We started distributing shoes in High schools, Primary schools and Preschools. This year we are planing to distribute shoes twice in a row in each school from the beginning of the year and towards the end of the year. We have fifty plus schools on a pipeline that we have to distribute shoes to.
Since April this year we started distributing Toms shoes in the following schools Madwaleni High school, Mbongeni High school, Nkodibe High school, Vezobala High school, Kwa-Mtholo Primary school, Zitike Primary school, Siyaphambili Primary school, Star Day Care center and Ebaswazini Primary school.
As we go to this schools we find kids that are coming in poor families they do not have shoes to wear at school, So shoes that we are giving to schools are black that is one of things i am happy about so kids are able to wear Toms shoes in school especially those who don`t have shoes. Some of of the learners are traveling long distance with bare foot and some they have cracked feet but now Mpilonhle is giving them something to wear in this cold winter, I am so happy see them having something to wear.
I would like to thank Toms and Mpilonhle for helping this schools and not forgetting the team that we go with to schools to distribute shoes, Guys we are doing such a wonderful job and helping kids out there in schools so many kids have shoes to wear at school because of you. Keep it up guys.
Posted by nathi on June 27, 2012 at 1:42 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
Happy November! It’s always hard to believe how time flies, especially as the year draws to a close. This year has certainly been full of a lot of agricultural adventures, and it’s not over yet! Last month, from 3-5 October, I had the pleasure of working with Mpilonhle’s Home-Based Carers and facilitating a garden training on an introduction to permaculture and organic gardening methods. In putting together the curriculum for the training, I used a mix of information that I had obtained from trainings with both the Peace Corps and the locally-based African Conservation Trust office and Manukelana Art and Nursery in Khula Village, who hosted our last training with the Field Assistants in May. The training took place over the course of three days up at La Colline, the Mpilonhle guest house, and consisted of one day of theory training and presentations and two days of practical work/study. The first day, we covered a wide range of topics, from planting bed construction and the benefits of compost to strategies for water conservation and companion planting and the importance of bees! During the second two days, we filled and planted two trench beds, dug, filled and planted two pit beds, made a gorgeous compost pile and practiced digging some holes and swales for water retention.
Everyone lends a helping hand to fill the bed
Mpilonhle Social Worker Andile Zulu deftly wields the watering can
Time to plant!
Carer Veronica Dube helps prep the ground for a compost pile
The enthusiasm and brilliant spirit of these amazing women was infectious, and their openness, wonderfully encouraging. With equal amounts of laughter and learning, it was a great three days, and I am very excited to continue to work with the carers as they take their new knowledge back to their communities and help their clients develop home and community gardens to fight poverty and hunger.
It's a good life!
Posted by Claire on November 1, 2011 at 3:35 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
Mpilonhle, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Department of Education, facilitates every year eye clinic in the uMkhanyakude District. The clinic is run by the One Sight Philanthropy and brings together volunteer aye doctors and technical staff from all over the world and South Africa.
Services During Eye Clinic include
Free eye screening. Same-day provision of free prescription glasses on site for those who require them.
Follow-up care from the Department of Health for those who are identified as having cataracts or eye problems. HIV counseling and and testing. Medical check ups and medication
Location of Eye Clinics and Dates
Tuesday | October 18, 2011 | 1:00 PM – 4:00PM | Nomaganga Primary School
Wednesday | October 19, 2011 | 9:00 – 3:00 PM | Nomaganga Primary School
Thursday | October 20, 2011 | 9:00 – 3:00 PM | Nomaganga Primary School
Friday | October 21, 2011 | 9:00 – 3:00 PM | Nyalazi Primary School
Monday| October 24, 2011 | 9:00 – 3:00 PM | Nyalazi Primary School
Tuesday | October 25, 2011 | 9:00 – 3:00 PM | Indukebandla Primary School
Wednesday | October 26, 2011 | 9:00 – 3:00 PM | Indukebandla Primary School
Thursday | October 27, 2011 | 9:00 – 3:00 PM | Indukebandla Primary School
Posted by Sifiso Zulu on October 16, 2011 at 9:09 am.
