Mpilonhle Blog

Distribution of Toms shoes in schools 2012

nathi — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 06:42:43 +0000

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.

Home-Based Carer Garden Training

Claire — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:35:21 +0000

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!

One Sight visits schedule 18-27 October 2011

Sifiso Zulu — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:09:36 +0000

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

Computer Education at Ntandabantu Primary School, Mtubatuba Area

Sifiso Zulu — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:53:43 +0000

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.

Teaching computer skills to all

Sifiso Zulu — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:24:50 +0000

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'

Digging Deep at Nkodibe

Claire — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:13:33 +0000

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!

Food Tunneling at Madwaleni!

Claire — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:39:05 +0000

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

I support women’s month

Sifiso Zulu — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:22:27 +0000

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

Gardening at Inkosibonga

Claire — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:44:28 +0000

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

thokozani — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:15:42 +0000

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?