports this household was suffering an average of two cases of diarrhoea every month. Since the implementation of the
they have learnt, such as washing their Tippy Tap and Nomathemba’s insistence that everyone use it, there has been only one case of diarrhoea in the past few months.
hands after using the toilet and before
eating, and disposing of litter, have been
so successful that they are teaching their
guardians at home.
Active partnerships
21
PHOTO © Angela Buckland
22
institutions such as the Department of
Paralegal and Social Development, South African Social ,
Advocacy Services: Security Agency and the Department of Nonhlanhla s story
finding our voices Home Affairs.
Nonhlanhla, a 62 year old grandmother cares for five grandchildren, three of whom
S’Bonelo, the Paralegal and Advocacy
“Woza Moya gave me the are now orphans. After her daughter died of tuberculosis in 2013, the child support
Manager, runs quarterly Community for her three children lapsed. When she approached the relevant department to
opportunity for pursuing Learning Workshops around Ofafa to renew it, she was told to wait three months for the matter to be resolved. At the end
my dreams of helping share information and knowledge; to of that time, she learnt that her file had been misplaced and that she needed to wait
the poorest people in my encourage people to question and find another three months. In the meantime, she had spent her meager state pension
their own voices; and to build their self-
community, despite not on food and had no money to send the older children to school, nor to take the
esteem. In the workshops he addresses youngest, a two-year-old, to the clinic for immunization. With the assistance and
having the opportunity to go human rights issues, gender-based intervention of S’bonelo, the child support grants were renewed.
to university or to have any violence, and basic services such as
tertiary qualification. Woza water and sanitation. Through these
Moya trained, developed and educative sessions he works to empower
people in the community to demand
supported me to do all the what is rightfully theirs, through ,
work I do today. They accept dialogue and by lobbying the relevant Yolanda s story
me as I am and take me further government departments.
and higher all the time.” Yolanda, a high school student, was orphaned after her mother died as a result of
He also assists people to apply for a violent attack and her father of Tuberculosis. She now lives with an aunt, a single
S’Bonelo Ndlovu the government services they are parent of a teenager and a seven-year old. The aunt, who survives by selling food at
Paralegal and Advocacy Manager entitled to because getting access a local school, cannot afford to raise another child. She had trouble registering for a
to documentation, social grants and foster grant because she and her niece have different surnames. She came to ask
Woza Moya has a strong paralegal dealing with government departments is for assistance after struggling for 12 months with the government system. S’bonelo
programme and when needed, liaises particularly challenging for people who not only managed to register her for the grant, but succeeded in getting 12 months
with non-governmental organisations are not familiar with reading, writing and back-payment for her from the social services department.
such as Black Sash, Equal Education, filling in forms. The applications could
Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian be for documents such as identity cards,
Social Awareness, Ixopo Legal Aid, birth and death certificates or government
Section 27, Treatment Action Campaign, assistance such as foster care grants.
,
Justice and Women, and Lifeline. The Where needed, he follows up on cases
where grants have not come through.
Zodwa s story
organisation also works with government
Zodwa, a 49-year-old mother of six children has suffered two strokes, is disabled
and cannot work. After she approached us for assistance with a disability grant,
S’bonelo referred her to a medical practitioner for an assessment and she now
receives a grant that assists her feed, clothe and school her family.
23
After driving for 15 minutes, winding around the hills of Ofafa Valley, we take a sudden left turn onto a grassy plain. As we continue to drive, bouncing up and down over
the slightly uneven ground, a simple building appears, placed eloquently amongst its green surroundings. We jump out of our vehicle and are greeted by a lady wearing a
Woza Moya t-shirt – Lungi.
Family homes, many with small farms, pepper each hillside as the great valley swerves like a snake into the distance. I take a minute to just absorb my surroundings –
as beautiful as it is awe-inspiring.
Gogos (grandmothers) and mothers have started to trickle toward one of Woza Moya’s buildings and begin to sit outside with Lungi, some accompanied by babies strapped
close. The building is a large empty hall with the cool concrete floor acting as the most dominant piece of furniture – its temperature allowing us to temporarily escape the heat
coming from outside. From a small interior room, plastic chairs are brought into the centre of the hall, forming a large circle accommodating approximately 25 attendees. We
stand for a short prayer and then today’s routine community meeting is introduced.