Tags: Data Capturing,General,Health Counsellors,Health Education,Information Technology,Success Stories —
- Mpilonhle visit first time at Ntandabantu Primary School, Black Berry device photos
It been a long week at Ntandabantu Primary School we had to register everyone at the school especially grade 5, 6 and 7 just before we start our normal job, Mpilonhle Unit Two known as Sisonke was there to take initiative.
- Let the lesson begin, Black Berry device photos
After a first lessons introduction I noticed that learners were ready to start with exercise one.
Full computer lab with 72x computers, Black Berry device photos
As a witness it was a lifetime experience and a great achievement in community development in terms of skills development, one week training 2x hours per day 4x lessons equals computer literacy.
Posted by Sifiso Zulu on at 8:53 am.
Tags: General,Health Education,Information Technology,Success Stories —
Teaching computer skills to everyone look who is playing around with computer’s at Khulangolwazi Primary School OMG amazing work done by Mpilonhle.
in this picture Thembelihle Gumede age 11 (17 Oct 1999) grade 7 her first time using a computer 'Black Berry Pictures'
Mpilonhle packed computer lab’s at the schools now working closely with Primary schools ensuring that everyone get at least 1h30min session per day and four days per week, each day got enough lessons for the day.
in this picture learners from Khulangolwazi Primary Grade 7 'Black Berry Pictures'
After a deep breath, well presented lessons this is the response that we normally get after the training everyone responding positively. Day one is always a challenge getting learners to be used with computers especially “the mouse techniques and keyboard skills” you will see that this normally takes little longer than expected and require more attention and time from IT Trainers. Finally we get what we’ve been expected to deliver a successful lessons has been introduced and history has been made at the end of the day.
Excitement from learners learning how to use Children's Encarta 'Black Berry Pictures'
Posted by Sifiso Zulu on September 15, 2011 at 9:24 am.
Tags: General,Information Technology,Success Stories —
Nkodibe High School is no stranger to permaculture, as they were one of the schools that Rebecca Ford, a previous Peace Corps Volunteer with Mpilonhle, worked with to start the food garden program last year. Together with Mrs. Dludla, an agricultural science educator at Nkodibe, Rebecca and some of the learners started a permaculture garden with double-dug beds and swales, using tools and fencing provided through a Peace Corps VAST Grant. Now with the support of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), which currently funds the activities of Mpilonhle’s food garden project, I returned to Nkodibe last week and this week to help expand the garden and introduce the trench bed planting method, as well as providing some additional tools and seeds/seedlings. Mrs. Dludla has been doing an excellent job with the upkeep of the garden despite very dry conditions, and she continues to be supportive of the project and rounded up some learners who were also very excited to learn more about permaculture and get their hands dirty. Despite stifling temperatures last Friday and a limited supply of water, everyone worked very hard to successfully dig two beds, one of which we completely filled and planted. Armed with determination and their new knowledge (and hopefully a Jojo in the near future), the gardeners at Nkodibe are a force to be reckoned with!
The existing garden at Nkodibe
Clearing some space in poorer soil outside the current garden to enrich with trench beds
Filling the bed
The group shot!
Posted by Claire on September 9, 2011 at 3:13 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
Last week on Wednesday and Friday I headed out to Madwaleni High School to help them get started on their food garden, bringing the usual tools, seedlings, and enthusiasm for permaculture and food security! Madwaleni is one of the schools chosen to implement the Home Field Advantage program, an initiative of Mpilonhle made possible by CTAOP (Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project), and so we were blessed with a large space for the garden and a ready supply of water. Because of these resources and the support of the administration and staff of the school, it was possible to construct a food tunnel on the grounds, with thanks to the support and knowledge of African Conservation Trust (ACT) and coordination by Beni Williams.
