At St Michael’s we are committed to ‘paying it forward’ and to do what we can to make a difference. There is a saying, ‘you can’t change the world, but you can change the world for one person‘ and this message inspires us to do our little bit, no matter how small.
St Michael’s is very proud that we have had an opportunity to be supporting a non-profit charity in South Africa, called Sihamba – in Xhosa the word means ‘we walk together‘ . The charity supports two houses in Gugulethu, a township in Cape Town, South Africa. The two houses are Masincedane – the home for intellectually and physically disabled children and Priscilla’s Home Care – a home for children without parental care.
life in Gugulethu
Gugulethu has the reputation to be one of the most violent townships in South Africa; in the previous year, the police station recorded more murders than any other police station in the country. Many houses and shelters give testimony to the poverty, the struggle to survive, the severe lack of space, but also to a make-your- own-plan attitude to life.
Masincedane
‘Let us help one another’
Nancy Rwexana’s, who lives in Gugulethu, had a severely disabled child and because she could not go out to work (as she had to look after her own child), she offered to look after other disabled children in her township, in her own home, free of charge. Some parents who dropped off their children, never returned to collect their children. Sadly Nancy’s own child passed away a few years ago, yet she continued to look after the disabled children in her care. Currently Nancy looks after 20 severely disabled children in her house, full time, with no government grant. With the help of the Sihamba charity, she now has a team of seven women to help her – five of the workers work during the day and two are on duty at night.
Priscilla’s home care
Priscilla is another inspirational woman who invited orphan children into her own home, when she realised that they are walking the streets of the township with no parents and nowhere to live. Currently there are 18 children living in her own house, and again, with no government grants. The money from the Sihamba charity is the only income they receive.
St Michael’s is very proud of the money we have raised to support this charity and make a little bit of a difference in the lives of these children.
Please see our video:
“Let us keep spreading the kindness…”