Volunteer creates playground for needy children

ORPHANS and vulnerable children, most of them left destitute by AIDS-related deaths, face extraordinary hardships, among them a lack of social support and parental oversight which sometimes lead to behavioural problems.

But US Peace Corps volunteer Caroline Moore, who is attached to the Keetmanshoop Catholic AIDS Centre, has committed herself to helping them to rise above their social circumstances. Moore says there is a tendency among underprivileged children to develop behavioural problems because of domestic violence, abuse and growing up in a poor environment. ‘Most kids don’t have both parents to teach them how to behave. Their first response is to hit like they see it on the streets,’ says Moore. To change the way they grow and to support them in developing a sharing mentality despite all the challenges they face, Moore has decided to create a safe playground for these children. She says it took her close to two years to raise funds for the construction of the playground.Thanks to the support of two local businesses, Pro Edge Steel and Dollar Six Construction, which offered free material and labour, Moore’s playground for 130 children has been built. ‘It took me long to have open space cleaned by the local council and to source funding. At last the children who have nothing – only four walls and sleeping on the floors – now have a safe place to play,’ says Moore. The playground, named Moore Fun Playground, has a slide, flip bar, tyre tower, monkey bars and swings. ‘They love it,’ says Moore while some children are clutching her hands. Moore is also teaching the children life and English skills, HIV-AIDS prevention and hygiene at the centre after school. Moore, who is returning home in two weeks’ time, says she would love to come back Keetmanshoop to see how these children have grown up.luqman@namibian.com.na