Food tunnel at Madwaleni
Madwaleni also has a wonderful and involved group of Agricultural Sciences (AS) educators, one of whom, Mrs. Siphiwe Ntshangase, attended the May training along with one of the field assistants, Mr. Bethuel Buthelezi. Even before I got to the school on Wednesday, the AS educators, learners, and field assistants were hard at work inside the tent, digging trenches for beds and collecting grass and manure for the layers. Some of the boys digging the trenches sang along to their work and I enjoyed perfectly harmonized (of course) renditions of songs from ‘Shosholoza’ to more modern selections by Professor. I was happy to step back as Mrs. Ntshangase and Mr. Nene, another educator, coordinated the efforts and explained the methods and benefits of key permaculture and organic gardening principles. Mr. Nene was helpful in reminding learners that one pays quite a bit of money for organically-grown products at Woolworths, yet they have all of the materials and now the knowledge to create this system in school and at home for much less! The group of learners chosen to receive some of the initial training will now be responsible for passing on the knowledge to their classmates. As with the other schools, all of the food from the tunnel will go toward supporting learners who are in need of nutritional support. As the project expands, we also hope to see a community garden built around the tunnel and will hopefully also get some fruit trees donated for the creation of a small orchard.
Measuring the depth of the pit bed to 50cm
Mrs. Ntshangase instructing the learners
Mr. Buthelezi and learners planting seedlings
Many thanks to the gardening team at Madwaleni for your hard work and inspiring ownership of this project. They are a model school and are in the process of creating something very beautiful. Green thumbs up!
Madwaleni gardeners!
Lastly, for those looking for a little more inspiration to try these methods for yourself, check out the amazing produce from the Nhliziyo garden, which we planted back in June…
Now that's what I call lettuce!
Cabbage, spinach and green pepper
Posted by Claire on August 24, 2011 at 5:39 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
The Author Sifiso Zulu - Women's plays an important role in our life's and they mean it, I choose to treat women with care
All women’s are still celebrating woman’s month perhaps I would like to know where did you go or how did you celebrate your day on Tuesday the 9th of Aug 2011, it only takes a strong woman to decide, act and lead the fact is someone with a good courage, strong personality knows what best in life.
“Woman’s your decision can change every situation you are in, thus enabling you to achieve whatever you want to achieve”
In life you must learn to speak positive things not negative remember we are created by God image a word that we spoke each and every day shall come to pass either good or bad, there is power in your word. You deserve better a successful life how I wish if you can learn to trust, believe in yourself and be bold because you are beautiful and special
Posted by Sifiso Zulu on August 12, 2011 at 9:22 am.
Tags: General,Health Education,Success Stories —
On Wednesday, 3 August, I went up to Inkosibonga High School near Hlabisa to help them expand their already beautiful garden and transfer some knowledge about permaculture and organic gardening to a group of learners, teachers, and community members. As part of Mpilonhle’s food security program, we also donated tools, seeds, and seedlings to help the school build its garden and provide more nutritious food for learners. I worked with Mr. Mkhwanazi, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic field assistant who attended the training with ACT, as well as the equally enthusiastic Agricultural Sciences teacher Ms. Mpanza, to help train a group of over 20 learners in permaculture methods including the creation of trench beds and intercropping. The principal of Inkosibonga, Mr. Xaba, was so supportive that he drove his bakkie to a neighboring house and filled the whole back with kraal manure to help us enrich the soil in the garden! It was once again such a pleasure to work with the high school on this great project. Keep up the great growing!
The principal, Mr. Xaba, showing learners how it's done!
Diligently taking notes on the construction of trench beds
Laying the initial layer of cardboard in the bed, which serves both to recycle the material and hold in water to keep the bed moist
Planting in the new trench bed
Inkosibonga garden team
Posted by Claire on August 5, 2011 at 5:44 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
How much courage do you have?
How much courage do you have? Would your friends, co-workers and family members call you a courageous person?
“The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
The dictionary defines courage this way: the ability to face and deal with a dangerous or difficult situation. There are two parts—first to face, and then to deal with.