Today is a special session organised by Jane, a founding member of Woza Moya. It is the first time that S’bonelo, Woza Moya’s Paralegal Manager, is hosting the forum –
and it is his first time hosting any forum too. Directly responding to a need for more legal support, the meeting is a new attempt by Woza Moya to provide better legal services
to its ever expanding community. And if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that S’bonelo, a youth my age, had held community forums all his life! For the next hour
I am captivated by the meeting – discussing everything from the role of the paralegal position at Woza Moya to the legal rights issues faced by the community members.
From day one, every member of the team at Woza Moya has shown me what the practice of community care and community support really looks like. Whether it was through
engaging in discussions about organisational structure and governance, accompanying programme managers to community consultations or listening to deliberations about
problem solving in the community, I feel I never stopped learning about good community engagement practice.
My time at Woza Moya also exposed me to a diverse range of activities. I attended private-public forums that strengthen the ties between NGO efforts and government actions.
I participated in monitoring and evaluation processes to help plan for the future allocation of resources. And I accompanied the Home-based Health Care (HBC) Manager on
many trips into the community, affording me the opportunity to learn how positive health outcomes are achieved at the local level.
Amongst all these experiences, the most prominent lesson I learned was that of leadership – defined by a community-first attitude and a principle of mentorship. The culture
driven by the Woza Moya leadership style, which begins with senior managers and is as present in junior members, filters down into the Woza Moya community care-workers,
strengthening the entire organisation.
I am endlessly grateful to the staff for all they offered me while on placement.
Siyabonga!
Danny Lichter
Medical student from Melbourne Australia, who spent two months at Woza Moya on a volunteer placement organized through Monash University and Oxfam Australia.
24
Woza Moya is committed to developing Woza Moya has an ongoing volunteer Woza Moya is a non-profit organisation • Our base has grown with us, and our
the people from the community of Ofafa, programme and is grateful to those who that is able to carry out its work through buildings need maintenance. In 2009
and with the exception of Sue and Alan, offer their skills, time and energy. This the generosity of donors. There are we built our play centre, sunk a
all of the team comes from the Ofafa area. benefits our projects as well as those many ways in which you can help us: by borehole for a water project, renewed
As a policy, Woza Moya does not employ who volunteer as they learn deep and becoming a monthly donor; by donating our electrical wiring and improved our
any outside professionals. The long term long-lasting life lessons through their money and materials; by purchasing access road. In 2013 we completed
aim is for the Woza Moya team to be interactions with community and the work our products; by volunteering with us; the first phase of a building to
skilled and autonomous. Woza Moya has that Woza Moya does. The volunteers and by promoting our work by sharing accommodate professional partners
experienced wonderful growth largely share in the trials, suffering and successes our website, distributing our reports and and volunteers. We are looking for
because of the ongoing staff capacity of a community that is emerging from telling people about us. funds to complete it.
building programmes. severe economic and social deprivation • As funds allow, we provide food
and this interaction fosters mutual We use the money you donate in parcels to the most impoverished
Staff development and training is understanding and an appreciation of many ways: families in our region, and we provide
absolutely crucial to what the organisation inter-connectedness. It also often leads to educational support to a number of
does. Not only is the organisation more wonderful connections which feed back • We have ongoing operations costs orphaned and vulnerable children.
sustainable, but also the community positively into the community that Woza which include staff and care worker • We assist community members who
greatly benefits from the skills and Moya serves. costs, vehicle and public transport, start food garden cooperatives with
knowledge base of the team. There are and office administration expenses. fencing and water tanks.
good channels of communication in place • We provide ongoing training for all the • Existing programmes need to be
so that information flows easily from our care-workers and staff. expanded and developed, but this
team into the community, into households • We purchase the palliative remedies is all fund dependant. For example,
and to community members. that our community care-workers carry in addition to the 650 children already
with them on their home visits. receiving assistance, 100 vulnerable
• Our community care-workers need children in the community have been
strong walking shoes, rain jackets identified by the care-workers and
and uniforms. extra funding would allow us to
respond to their needs as well.
