Many South African children who lost their parents through HIV/AIDS are now branded as orphans and can never get rid of their “branded name”. In 2010 the number of AIDS related orphans were standing on two million. Which forced the government to rely on non-government organisations to help them to give a home and love to these two million orphans. In partnership with Durban Children’s Society, Thomkomala was established in 2002.

 

They provided community homes to house six children and a foster mother per house. These community houses are based countrywide in the communities where the kids come from and can stay in touch with their roots and childhood community. After only three years Thokomala became an independent section 21 company completely reliant on donations and volunteers in 2005.

 

We asked Antje Hockly from Thokomala a few questions and here is what she had to day.

 

Thokomala’s children are kept in their original community to stay in touch with their roots. Up to six children stay in a home with their siblings and are cared for by a housemother and a dedicated social worker. Are there basic house rules children have to follow? 

 

ALL HOUSEMOTHERS INSTALL A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THE CHILDREN THEY CARE FOR. THIS INCLUDES A SET OF HOUSE RULES AND ‘CHORE LIST’ WHERE CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO HELP IN THE HOUSEHOLD WITH AGE APPROPRIATE TASKS LIKE MAKING THEIR BEDS, HELP SETTING TABLES ETC. OLDER CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT IRONING, THEY WASH DISHES AND POLISH THEIR SCHOOL SHOES.

 

The child’s role in a family setup also gets attention as it is important to move away from the label as a orphan growing up in an orphanage, but family setup. There is nothing worst than taking a child out of its community and away from it’s siblings, at Thokomala this is being prevented as siblings stay together in the community of origin to minimise trauma.

 

Does a volunteer stand a chance to stay in a house with the children to assist with other more involved tasks than just assisting with birthday parties and other celebrations? 

 

YES, OUR HOMES OUTSIDE ESHOWE IN NORTHERN KWAZULU NATAL, WHICH ARE ARRANGED IN A HAMLET CAN ACCOMMODATE VOLUNTEERS. THOKOMALA HAS A VOLUNTEERS’ POLICY AND AN APPLICATION PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED. 30 CHILDREN LIVE IN THESE HOMES AND THE FIVE HOUSE MOTHERS AND THE SOCIAL WORKER WHO LIVES ON SITE APPRECIATE THE HELP.

 

Can a volunteer become a mentor and later a social worker with Thokomala? 

 


A MENTOR IS SOMEONE WHO ENTERS INTO A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH A TEENAGE CHILD TO GIVE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE, BASICALLY THE ROLE AN ADULT IN A NORMAL FAMILY STRUCTURE GIVES IN TERMS OF CHOICES, ASSISTANCE WITH SCHOOL ISSUES, CAREER PLANNING, ETC. A SOCIAL WORKER IS A PROFESSIONAL PERSON WHO STUDIED SOCIAL WORK AT UNIVERSITY AND HAS OBTAINED A DEGREE. THE TWO ARE VERY DIFFERENT. BUT BOTH ARE NEEDED!

 


What qualities do you want to see in the volunteers?

 

VOLUNTEERS GENERALLY ARE HAPPY TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND IN SOME INSTANCES OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILL, LIKE PSYCHOLOGISTS, TEACHERS, ETC. BUT ALSO JUST SPENDING TIME WITH THE CHILDREN, HELPING WITH HOMEWORK, PLAYING TOGETHER, HELPING THE HOUSEMOTHER WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES, ETC. IS A POSSIBILITY. WE EXPECT VOLUNTEERS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND MATURE AND HAVE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN THE CHILDREN.

Do the volunteers experience personal growth when working with the children? 

 

I WOULD SAY THEY DEFINITELY DO. IT IS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO SPEND TIME WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE COME THROUGH ALL FORMS OF HARDSHIP AND MANY PEOPLE REALISE THAT THEY DON’T HAVE IT THAT BAD AFTER ALL!

What do you guys offer to volunteers when working with you guys? 

 

WE DO NOT CHARGE VOLUNTEERS ANY FEES BE IT FOR ACCOMMODATION OR OTHERWISE. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BUY THEIR OWN FOOD THOUGH AND NEED TO ARRANGE THEIR OWN TRANSPORT.

 

THOKOMALA OFFERS VOLUNTEERS A CHANCE TO SHARE TIME WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOST ALL AND GAINED SOME OF IT AGAIN THROUGH THEIR INCLUSION IN THE THOKOMALA PROGRAMME. THEY EXPERIENCE LOTS OF JOYFUL MOMENTS AND MIGHT FORGE RELAITONSHIPS FOR LIFE.

Where are most of the Thokomala houses in South Africa based? 

