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Haven for destitute children

Haven for destitute children

IN 2003, a small group of people set up a Gospel Community Outreach Programme between Katutura and Khomasdal to look after AIDS orphans and HIV-infected children.

Of the first 10 children cared for at the shelter, six died of the disease and four were placed with foster families. It was the start of Baby Haven.In 2004, the Woman and AIDS Support Network (WASN) took over the project and currently supports, counsels and educates 103 families.Most of these households are run by grandmothers, single mothers and even children.Once a week the grandmothers gather under a tree in Baby Haven’s garden for group counselling and support.Many have lost their children to AIDS and now care for sick grandchildren.Counselling helps them come to terms with their loss, and they are also taught how to care for HIV-positive children.WASN takes the babies to hospital when necessary, as the grandparents live on meagre pensions and often cannot afford taxi fares.The 103 families are visited regularly and receive baby formula and toiletries from Baby Haven.”Whenever we have something that we can share, we share it with the families” says Agnes Tom of WASN.SUPPORT NETWORK Thirty-six mothers and pregnant women meet once every fortnight at Baby Haven for emotional support, counselling and to receive baby formula.The organisation also supports older orphans by donating food and toiletries, and finding them light housework to do so that they can provide for their younger siblings.Sixty-four young adults living with HIV-AIDS also find comfort in group-counselling sessions once a week at Baby Haven.At present, WASN also supports eight young rape victims between the ages of 8 and 14.The children receive counselling and their living arrangements are looked at for possible re-homing.Baby Haven cannot provide permanent accommodation for orphans, but it does provide temporary shelter until suitable homes can be found.The University of Gissen in Germany is the main sponsor of Baby Haven.It bought the house and is currently building a small hall so that meetings can be held in private.Various churches in Windhoek and one in the United States of America support the shelter by donating baby formula and other day-to-day necessities.FOR OUR MUM Last year, a member of the support group made the shelter aware of four children between 4 and 12 who were begging for money to buy a coffin so that they could bury their mother.The children had been living on their own in a shack since their mother’s death.WASN bought a coffin and traced the children’s grandmother to Otjiwarongo, who agreed to take the children in.Agnes Tom says stories like this abound, and the need is becoming greater.MERCY Another heartbreaking story is the one of little Mercy.Mercy is about 10 months old, although no one is sure when her birthday is, not even her own mother.Mercy was brought to Baby Haven by a concerned relative after her mother allegedly tried to kill her.Baby Haven has been caring for Mercy while trying to find her a home.She was supposed to be placed with a great-aunt last week, but the aunt had passed away in the meantime.The shelter is now counselling the baby’s mother and grandmother in an attempt to reunite the family, but none of them really wants her.Only time will tell if the counselling will change their attitude.Because Baby Haven is not yet registered as a welfare organisation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, it is not allowed to provide long-term shelter for children.Registration with the Ministry is proving to be an expensive affair.Before registration is even considered, a charity has to submit its audited accounts to the Ministry.An audit would cost N$15 000, which is well out of reach of this small welfare organisation.It was the start of Baby Haven.In 2004, the Woman and AIDS Support Network (WASN) took over the project and currently supports, counsels and educates 103 families.Most of these households are run by grandmothers, single mothers and even children.Once a week the grandmothers gather under a tree in Baby Haven’s garden for group counselling and support.Many have lost their children to AIDS and now care for sick grandchildren.Counselling helps them come to terms with their loss, and they are also taught how to care for HIV-positive children.WASN takes the babies to hospital when necessary, as the grandparents live on meagre pensions and often cannot afford taxi fares.The 103 families are visited regularly and receive baby formula and toiletries from Baby Haven.”Whenever we have something that we can share, we share it with the families” says Agnes Tom of WASN.SUPPORT NETWORK Thirty-six mothers and pregnant women meet once every fortnight at Baby Haven for emotional support, counselling and to receive baby formula.The organisation also supports older orphans by donating food and toiletries, and finding them light housework to do so that they can provide for their younger siblings.Sixty-four young adults living with HIV-AIDS also find comfort in group-counselling sessions once a week at Baby Haven.At present, WASN also supports eight young rape victims between the ages of 8 and 14.The children receive counselling and their living arrangements are looked at for possible re-homing.Baby Haven cannot provide permanent accommodation for orphans, but it does provide temporary shelter until suitable homes can be found.The University of Gissen in Germany is the main sponsor of Baby Haven.It bought the house and is currently building a small hall so that meetings can be held in private.Various churches in Windhoek and one in the United States of America support the shelter by donating baby formula and other day-to-day necessities. FOR OUR MUM Last year, a member of the support group made the shelter aware of four children between 4 and 12 who were begging for money to buy a coffin so that they could bury their mother.The children had been living on their own in a shack since their mother’s death.WASN bought a coffin and traced the children’s grandmother to Otjiwarongo, who agreed to take the children in.Agnes Tom says stories like this abound, and the need is becoming greater.MERCY Another heartbreaking story is the one of little Mercy.Mercy is about 10 months old, although no one is sure when her birthday is, not even her own mother.Mercy was brought to Baby Haven by a concerned relative after her mother allegedly tried to kill her.Baby Haven has been caring for Mercy while trying to find her a home.She was supposed to be placed with a great-aunt last week, but the aunt had passed away in the meantime.The shelter is now counselling the baby’s mother and grandmother in an attempt to reunite the family, but none of them really wants her.Only time will tell if the counselling will change their attitude.Because Baby Haven is not yet registered as a welfare organisation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, it is not allowed to provide long-term shelter for children.Registration with the Ministry is proving to be an expensive affair.Before registration is even considered, a charity has to submit its audited accounts to the Ministry.An audit would cost N$15 000, which is well out of reach of this small welfare organisation.

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