Farmers support street children

MEMBERS of the Gobabis Regional Agricultural Union have donated building materials to develop a plot of land at Gobabis for a project in aid of street children.

The Lig vir die Kinders (Light for the Children) Project in Gobabis is run by Pastor Olwage. He approached the Gobabis Regional Agricultural Union and asked for building materials during their annual meeting at the end of last year.The union in turn approached its members, who collected unused material lying around on their farms.Last weekend the farmers donated the building materials to the project.This included cement, door and window frames, toilet seats, paint, tiles, kitchen appliances and utensils.Donated materials that cannot be used will be sold and the money used to buy usable items.The Gobabis Regional Agricultural Union, which already donates wood and food on a regular basis, will help with the further collection of building materials, as a lot is still needed.Kay-Dieter Rumpf, Chairman of the union, said the farmers were impressed with the way the project was run and decided to help wherever possible.The project looks after about 200 children.The main aim is to take in street children and give them basic pre-school education.The children are also given information about HIV-AIDS and receive leadership training.The project also helps to pay the school fees of children who are in formal schools.The children receive a meal each day and the project is totally dependent on donations.Currently, a large building made from reeds and corrugated-iron sheets doubles as a church and a school.There is also a shelter that was donated by a church in South Africa.This shelter needs to be enclosed so that it can be used as a kitchen.Plans for the future include three classrooms, toilets and bathrooms.The whole complex is fenced off with a security fence donated by a member of the Epukiro Farmers’ Association.Pastor Olwage appeals to people not to give the town’s street children money, as this encourages them to beg rather than to come to the project for education.He approached the Gobabis Regional Agricultural Union and asked for building materials during their annual meeting at the end of last year.The union in turn approached its members, who collected unused material lying around on their farms.Last weekend the farmers donated the building materials to the project.This included cement, door and window frames, toilet seats, paint, tiles, kitchen appliances and utensils.Donated materials that cannot be used will be sold and the money used to buy usable items.The Gobabis Regional Agricultural Union, which already donates wood and food on a regular basis, will help with the further collection of building materials, as a lot is still needed.Kay-Dieter Rumpf, Chairman of the union, said the farmers were impressed with the way the project was run and decided to help wherever possible.The project looks after about 200 children.The main aim is to take in street children and give them basic pre-school education.The children are also given information about HIV-AIDS and receive leadership training.The project also helps to pay the school fees of children who are in formal schools.The children receive a meal each day and the project is totally dependent on donations.Currently, a large building made from reeds and corrugated-iron sheets doubles as a church and a school. There is also a shelter that was donated by a church in South Africa.This shelter needs to be enclosed so that it can be used as a kitchen.Plans for the future include three classrooms, toilets and bathrooms.The whole complex is fenced off with a security fence donated by a member of the Epukiro Farmers’ Association.Pastor Olwage appeals to people not to give the town’s street children money, as this encourages them to beg rather than to come to the project for education.