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Witvlei Street Kids Center
Introduction and Background:
This project was started Aug/Sept 2001 when Nora Nependa contacted the Windhoek Life Change Center for assistance and was brought into contact with the current representatives of the project.
The project was not moving forward very fast, since the representatives are living and working full time in Windhoek, and Witvlei is some 150kms from Windhoek. Nora has been very patient and kept her faith for more help and assistance when the project was moving forward so slowly. From 2001 until November 2005, assistance to Nora was in the form of monthly housing and food assistance by the current representatives.
The Witvlei regional council donated an empty, un-serviced plot to the Witvlei Street Kids Center building project in November 2004. The dream was to build a home for the kids and Nora and also to have a place that would contribute to the Witvlei community.
We are glad to say that in Dec 2005, we were able to build the center with moneys donated by the Suiderhof Dutch Reformed church congregation and various individuals. There is currently a small three-bedroom house, and a pre-primary class. The construction was made possible by a generous contribution from Grinaker who donated two pre-fabricated houses, transported them all the way to Witvlei, and assisted with the erection of the houses.
Mission statement for the Witvlei Street Kids Center:
It is our dream that the Center shall become a safe haven for all vulnerable children from the Witvlei and Omaheke region. To provide love and care and Bible teaching to these children so that they can become the adults they are meant to be.
Meet Nora and the children: Nora Nependa is a 45 year old single woman. She is passionate about the Lord and the needy people of Witvlei. She is actively involved with the Aids patients of Witvlei, actively praying for the community of Witvlei who are living in bondage to sin and not experiencing God’s love in their lives. She currently looks after the children living with her in the center, and provides food to the smaller children attending the pre-school during the morning.
The children’s ages vary between 3 years to 13 years, but she has had HIV positive babies to look after as well. Unfortunately they have passed away. She is now the legal guardian of the Adams children, 6 of them from one family. They are Rosalia Adams 12 years, Paul Adams 11 years, Matthias Adams 9 years, Godfried Adams 7 years, Bettie Adams 6 years and Susan Adams 4 years. Susan, the youngest, is not doing so well. Nora has had Susan tested for TB and will test her for HIV as well. She seems to be a very unhappy little girl, with the saddest eyes and very small for her age.
Susan Adams 4 years
Then there are three more boys, Elvis Virore (7), Ridley Gongub (10) and Bernhard Kaingob (8). Elvis has been with Nora the longest, and you can see how this little boy is flourishing from the knowledge that he is in a safe environment and cared for.
Four more girls, Bertha Witbooi (13), Bella Witbooi (11), Julinda Kieuril (5) and Martha Afrikaner (5) make up the balance of the orphans living with Nora.
One of Nora’s own daughters and a granddaughter is also living with them. Her daughter, Lizeth Nependa (17), is assisting her with the children.
Our dream for the future: It is Nora’s dream that the orphanage grows to eventually cater for all vulnerable children of Witvlei. She also dreams of the day she will actually be paid a small monthly amount to cover her personal expenses such as deodorant, soap and body lotion. She prays for the right assistant who can assist her with the pre-school and taking care of the children.
The current representatives dream of a day where there will be enough funds to sufficiently provide for school, clothes and food for all the children. Currently they provide food to the amount of N$1000 per month to Nora and the children. Their congregation donates clothes and the headmaster has written off school fees.
Our immediate needs:
We have received a wonderful contribution from the Witvlei Farmers Association for a water tank, water pipes and material for the start-up of the center’s own vegetable garden. A Drilling contractor has agreed to assist us with the drilling of a borehole, but we still require an amount N$10000.00 to cover some of his costs. The vegetable garden will assist in catering for the children’s needs, but also produce additional greens that can be sold to supplement their income. We also want to erect a playground with some swings etc for the children to play on. We always require material (paints, crayons etc) that can be used in the pre-primary school.
The representatives can be contacted at the following numbers: Braam Cilliers: 061-237193 (w) or 0811299059 Trudi Cilliers: 061- 256063 (w) or 0811291352 e-mail: ondjaba@iway.na |
