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.
