Maize Planting: 5 Year Plan for Food Security

Target:

• 9 volunteers working with ASB
• 18 child headed households
• 4 children’s families with grandmothers

The issue of food security in the remote mountains of beautiful Swaziland remains a constant challenge as families workforce are devastated by HIV/AIDS and related illness. A form of genocide, three generations are dying at the same time obliterating oral history, cultural practices, sustainable life styles and life skills. Child headed households abound with some being without adults for 5 years already. Neighbors and friends have helped where possible to feed, clothe and parent. Many young people dropped out of school to care for siblings. As situations deteriorated vulnerability increased leading to malnourishment, prostitution, single young mothers and broken families.

In November WOW added value to 31 families directly with maize seed and fertilizer that will service a total 164 people of various ages. Even though the season failed to bring a full crop the encouragement received far outweighs the inputs. Many people are so surprised that people far away in unknown lands know about the KaPhunga situation and care enough to send help, to pray and show love by mobilizing efforts. Thank you WOW.

A CHILD HEADED HOUSEHOLD

Temalange Rose Dlamini (age 20) has one child, Nkosimpile (5), and has cared for her 2 siblings Khumbulane (age 18) and Sanele (age 14) for 4 years now. They share their land with their cousins and live as one family with Bongiwe Happiness (age 23), her baby Neliswa born 24 April 2007, her first born Sandiso (age 3), brother Thozane (age 21) , sister Celuco (age 16) sister and Eianda (age 14).

Seven years ago one father was killed in a mining accident. 2 years later the other father died and both mothers passed away in quick succession. The insurance from the mining accident kept the children for 2 years. They have been 4 years alone. Neighbors cared for them as well.

Their first priority need as they were asked is food and work of any kind. The maize planting kept them busy and has lifted the heads of the older siblings. They have secured about 15% of the projected harvest that was poor due to lack of rainfall. All are strong & healthy thanks to the constant care of the local WOW Partner, Asondle Sive Bomake volunteer who see that they are given a small food supplement parcel monthly, vitamin supplements and health and hygiene tuition. Every 4 months the children attending school receive medicine from the government to eradicate intestinal worms. They are safe in secure small buildings lift by the parents. The toilet is a pit that functions well. Electricity is not connected as there is no cash to pay monthly.

Kaphunga is a relatively new WOW community and so they are starting off with a small amount of monthly funding from WOW.....but you'll be amazed at how a little can do alot!

With only $500/month Kaphunga has already begun a project that allows child headed households to grow their own maize gardens.  The children sign contracts that show their committment to growing and caring for their gardens under the supervision of project volunteers.  Once the maize is ready for harvest the children agree to sell a portion of the harvest to reinvest in seed and fertilizer for the next growing season.  The remaining seed will be used by the children for their own food.

Around the same time 60 needy families were presented with traditional 3 legged pots, wash basins and 20 liter containers.

Recently volunteers in Kaphunga have committed to raising layer hens to provide fresh eggs for a weekly distribution to the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) in their area. Volunteers will give eggs to OVCs, sell a contracted number to the community, take the accepted contract portion as payment for own family and for supply and distribution to OVCs in the program. Volunteers will sell enough eggs to supply the same inputs for the following season to replicate activity.

Asondle Sive Bomake Home Based Care group is WOW's strategic partner in Swaziland and is headed by a wonderful woman named Nomsa.  Please pray for her and her husband Samuel as they seek the Lord's help in bringing relief to those affected by this overwhelming AIDS pandemic.