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Our Thusanang Project Manager Ntate Machabe Machabe sends us a project update report. Things happen slowly in Africa, but the seed needs to be planted for the tree to grow... and Thusanang has taken root... Below, please find the report 'verbatim' from dear Machabe. It is very touching.
Thusanang Progress report
Project Title……………………Thusanang OVC Support ProjectPeriod covered ……………..Jan-April / 2007 Date of reporting ……………...12 May 2007 Report By……………………….M C MACHABE Designation……………………..Project Manager
Introduction Thusanang OVC support project is an initiative of Love Light and the Diocese of Qacha’s nek. The overall goal of which is to relieve the suffering of Orphans and Vulnerable Children.The report serves to furnish information on the progress achieved to date in relation to project activities. In this report, a narrative information is given based on activities preformed, and achievements there of, also, problems that were encountered are highlighted. Additionally, it was further noted, and taken into consideration that the project is faced with challenges, that are also specified in the report. Finally, project finance expenditure is also provided.
Activities The activities referred to in this report, date back three months, hence they will be accordingly divided. January 2007: Meeting with the Department of Social Welfare: The meeting was intended at informing the department about the existence of the centre, which initially entailed temporary housing of kids who had no where to stay.It was a this meeting where the department informed the project on the Government policy on OVC care and also told the project that OVC housing centers were enough in the country and that no more new centers would be recognized, therefore, the department advised Thusanang OVC support project not to house kids, but to help kids while they stay with relatives.
February 2007 Meeting with the Bishop of Qacha’s Nek : After several trials of meeting the Bishop, success did come at last, the intention of the meeting was to inform the Bishop on the response of the Department of Social welfare. The out come of the meeting was an agreement between the bishop and the Project Manager that nothing could be done except to help the kids by placing them with reliable relatives while they are being given the essential support. Meeting with Love Light: A phone call conversation was entered into between Thusanang Project Manager and Love Light of Byron Bay, where the issue of kids being not housed was discussed and it was consented that as long as OVC get the necessary support it did not matter where they stay.
March 2007Registration of OVC: Initially there were three kids that were supported by the project. The number has now doubled to make it six. With the help of local authorities, a very careful screening criteria has been put in place so that only the needy of the neediest kid is registered for support. That is why only six kids have been identified and registered based on availability of resources. April 2007 Procurement of commodities Funds from love Light were used to buy clothes and toiletries for Orphans.Local farmers donated maize grain, and sorghum, which were distributed to Orphans. Distribution of itemsItems were distributed in a function organized by the Thusanang committee and the local church authority. The table below illustrates how the distribution by sex was conducted, and also how many items did each child receive. Table 1 | Children by Sex | Item | Quantity | Boys x 4 | Clothing – long pants - underpants- T-shirt- Shoes- SocksToiletries – Washing powder- Bath soap- Vaseline Food - maize grain - Sorghum grain | 111 1 x pair1 x pair1 x 2kg1 loaf1x 500g1 x 50kg1x 5kg | Girls x 2 | Clothing – Track suit - Panty- T-shirt- Shoes- SocksToiletries – Washing powder- Bath soap- Vaseline Food - maize grain - Sorghum grain | 111 1 x pair1 x pair1 x 2kg1 loaf1x 500g1x 50kg1x 5kg | | | | |
The table above shows the items each child received. Clothes are per person, and toiletries and food parcels are per household. While the table above shows the items each child received, the following table shows the totals of each kind of item distributed.
Table 2 | Item Description | Quantity | | Long pants | 4 | | Underpants | 4 | | T-shirts | 4 | | Tracksuits | 2 | | Panties | 2 | | Socks | 4 | | Shoes | 6pairs |
In the case of the figures that appear in the above table, clothes for two kids were donated by the parish priest. Items below are per household | Washing powder | 4 kg | | Bath soap | 4 loafs | | Vaseline | 2 kg | | Maize meal | 200 kg | | Sorghum meal | 20 kg | | | |
It should be taken into mind hat there is a total of four households.
Challenges Increasing number of Orphans In Lesotho, Orphans are at an alarming increase, due to AIDS related deaths and others. Therefore, there are too many applications that request support for our unreliable and very limited portfolio. There is also a great need for support, mainly for Secondary and High School Education. Identification of reliable care takers is yet another challenge as most of potential care takers tend to be opportunists.
Problems encountered
Orphans daily careCare takers misuse Orphans’ support material for their own benefit and for that of non -Orphans. Hence the need for a clear monitoring system. Administrative problemsThe fact that the project management team is working on voluntary terms, some times makes it difficult for timely attendance of crucial issues. Especially when the project manager is employed somewhere ,and is situated some 150 km away from the project office. Monitory problemsFinancial support for the project still remains a big problem there is a colossal demand for assistance, yet there is literally nothing it the project fund.
Financial Report
Project Title Thusanang OVC Support Project Donor name Love Light of Byron Bay Charitable Trust Partner name Diocese of Qacha’s nek Period covered by report January 2007- April 2007 Date of report April 12, 2007 SECTION I: CASH FLOW | Opening balance | 0.00 | | Amount received from donor during the period (local currency) | 1,300.00 | | Amount interest earned | 0.00 | | Cash available during the period | 1,300.00 | | Total expended during the period | 991.00 | Balance at the end of the period | |
SECTION II: PROJECT EXPENDITURE | Date | Descriptions | Paid by | Food | Clothing | Toiletries | Education expenses | Travel expenses | Medication | Salaries | | | | | | | | | | | | | One receipt | 5/4/2007 | 3x boys long pants | Cash | - | 321.85 | - | - | - | - | - | | | 3x boys’shoes(pairs) | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 3x boys’socks (pairs) | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 3x boys’under pants | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 3x boys’Tshirts | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 1x Track suit | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 1x panty | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 1x Girls’ shoes(pair) | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | | | | | | | | | | | 5/4/2007 | 4x 1kg washing powder | Cash | - | | 120.00 | - | - | - | - | | One receipt | 4x loaf bath soap | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 4x500g vaseline | cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5/4/2007 | Petrol for ND328584 | Cash | - | - | - | - | 50.00 | - | - | | 8/4/2007 | Masugar | Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | 500.00 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
SECTION III: Cash available | Bank | - | | Cash | 309.00 | Total | 309.00 |
Prepared by M MACHABE |