It is interesting to read modern writers on the subject of courage because they give you some interesting definitions. For instance, one that is often quoted goes this way, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” General George Patten defined it this way: “Courage is fear that holds on for one more minute.” Franklin P. Jones said it this way: “Courage is the ability not to let people know how scared you are on the inside.” Captain A. Riddenbacher put it this way: “Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. Where there is no fear, there is no courage.”
Think about the definition. It is the ability to face and deal with a dangerous or difficult situation. I ask you again: how much courage do you have? Would your friends call you a courageous person?
Posted by thokozani on August 3, 2011 at 5:15 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
Wow what a nice camp, it is winter time in South Africa and also school holidays. It is unbelievable when you see how Mpilonhle fights bad behavior that usually occurs at this time of the year.
Pregnancy rates usually increases especially in our youth and crime is also high because every child wants to go to town while they don’t have money to buy as a result they just decide to steal in shops which is a very bad idea, we wish to build and motivate these children and protect them from going to jail because of bad behavior.
Street kids develop or increase in large numbers because children stay at their homes doing nothing and some of them they just decide to stay in the streets then start smoking and robbing people.
KwaGiba is a rural area. The lifestyle of this community is different and regarding healthy behavior I think there’s poor knowledge. When there’s no knowledge diseases will increase especially HIV and AIDS. Agree or disagree we have to talk to these children and tell them the truth through our health education.
Thanks to Mpilonhle organization for supporting, helping, fighting poverty and crime, giving hope and encouraging children to live a healthy life through activities and with relevant language that is understandable to a child and also giving them the opportunity to know their status as individuals and know more about life and themselves which is a great opportunity. No one wishes to miss even one day at the camp and you can’t even ask them what it feels like to be at the Skills Camp because you’ll have your answers in their faces.
KwaGiba is between Hluhluwe and Mbazwana. It has a high enrolment of more than 1800 pupils and overcrowded classes, even if the school might have computers it might be impossible for all learners to attend and learn but in these camps Mpilonhle brought three (3) mobile units with seventy two (72) computers. Each unit takes in a group of twenty four (24 and) everyone has an opportunity of at least one hour session at the computer room for five (5) days learning computer literacy.
KwaGiba was rated as another successful Skills Camp, the children wish that the camps should continue and continue but the mid term holidays were over and there was no way for this great opportunity. Well done to Mpilonhle staff for their good work.
The food at these camps was delicious and healthy as this was winter season we had to give oranges because they have vitamin C and after they finished all activities of the day they ate well cooked meals with vegetables.
In the last day hundreds of Toms shoes were distributed to every child attending the camp and official closing of the camp was well presented by the Skills Coaches Team through a drama, this drama was bout HIV/ AIDS and sexual abuse.
This story was edited by Nomathemba
Posted by Sifiso Zulu on July 26, 2011 at 8:13 am.
Tags: General,Health Education,Information Technology,Sport & Health Activities —
16th Saturday Jul 2011 was my birthday, didn’t plan to have a normal birthday celebration but planned to treat this one as a very important, special birthday I ever had in my life. It really takes me some time just to reason about my life, looking back where I come from and my future too. It like was I in the church or a holly place neither way no I was in my room eyes closed mouth shut…
My mind was thinking what is it that I’ve done for my community? As I have live for 30th years then I’ve notice that cannot change the past it gone already but can only change the future starting tomorrow and making sure every second count. I don’t need to have billions to support our community either way few notes in my pocket can help someone to achieve a certain step in life maybe his/ her dream might comes true.
Famous people born under star sign cancer? I belong here too, some of these celebrities are my inspirational heroes
First there is former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez, George W. Bush, Tom Cruise, Jessica Simpson, Jasmine Richards, Raven Goodwin, Jennette McCurdy, Drake Bell, Saloni Desai, Sophia Bush, Lindsy Lohan, & Princess Diana, Meryll Streep, Courtney Cox, Sifiso Zulu and more
18th Monday July 2011 another happy birthday to former president Nelson Mandela
Posted by Sifiso Zulu on July 22, 2011 at 6:34 am.
