The villages where we serve have a long and very interesting culture. In these villages, the traditional leaders make up the authority and hierarchy. All the villages fall under the authority of one Chief who has similar standing as a King. This Chief appoints a Headman and a deputy for each village. As part of our own internal reviews, Helping Hands interviewed Mr Morgan Monere, the Deputy Headman of one of the villages. Mr Monere is one of the most fascinating people I know. He has the experience and skill of a seasoned village Elder yet his eyes always twinkle in laughter. I am convinced that inside his elderly body a mischievous village boy is trying to get out. I would like to share some of our interview responses with you. The interview was originally done in the Setwana tribal language. This is the translated version.
HHIA: Is the feeding project needed and having an impact in your village?
Mr Monere: Yes, of course. Children of this village used to eat food from the dumping sites and garbage bins in the suburbs but now they come to the Helping Hands Center for food to eat. The parents who cannot put food on the table have hope. They know that their children will have something in their stomach when they go to sleep. You know well that the food price has escalated and it is not easy for parents to buy food for their children.
HHIA: In what way has the Learning Center and Pre-school benefited the village?
Mr Monere: Because the parents do not have to pay for their children to attend, children who wouldn't get the chance to go to a pre-school now have an opportunity to get the best education at the foundation level. It also brings dignity to parents who couldn't pay for a good education for their children. The majority of the village children don't have parents or guardians who are educated to a point where they can help them with their homework. So, at the Learning Center the children are helped with their schoolwork. I have realized that our young people, who could have been thugs or gangsters, have become responsible people in the village because of Helping Hands and the church in the village that they support.
HHIA: Why do you personally participate in the Helping Hands Home Based Care Project?
Mr Monere: It has always been in my heart to help people and as a community leader I was always touched in my heart to see helpless people fading away in pain and I couldn't do anything on my own because of the lack of resources. Now after Helping Hands has come along, I have got the platform to reach out to my people without any obstacles.
HHIA: What do you think of Helping Hands as an organization?
Mr Monere: Helping Hands is here for the people. It helps the people directly. In the village, you cannot miss Helping Hands and Helping Hands will not miss you.
This extract of our interview highlights the importance of us working alongside the traditional leaders of each village. They help us to accomplish what we do. And so do you. Your support and partnership is as valuable as Mr Monere's and the other Elders. For this we thank you.
On another note, thank you to every single person who made our Walk on the Wild Side event such a "roaring" success. It was a wonderful family day of fun at the Zoo and it raised much needed money for our cause.
With warm regards,
Michelle Tessendorf
Helping Hands in Africa