25
ECD Centre: Manager:
Helen Hancock and Linda Stone Ms Jane Nxasane
Crafts and Gardens: Manager:
Shirley Moberly Ms Benedicta Memela
Crafts: Fund Raising:
Glynnis Shewan and Sue Pooler, Ms Shirley Griffin
Sosh Kippen and Tonia Woodburn Marketing:
Fund raising and Crafts: Mr Ian Chambler
Shirley Griffin Environmental:
Mr Alan Hofland
Management Committee Members:
Local Chief’s Councillor: Donors (Current 2015):
Ms Thuleleni Rubina Nhlangulela Oxfam Australia (AACES and ANCP)
Director: 35 Community Care Workers Senior Traditional Healer: ELMA Philanthropies
Sue Hedden Ms Jabulile Ngcobo NACOSA: National Aids Convention
Crafts Specialist: Leader of the Catholic community: of South Africa
Project Manager (Administration): Leonie Malherbe Mr Apolonius Jani Ndlovu Private Foundations:
Benedicta Memela Nursing Sister: (Chairperson) Woza Moya staff member: South Coast Foundation, US
Sandy Dickson Ms Benedicta Memela Deichmann Foundation, Germany
Project Manager (Personnel): Project Accountant: Woza Moya staff member: HCI Foundation, South Africa
Jane Nxasane Theresa Samuelson Ms Jane Nxasane Victor Daitz Foundation, South Africa
Gardener: (Treasurer) Woza Moya staff member: Individual Monthly Donors
Programme Managers: Siyabonga Ndlovu Ms Sue Hedden
Home-based Health Care: WASH Field Worker “Mr Tippy Tap’’: (Secretary) Woza Moya staff member: Partners (Current 2015):
Jane Nxasane Bheki Mchunu Mr Mthobisi Mthembu NGOs:
Food Security: Cook & Cleaners: Community Care Worker Representative: Save the Children South Africa
Benedicta Memela Lindiwe Ngcobo and Mandisa Hlangu Ms Phumlile Dlamini One Voice South Africa
Child and Youth Care: Night Watchman: Induna of Chibini: Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, Woza Moya
Thembi Mweli S’bongeseni Ngcobo Mr Marcus Mdladla Sinamandla
Paralegal & Advocacy: Relief Night Watchman: Induna of Mashakeni: Black Sash
S’Bonelo Ndlovu Joseph Mahlaba Mr Mhlakwelitshe Athanasi Mdladla HIV/TB Care
Youth & Media: Repairs & Maintenance: Teacher at Cekazi Primary School: LearnToLive
Mthobisi Mthembu Mbongeni Mchunu Ms Sylvia Xolisile Jili CREATE
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: Youth Interns, 2015: Principal of Sinevuso Secondary School: Clowns Without Borders South Africa
Alan Hofland Lungelo Ndlovu and Hlengiwe Bekwa Mr Basil Mondli Mkhize Children’s Rights Centre
Early Childhood Development: Karate Trainers: World Vision, Ixopo
Bancamisile Shabalala, Fikisile Zuma, Thulasizwe Mdladla, Xolani Mchunu Advisory Committee: Religious Sectors HIV and AIDS Task Team
Tholakele Ngubane, Zandile Chonco Home Visitors: Social Worker & Development Consultant: Government Departments:
Self Help Groups: 12 Volunteers in Ofafa Ms Trish Bartley Health
Thulisile Mtolo, Dingeni Khanyile, Valley Community Accounting: Social Development & SASSA
Nesta Khoza Ms Theresa Samuelson Home Affairs
Youth and Media Workers: Volunteers: Communications: Education
Sinethemba Ndlovu, Thembelephi Chiliza, Communications and Crafts: Ms Jovita da Silva Agriculture
S’Celo Chiya, Mduduzi Gamede, Jovita da Silva Director: SAPS
Hlengiwe Zuma Media and Crafts: Ms Sue Hedden Municipalities