 

THOKOMALA OPERATES 20 HOMES IN FIVE PROVINCES: 5 IN GREATER JOHANNESBURG, 6 IN GREATER DURBAN AND A HAMLET OF FIVE IN A RURAL SET UP OUTSIDE ESHOWE, 2 IN THE EASTERN CAPE, ONE HOME IN THE FREE STATE AND ONE HOME IN PAARL IN THE WESTERN CAPE.

How many volunteers do you guys use and are you guys in need of more volunteers? 

 

THE NEED VARIES HOWEVER, MENTORS ARE VERY SCARCE. IT IS BEST TO ENQUIRE DIRECTLY WITH INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER!

 

This is not the only organization that helps orphans of HIV/AIDS victims, there are millions of other children and hundreds of other orphanages trying to help. They are carrying a lot of responsibility as the future of South Africa relies on the children of today. Enormous amounts of voluntary opportunities are available in this gem of a country.

 

Any volunteer with a love for children and wants to see children grow physically as well as mentally would love to be part of this program. Bringing up six children in a house in their community where UBUNTU and other community principals are important and can be very self fulfilling.

 

For information on Thokomala visit their site at http://www.thokomala.org.za/

 

If you’re not South African but would love to be part of an initiative like this in South Africa why not apply for a voluntary visa and help those in need. We offer a great variety of services regarding a visa in South Africa.

 

 

Congratulations to Paul, Sissel and Taryn on the successful approval of their South African Visas!

My partner and I were very dubious about using a visa agency, why should we pay money for a service we can do ourselves?

 

So we collated the information and submitted my application in June 2011. Relieved to know that my application was in, I sat back and waited for the message that my visa was ready to collect. After three months, and no notification of completion of the visa, I started to make enquiries. I was told 'It has been received, and is in a queue, you must be patient and wait'......so I waited....and waited.....and eventually, 11 months after my initial application, and monthly calls to Home Affairs, I was told that I must re-submit, as my information had been lost. I cannot express my emotion when I realised that this system had failed me, and that I had been waiting for a whole year for nothing.

 

I started making calls to various visa agencies, many of whom gave conflicting advice, and and various prices. I couldn't help but feel they were money making schemes, that didn't really care about the outcome once they had your money. After many calls I finally spoke to a lady who was instantly trustworthy.I cant explain why, but I warmed to her, and she understood my frustration at the situation. She helped me understand the very confusing options, and we went on our way to make an application. She made the process easy, and was at hand anytime I needed her.

 

Well here I am just 19 days after the initial application, and I have my visa! Yes! In my hand! I can't believe it, and only wish I could turn back time and use this agency a year ago. I would urge ANYONE who is planning on getting a visa to use New World Immigration, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them to anyone.

 

Katie T

If you are intending on travelling over the border to Zimbabwe, Nambia, Mozambique or Botswana in the hopes that you will be granted a fresh 90 days on your visa, think twice. The South African Home Affairs Dept are putting in measures to prevent this trend. For your South African visa renewal, it is best to lodge an application in South Africa for an extension.

 

For a while now, travellers have enjoyed the relaxed rules regarding the renewal of South African visitor visas when border hopping. The idea would be to leave South Africa JUST before your visa expires and then re-enter on a fresh 90 or 30 days. What is happening now is travellers are being granted 7 days to make their way to the nearest airport asnd make plans to leave. OR if they wish, submit an application at the Department of Home Affairs.

 

If your intentions are to travel to these neighbouring countries and actually visit them, there is every possibility that this rule wouldnt apply to you.

 

Be careful when border hopping as your expectations might not be met with the time given to you on re-entry. Contact New World Immigration for further advice before travelling.

 

Robbie Ragless

 

021 555 0951

If you are intending on travelling over the border to Zimbabwe, Nambia, Mozambique or Botswana in the hopes that you will be granted a fresh 90 days on your visa, think twice. The South African Home Affairs Dept are putting in measures to prevent this trend. For your South African visa renewal, it is best to lodge an application in South Africa for an extension.

 

For a while now, travellers have enjoyed the relaxed rules regarding the renewal of South African visitor visas when border hopping. The idea would be to leave South Africa JUST before your visa expires and then re-enter on a fresh 90 or 30 days. What is happening now is travellers are being granted 7 days to make their way to the nearest airport asnd make plans to leave. OR if they wish, submit an application at the Department of Home Affairs.

 

If your intentions are to travel to these neighbouring countries and actually visit them, there is every possibility that this rule wouldnt apply to you.

 

Be careful when border hopping as your expectations might not be met with the time given to you on re-entry. Contact New World Immigration for further advice before travelling.

 

Robbie Ragless

 

021 555 0951

Applying for a South African visa on your own can be a frustrating exercise. Immigration to South Africa can also be a complicated process if you dont know what you are doing. Using a company like New World Immigration to apply on your behalf is always a good idea. We offer a FREE ASSESSMENT to all our prospective clients so take advantage!

