Stories

A story from the field by Nobaleka Gqirha

My name is Nobaleka Gqirha and I am working as a teacher at Ngxala preschool.

I started working when there were few children and few resources, but now I am happy because my centre has resources and is attractive for the children. Now I am enrolling more that 20 children. I think my dream has come through. When I was young my dream was to be a professional teacher. But when my parents died at an early age I though my dream would no longer be true. But with the help of Philani my dream came through. Dr Ingrid is my role model and I admire her. She not only improves my community but myself too. Philani gave me the opportunity to go to school and receive training in nutrition and child illnesses. Now I have something to talk about with the parents when I have meetings. I believe that education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world and the situation in our homes.

A story from the field by Funeka Dasoyi

I was doing house to house visits one day and I found a bedridden granny with a 5-year-old girl in the house.

After explaining my work and who I am the granny reported that this little girl had not been feeling well for a week now. She has no appetite. I checked her temperature. It was 39 C. I asked where the mother of this little girl was and the granny said she is in Mthata for work and she does not answer the telephone when I call. When I checked the child, she had septic sores on her body and she was smelling badly. Her clinic card stated that she was on ARV medication but she had defaulted long ago. The child needed to go to hospital but there was no one who could go with her so I took her myself. Zithulele hospital referred her to Nelson Mandela Academic hospital in Mthata at once.

I called her mother to tell her and she went to the hospital to stay with her child. I visited the preschool to report that the child had been admitted to hospital. The child was restarted on ARVs and also was treated for TB. Her mother resigned from her work to look after her child after I convinced her to do so. Today the child is healthy and takes her medication every day.

A story from the field by Nozuko Magavu

I, Nozuko Magavu, want to take this opportunity to tell a story about my school.

It was on the 13 of May 2013 when I started to work in this position. The children initially were about 8 or less. There was no proper room to teach and play with them. We sometimes used a nearby church and the field as a playground.

As the time goes on the number of students increased and a school was built. I was so impressed that I even called the school Vukani – preschool. The community supported me as well. They always prepare their children to come to school in time. I always take my school as my second home because of the love and participation I get there.

I am thankful for the presence of Philani because I now have this Vukani pre- school. Phambili Philani!! Phambili!

A story from the field by Lulama Mabhula

When I was doing house to house visits I met a 40-year-old pregnant lady but she was not booked.

I referred her to the clinic and explained the danger of late booking. She went to the clinic and all the tests were done. She was HIV pos. As she was 40 years old she from then on attended the high-risk clinic at Zithulele hospital. I continued with my follow up visits and the mother delivered a low birthweight baby with a caesarean section due to prolonged labour.  The baby was HIV negative. She and the baby were transferred to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthata and they stayed there for 5 weeks.

When we visited the mother and baby after discharged from hospital we noticed that the baby had difficulty sucking the breast and difficulty breathing but mother was not thinking of taking the child to the clinic. I called my supervisor the same day – the mother was given money to go straight to the hospital and the baby stayed in hospital for a month.

When she came back from the hospital I visited again. The baby was better, sucking the breast well. She is now 10 weeks with a good weight and the mother is very happy. Immunizations are up to date, milestones are good and the child has the Child Support Grant.

The story of a mother to-be in a small village

In April a Philani Mentor Mother met a mother to-be during house-to-house visits in a small village called Kitaa.

The client was 5 months pregnant and lives with a disability. She uses a wheelchair to move around. Her wheelchair was not in a good condition and she could not use it to get to the clinic. She lives far away from the clinic and was not booked for the antenatal clinic. She spent most of her time on her bed.

The Mentor Mother decided to go to the clinic to ask for a better wheelchair for the client and they gave it to her. She approached the client’s family and asked for their assistance to take the client to the clinic for an antenatal clinic booking. At the clinic, the client was referred to Zithulele hospital because of her disability. At Zithulele hospital she was assessed and was given a brand new wheelchair. Her family members returned the wheelchair she had gotten from the clinic. She was able to go to the clinic with her new wheelchair and she delivered a healthy baby at the hospital. She is grateful for all the support.

A story from the field by Nombulelo Pambukile

This is my story about my pre school.

First of all I love my job and it was too hard to build my preschool. There was so many challenges but I was strong and I like my job because it is my dream and I love kids. I like to say thanks to my community which is supporting me and makes me proudly of my job. It was not easy but I say thanks to Philani and all supporters.

My dream is to see my kids knowing how to read their story books and how to sing. My pre school is very important to me. It is a good thing to me to see day by day my kids attend school. It makes me feel very much important to them as the teacher.  Thank you!

A story from the field by Khanyiswa Zimele

We visited a home and found a father who is on TB treatment and a child who is suffering from malnutrition.

They are staying in a small rondavel with a leaking roof. They lack food but the father has a Disability Grant and the child a Child Support Grant. In the morning they make a fire inside the rondavel because the room and blankets are wet due to last night’s rain.   The mother complained that the Child Support Grant (CSG) for the child is not enough to buy food for a month. I wanted to know where is the father’s Disability Grant? The mother said that the husband’s grant card is at the family home in the hands of the brother in law who does not give them a cent – he only uses the money for himself.

I asked to meet with the family who has the grant card and I explained to them about Philani. I asked where is the Disability Grant card of this father? I explained how the father who is on TB treatment was living in a dangerous situation in a wet house and that the poverty in that house caused him not to get better and the child to be malnourished. The brother in law answered that the mother is a lazy person and CSG is enough for them to buy food for.

I insisted I wanted to know about the grant card and he said it was in the shop to buy materials for him to build a house. I explained the card was for this other family to meet their needs. The people in the family home did not like Philani for this. But I visited this home again and found a disabled child that I referred to the hospital and he received a disability grant. Philani helped both sides and both families are happy also with Philani – the rondavel is no longer leaking and there is no poverty at all.