Tags: General —
Three mobile unit teams sharing one vision, one mission and one aim service delivery “Mpilonhle’s mission to improve the health and social development of persons in the Umkhanyakude District”. We are committed to our work
Make the circle bigger it our official opening and closing of the camp and its where we introduce the aim of the camp, Mpilonhle, entire staff, schedule overview and assigning tasks.
Thanks to Tom shoes for continuing donating thousands of shoes to learners, what I’ve learnt is that some of the learners they use this shoes as their normal school shoes indeed there was a need for this. During school gathering or brake time you can notice that everyone is comfortably wearing Tom shoes and that’s grate.
Arrival of Tom shoes and off load
Photographs were collected at various Skill Camps
Posted by Sifiso Zulu on July 8, 2011 at 12:05 pm.
Tags: General,Sport & Health Activities —
From 8-10 June, Mpilonhle volunteers visited Nhliziyo High School and worked with field assistants and 20 learners to help the school expand its current garden using the permaculture and organic gardening techniques learned during the May training with African Conservation Trust. Mpilonhle’s food security program donated gardening equipment and seedlings to help start and maintain the garden, the food from which will go to assisting learners in need of nutritional support. Nhliziyo’s principal, Mrs. Poppy Ntombela, came out in enthusiastic support for the project. Mrs. Mkhwanazi, the field assistant who attended the May training, led the learners in starting compost piles, digging and filling trench beds, and planting the seedlings. The energetic learners were very excited to learn and get their hands dirty and were happy to pose for pictures as they did! Many thanks to the administration, staff and learners at Nhliziyo for their commitment and passion for this project. We can’t wait to see all of the wonderful things they grow!
Garden team at Nhliziyo High School
Three cheers for organic compost!
Planting seedlings in the newly made trench bed
See you after the holidays as we green our thumbs at the other 11 schools!
Posted by Claire on July 1, 2011 at 9:16 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
To tell the truth.I have spent good years in schools working at Mpilonhle as a health counselor,I’ve seen so many children receiving our services which are very helpful to them.So I would like to personally thank the organization itself for taking a stand by trying something different after recognizing the atrophying decency that exists at our schools.Today Posters with images of some of our students are plastered in our mobile units so all our students could take part,as we give Health Education and Counseling sessions in these mobile units.In the past I always wanted to blame the client silently and did not get the full jist of what they were going through.I now understand what it is like to want to give up drugs but to not be able to do so.It is so great to know that most of our students have changed through our helping proffesion by educating them about the personality and social issues that affect them.As write this its Friday July we(Mpilonhleans)are very busy at site at Sipho Zungu clinic. Young boys are flocking in numbers coming for male circumcirsion. And again I say thanks to you all.Happy reading.
Posted by vanessa on at 8:58 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
It was interesting to see many boys at the Clinic today, they were coming from the different places ,showing their enthusiastic for what they were doing today. Mpilonhle was working hand in hand with Department of Health.
Mpilonhle was doing Voluntary Counselling and Testing to those who were coming for the first time.Some were already made an appointment at School where we work with.After they finished they were walking like they didn’t do anything,their happiness was written on their face.
Posted by PM on at 8:44 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
In most cases men are known as good people to hold back special in health related issues, they are afraid to come forward but their positive response to circumcision call proved that they can do anything as long as they got clear understanding of what they supposed to do and their benefit were well stated. I guess this circumcision issue could have a big effect in reducing new HIV/AIDS infections as long as we all will put our hands together and work for one goal and keep on encouraging abstinence for the young ones and safer sex for adults because being circumcised doesn’t mean that you can’t get affected if you practice unsafe sex. I appreciate all government structures and NGO’s like Mpilonhle and others for their good work. No one can hunt an elephant alone, we all need one another.
