South Africa June

AWAY South Africa June

Umthombo Street Children, Durban
Let us Grow, Orange Farm (near Johannesburg)

Umthombo Street Children founder Tom Hewitt showed us how TACC's grant had already been put to use. Firstly they had bought some very sturdy tables and benches for their dining room. He then showed us the dorms - triple bunk beds for 18 girls and around 50 boys. We were gobsmacked to find out that TACC's grant had paid for these and helped Umthombo take a massive step change from a day centre to a 24/7 Safe Space for the children. As recently as the previous month the kids had to leave at night, and would sleep together along the side of the building for safety. We were blown away by the implications of this - for Scotland's football supporters to have provided this for these children is a fantastic achievement and leaves a lasting legacy. These are children who face violence, drugs and abuse on the streets - even this week one of the girls was raped - and to give them a bed for the night will make a massive difference to their lives.

Let us Grow has a small brick building with a small outdoor (but covered) cooking facility. They provide food to the children 3 times daily, the kids queuing up with their plates or margarine tubs and then sitting in the open to eat, even in bad weather. They currently supports over 1,000 children who's parents have passed away of Tuberculosis, AIDS or other illnesses. Often the children are left to look after their younger brothers and sisters, because in Orange Farm no-one knows who they are, where they're from or who their relatives are. TACC's donation to provided funding for the rest of 2010, providing food, counselling, support, medicine, sport and education.