 

As with any legal process, one can represent themselves when dealing with Home Affairs. If you speak to any foreigners currently living in South Africa, they will all tell you of some horror story concerning their application process or other people they might know.

 

There are two options available to applicants wanting to apply for a South African visa. They can either lodge the application abroad in any country where they have residency OR submit a Change of Conditions application using a BI1740 form and this can be done IN South Africa. Quite a common permit that we facilitate is the Life Partner permit and the Spousal Permit which applicants often apply for in South Africa

 

If one is applying from abroad, various things change like the application form itself which needs to be noted before one attempts to apply. If one is thinking about adding working rights to their spousal visa for example, this is also a different process.

 

Currently our ( NWI ) processing times for visa applications are around 4 weeks and to date maintain a 100% success rate with applications lodged. Our services cover retirement visas, work visas, business visas, relative visas and permanent residency. Contacting a consultant at NWI is easy - by calling the hotline on +2721 555 0951 or contacting our Immigration Practitioner, Robbie Ragless, on consultant@nwisouthafrica.co.za

If I had to live my life from the beginning, I would have changed few things without doubts except one: my visit to South Africa. This golden opportunity I wouldn’t swap for anything else in the world. There was a time when I had to choose between two countries: one seemed to be very stable , reliable and promising in many ways but it simply didn’t have what South Africa has to offer: it’s amazing colours of nature and vibrant atmosphere of life. The times are tough at the moment but life doesn’t stop there. You still can travel as long as it’s affordable venture. I can assure you, visiting South Africa is affordable: you can manage to stay in luxury and still have enough spending money for treats and shopping .You will encounter yourself with natural beauty of mountains, forests, coasts and exposure to World-Class facilities.

 

Table Mountain in Cape Town which is believed to be one of the oldest mountains in the world is definitely worthy to see. It alone has 1,500 species of plants, more than in entire United Kingdom. Almost anywhere in South Africa you will experience its diversity: in wild life, culture, adventure and heritage. If you are a businessman it will be interesting for you to know that South Africa is the second in the world exporter of fruits. It also has the longest wine route in the world and is rated 3rd in the world in supplying safe drinkable tap water. The reasons to come to South Africa are incredibly many as well as the fascinating interesting facts about it, though there is also a danger about visiting South Africa: be careful: South Africa is extremely addictive and once you come here, you don’t want to leave or definitely will come back to see more of it!

Is there any person in the world who never dreamt of going to travel or moving to another country? I guess there should be only few who haven’t. I made my pick of a dream-country in the age of five. It was Africa.”Forbidden fruit always tastes sweeter,” the Russian proverb says; for average person living in former SSSR that time the possibility of travelling as far as to another continent was equal to zero, especially, if the target of interest was a capitalist country. Otherwise one was supposed to be at least a diplomat, a political leader, a famous performer or just an incredible lucky one. (I apologise for the flashbacks to the history; it’s just an introduction to prove the reader what my point is.) Though we could hardly get the opportunity to travel, thanks to our government policy;Foreigners were allowed to our country. We saw them in the streets of our cities and towns; disciplined and polite, they seemed to be the perfect example of good manners and decent behaviour. Studying hard for their Medical and Engineering Degrees, they shared hostel rooms with cheerful and considerate Russian students... I loved to watch them walking always in groups, buying food in bulk from food shops hilariously greeting pretty sales ladies in broken Russian. There was a gracious vibe coming from those fascinating foreign people that made me nothing but keen to get to know them better .So the seed of temptation has been planted deep in my head for nobody to make me to change my mind.

 

“One day I will go there," I confidently told my Dad. He smiled hesitantly. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it till the time when I eventually got a Foreign passport and made my way through the cold winter night of Russia straight to Frankfurt and then to Namibia. My dream destined to come true. Besides, I didn’t stop there but had a chance to visit Botswana, Mozambique and to arrive to my final destination: South Africa. (No more flashbacks, thank you for listening!)Now it’s a time when I am going to share what I!

 

learnt from my experience and give my tips on immigration:

 

1. To begin with, Immigration is a good thing if it’s done properly. Before you apply, make sure you did enough research and aware of the fact that you will need to go through medical and criminal check-ups. You will also need to prove that you have enough financial resources to support you during the first few months of your stay. This is a Must!

 

2. Don’t forget, you are not a sponsored student (unless you are the one), so don’t expect you find the job, make friends and settle down easily. You are a foreigner and they are many in this country which means for you success you must strive to be better than others. To begin with, don’t be stubborn: if it’s required to learn necessary for the communication language, do not look for excuses: do it. You will only benefit from it. Remember, my memories of African students in Russia? Even broken Russian was appreciated. At least, you try...This doesn’t mean you should forget your own language, but you should know that nobody forces his rules in foreign countries.

