RECOGNITION FOR THANDANANI'S WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

Thandanani Children's Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Pietermaritzburg, has achieved both national and international recognition for its work in the community. Addressing a Women's Day celebration in August 2002, the Deputy-General of Communications, Phumelele Ntombele-Nzimande, noted the Foundation's achievements and the number of volunteers actively participating in its development programme. ?In spite of all your experiences and difficulties, you dedicate your lives to the communities.

You give your all to the children that you reach and you do this for the sake of our future, and our children's future, so that there can be a nation which we are proud of.? Having started with a volunteer base of two or three, Thandanani now boasts more than 200 community volunteers. Early in September 2002, Linda Aadnesgaard, Executive Director of Thandanani, and Zanele Maseko, Thandanani's Regional Orphan Co- Ordinator, were invited to meet French President Jacques Chirac at the World Summit for Sustainable Development, as the organisation had been nominated by the French Embassy to be decorated with the Legion of Honour. Funding from the Paris-based organisation Secours Catholique and the French government had enabled the set-up of Thandanani's community child-care committees (comprising of volunteers), their primary role being to identify and assist orphans of AIDS and other vulnerable children in the community. This work involves facilitating access to birth certificates (which are required for school attendance and to obtain social grants), the provision of donated medical supplies (such as worming medicine) or food parcels (through a networking partner).

Commented Linda Aadnesgaard, ?Thandanani recognises that children are happiest when they remain part of the community. It is our aim to help the community achieve a safe and nurturing environment for these children by mobilising, supporting and training community members as well as providing some direct services to these children in the meantime. We appreciate the recognition that we are getting, it means so much to the volunteers and staff who are dealing with difficult issues on a daily basis." ?There has been extensive interest in Thandanani's current and ongoing Child-headed Household Research project, which will be going into the field shortly." ?We have also developed a training course called ?FAST TRACK? which is available at a nominal fee so that other non-profit organisations can have access to the lessons we have already learnt. We believe that they will then be able to make meaningful progress in the communities more quickly, and this will have a direct impact on the children.?

For more information, contact: Thandanani Children's Foundation, PostNet Suite 30 , Private Bag X 9005 PIETERMARITZBURG 3200 Tel: (033) 345 1857 Fax (033) 345 1863 Email: [email protected] web: www.thandanani.org.za

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