Seamstresses: Roy and Sandi McEwan
Fikelephi Star Ndlovu, Dumisile Mbanjwa
26
Leaf Technologies Our monthly donors:
Leigh Insurance & Team Leigh Care Dave & Carol Brammage
(Steve Leigh) Andrew Brown
Peter & Hiroko Macfarlane Bill Chalmers
Paul Meade Shawn Comrie
Shirl & Dave Moberly Antonio da Silva
Heather Moore Jovita da Silva
Mothering Across Continents Dick King Lab Supplies (Natal) (Pty) Ltd (Jenny
(Patricia Shafer) & Cathy King)
MySchoolMyVillageMyPlanet Errol Douwes
NACOSA, National Aids Convention Dr Alan & Jill Emerton
of South Africa Pamela Evans
Aids Foundation of South Africa Glencarol (Pty) Ltd (Raj Shunmugam) Vivien O’Neill Jill Ferraz
Catherine Anderson Global Z-Data CC Operation Sock Monkey (Lindsey Hodgson) Paddy Gray
Anglican Church of Hillcrest Shirley Griffin & Friends OXFAM Australia Duncan Hodge
All Together Now International (Jennifer Cleary Gogos of Llanfairfechan Charmaine Pillay & Friends Lyndy Hurst
& Stephen Harrison) Jackie Hall Dr Kriben Pillay & Uma Naidu Lorraine Lombard
Trish Bartley & Friends Hawaiian Sangha (Gavin Harrison) Mazars Inc. Gabriel Mizan
Stephen & Martine Batchelor (GAIA House Dr Scott Hazelhurst Marjolein Raijmakers Katherine Mary Murphy
Trust Limited) HCI Foundation Mark & Michelle Roberts Dr F Parak
Brewster Family (Jane, Rob & Eloide) Valerie Hearder Rotary Club of Durban Bay Moraig Isobel Penden
Buddhist Retreat Centre (Chrisi & Louis van Sue Henning & Mike Wallace (Marion Spence, Irene Kotze) Pelican Systems (Carina Tolken)
Loon & BRC Sangha) Dottie Hickey & Kathleen Nokes Rotary Club of Shelton Skookum USA Precision Safety Appliances (Hank and Karen
Brilliantweb (Brendon Hatcher) Hi-Tech Pressure Engineering (John Hinck) Lombard)
Casa dei Bambini School (Joanna Godbolt) Jill Hooper Angela Sartre Annegret Rood
Catholic Women’s League, Montclair Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Save the Children SA (Mari van de Merwe) Catherine Linda Ross
Dr Richard Chippendale Africa (Amra Chakravarti) S’Khumbuzo Zulu Creighton Disability Clinic Dr Kathleen Sowersbury
Cold Press (Jane Chitty) Chris Human (Debbie Rowe) Jen & Rob Stapylton-Smith
Deichman Foundation IMACCS Computers (late Gavin Macpherson, South Coast Foundation Inc, US Martha Rosemary Turner
EIKOS Risk Applications and Staff (Samantha wife Helen, brother Quentin) (Kathy Cook) Aubrey Van Rooyen
Hornsby & Taryn Mardon) I-Tech Solutions (Clyde Langley) Steritech Group Doreen Williams
EIS Engineering & Industrial Supplies CC and The Ivan Miosic Trust St John with St Raphael Anglican Church,
Staff (Gino & Celes da Silva) Pat Jameson-Amwele Sydenham
ELLIES Commercial Solutions-KZN Stephen Jiran Victor Daitz Foundation
The ELMA Foundation Judith Kauffman Baker & Friends Vukani Mawethu Choir
Ian Fleming Juliene, Ian & Anne Kiepiel Arnold Zulman
Julie Frederikse Ellen La Penna
27
Mother Theresa
PHOTO © Max Bastard | OXFAM
PO Box 847, Ixopo, 3276, KwaZulu-Natal, SOUTH AFRICA | 039 834 0023 | office@wozamoya.org.za
Woza Moya Community Development Project (RF) NPC | 085-515 NPO | Non Profit Company 2009/013994/08 | 18A PBO Tax Exempt 930031833