Posted by sabelo on at 8:13 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
SILETHUKUKHANYA HIGH SCHOOLS HOLIDAY CAMP
27 June 2011 to 28 June 2011
Camps…! Oh yeah! Schools holiday camps, wonderful!
One may ask why camps?
Camp is a great learning and social system for learners, this is one of the good ways of having relevant teachings to the youth that is still at school, because schools holidays sometimes becomes a gap that is not properly planned for by most parents to do something with their children at homes. And now Mpilonhle is really there for those learners to tackle some vital issues that are hanging in their lives, like making good choices in life is not just an easy channel to tune into and you can keep on searching for it in most days of your life, some end up in herbal rehabilitation centres because they sometimes didn’t get the chance to talk in their peer group openly, facing realities of life under full support of Skillz coaches. Talking about issues touching drugs abuse, domestic violence, Gender based violence, gender norms and also stigma and discrimination to those affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.
So all the support to kids in our day camps come from Mpilonhle staff such people are Life Skillz Coaches, Health Educators, Health Counsellors, Nurses and Social Workers in one site and having Computer Basic Education alternating with superb fun in team building exercises with the help of professional soccer clinics rendered by Mpilonhle soccer team players.
Ntokozo in the centre leading the team building exercise and Mxolisi as an assistant outside the circle
It is truly a wonderful event for learners to undergo such activities because they also find themselves engaging in topics they never thought that they- themselves can have an insight to those topics, these things are sometimes shocking when you listen to the kid’s “hot stories”- sometimes the facilitator pretends absent to let the conversation flow without formal conversation norm. So it makes them to show their true colors in their beliefs; and myths and in that way it becomes easy for a person leading the activity to tackle those things.
Your guess can be good as mine; Mama Sbongile is cooking for the camp participants “Nice ne?” Mpilonhle normally serve fruits and healthy full meal for lunch with juice for participants in the camp.
Posted by thokozani on June 30, 2011 at 4:13 am.
Tags: Sport & Health Activities —
its my third year being at Mpilonhle and i must say its real great and i enjoy working here with learners.it has actual thought me a lot of things that at first i didnt know about the social discourse .our daily life its about going to high school and do the job .theres a day that i will always remember my entire life .it was in may and i had a task to do at Nkosana high school ,when i was in that school ,i was approached by an educator who told me a story about a girl child who was experiencing sexual assault and physical abuse and that made me to realise that gender based violence is rife in our homesteads and that violence against women is the most pervasive yet least recognised human right abuse in the world and it actual perpetuate male power and control .and when i was talking with that girl child i could see that violence is sustained by a culture of silence and denial of seriousness of the health consequences of abuse .i must say i feel strongly about this social ill and it is everybody’s responsibility to adress this socail ill .how can we adress gender based ? we can adress it by having empowerment programmes ,women need to be empowered economical, educational and political we also need to involve men in the campaign .we also need to do public awareness where we will teach people how to identify that they are being abused , what to do when you are experiencing violence we also need to have local organisation where women and girls can go to and break the silence without being judged.we at Mpilonhle have started doing that in our health education curriculum there is a part that deals with gender based violence and skills curriculum there is a part also that talks strongly about this issue we called that part women summit and men summit its very interesting and informative.i would like to close by saying women who are in abusive relationship are particularly at risk of exposure to hiv infection due to further violence abandonment or loss of economic support if they attempt to negotiate safer sex or refuse sex and it reflects and reinforces inquities between men and women and any of the abuses can leave deep psychological scars,damage the health of women and girls in general.
Posted by nompumelelo on June 29, 2011 at 9:10 am.
Tags: Uncategorized —
Mpilonhle is playing an important role for moral generation in school, because of the behavior change. Starting from skills couches to health education, counsellors, nurses and social workers, kids were there to get services from Mpilonhle because they knew that they get impact in what we are giving them.
As health counsellors we do pre-post counselling. We are proud of what we are doing at Mpilonhle and I think we can do more for the kids because most of them they are orphans and others have single parent.
Posted by PM on at 8:59 am.
Tags: Health Counsellors —