 

3. Be interested in local culture, start loving local food, do something good for the community remember my conversation with a local man who was born in South Africa. He strongly believes that foreigners must bring something good from their country and use it for the new country benefit. True! Don’t be shy to introduce your culture: host the evening where you introduce your food, songs, dances; anything you want to share. Simply show your skills you learnt back home.

 

4. To be accepted in the new society or family, you should only demonstrate your good traits. Nobody likes outsider with bad personality. Be sweet; be nice, even if it’s not easy. I am not teaching you to be a hypocrite and approve wrong-doings of others, but remember: immigrants are always being watched, judged and blamed more than the local ones. It’s a human nature. People protect their home. Remember, foreign students I mentioned in the beginning? I referred to them !

 

as to polite and decent. So should be you too. Behave; it’s not your territory.

It was not an easy decision to sell my belongings and leave the security of my friends, family, work and future career including studies when my husband suggested we experience his his country together. Although I had already visited South Africa and considering myself to be quite the cosmopolitan type fell in love with the CBD are and Camps bay, I knew it was a huge risk as no longer living at home and completely independent if it all failed It would be difficult to start up again to the same level of living.

 

Besides I had tried SA for three months and sadly had a difficult time finding acceptance in a small town whilst having my first baby. But after my son turned almost 2 I agreed one last time to give it a go, I was staying at home as mum until I felt ready to go back to work and continue doing the courses I planned to do in the UK, I had my family around for support and this was a challenge. I first made my application in person at Cape Town Home Affairs department in May 2010 and after originally being asked for a fee and sitting in 4and half hour long queues I go to the counter and was yelled at by an angry African male who insisted that people from my country where hassle. He eventually calmed down after embarrassing me and I was given my receipt of application, this is where the process started which has cost me and my family time, money and a great deal of effort to remain positive. I was advised to return within 30days to check on the progress of my relatives permit and that I did, continuously for 5 days before eventually being told to come again in 1-2 weeks time, which I did. Some time passed and countless visits to Home Affairs until I finally got my stamped permit in my British passport to say I was now a temporary resident.

 

I also in addition had been offered and opportunity to work in the property field which suited my commitments and interests so I submitted the added endorsement with work contract only to still be waiting for that permit 2yrs on. I have been sent from Cape town who say the permit was dispatched Dec 2010 but never arrived, back to Jo burg who say they do not have it, many pointless attempts to find it left me fed up in the end, I lost out on that opportunity. After that disappointing episode I was messed around by several good employers who simply where put off by the forms and declarations they must fill in and the fact that they would have to wait for my papers to return until I could legally start working, economically I have been left in a frustrating situation and being fond of having my own money has driven me to decide on returning home. I have been a victim of four thefts beginning at home the first xmas I was here, to just two weeks ago when I was mugged by three men on the N2 highway when my bakkie broke down completely. I am ok but my cell phone was stolen which now apparently could hold the key to Home Affairs tracking down my new applied for temp resident permit which I made in March 2012 six weeks before the expiry of my previous one.

 

I have chosen not to apply for permanent residency up until now as I am unsure of my economic chances long term career wise in SA. In hindsight it may have been the better route to go down if I had understood it better through our son who has his SA id number at last, he is three years old. Still I thought I could go into the department and would be advised well and I was incorrect, what actually happened involved many visits and many different forms being passed to me along with requests for fees not applicable to my application. I have found the staff at Cape town central office extremely hostile and have left with the feeling that my business is neither needed or wanted in South Africa. On needing an update and a reference on my new application I was told that the phone that may have had it and was stolen is the only way they could open my file and I may now have to submit a new application despite having a receipt in my hand. It has been a long and extreme!ly stressful experience and I recommend anyone to go directly to an agent, it may be expensive but it will save tears, frustration and they will be more likely to be able to make sure your papers are not lost as mine where. We where young and in love, we still are but I was naïve to think that it would be straight forward, the fact is the system is not straight forward and I have now decided to give up the fight and return home where economically I am free to do as all other citizens, two years of isolation and the inability to even exist on paper has taken its toll and I am no longer prepared to wait, sorry to say but you cannot enjoy the beauty without the means to live freely.

Making sure you supply the correct proof of relationship documents for your life partner visa application is essential especially when you have not been cohabiting for a while. The immigration acts makes reference to cohabitation which raises a question as to how partners who are unable to live together because of cultural reasons apply for these visas.

 

Proof of financial ties: Joint bank accounts are useful however with the recent introduction of FICA, this is now becoming impossible. New World Immigration can assist bypass thse hassles and make sure that you get the correct visa and also those working rights enabling you to work in South Africa

 

Life Partner Permits are difficult to apply for. Make sure you are being represented and doing thin gs carefully.