|
Generation Africa is taking care of more than 2000 children in different locations in South Africa. Our main site is located in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, near Durban.
Our work started 41 years ago and was the first, from its very beginning, to break the apartheid.
Our action respects the "International Convention on the Rights of the Child" which was adopted by the UNO on November 20th, 1989 and ratified by 192 countries, including South Africa. The Convention spells out that all children have the right to life, protection and education.
It declares that all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures must be taken to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse. Generation Africa tries to take children in charge in a global way and to offer them a physical and social but also a psychological and spiritual development. So they can understand that getting revenge on the people who harmed them or took advantage of them, is not the solution to their problems.
| | The "Mamas" role
| Most of the orphans have lost both their father and mother because of Aids. And many have lost their entire family. Other children have simply been abandoned because of poverty and Aids.
Many "grandmothers" (elderly women) are using their meagre pension (700 Rands per month, the rough equivalent of 94 euros or 100 USD or 50 £) to feed the orphans. They often take care of 6 children. There's even a granmother who takes care of 12 of them! This way, the orphans continue to live in the area where they were born and in respect of their culture.
There is an average of 50 orphans per site but in some areas we take care of more than 200 of them.
At our main site in KwaSizaBantu, we can meet all the children's needs. But our help can vary depending on the area. The minimum is to provide them with food and clothing when we have enough money. We would like to do so much more because we have the potential to take care of 10 000 children. |  |
 Our visits in the villages
About 20 different locations are being visited as often as possible. The orphans are checked for information about their situation: when their parents died, who their care-givers are, etc.
They are given a pack of food which normally includes maize meal, beans, rice, sugar, cooking oil and tea. Depending on our crops, vegetables such as cabbages, sweet potatoes or lettuce are also added to the food parcels. 
Sometimes clothing is also handed out. Most of the time, the orphans only have a T-shirt with holes, a skirt or shorts, and no shoes. They are so happy when they receive 2nd hand shoes: it's often the first time they can protect their feet from stones, rain and cold.
Fathers are virtually non-existent in the raising of the children or giving them any support. Sometimes, men will arrive when food is being handed out. They are often intoxicated and upset that they don't get given food like the orphans. Community leaders ask for our help. We require them to be present when we register the orphans on our lists. Education
The objective of Generation Africa is not only emergency help for the orphans despite this is an important part of our activity.
To develop their personality, their skills, and their physical and mental aptitudes, to prepare them to assume their responsibilities in society and to live in respect of others: here are some of our objectives.
| 
In 1986, we opened a school for grades R to 12. At that stage pupils attended classes under trees or in a disused bus when it rained. The school also had no desks, so pupils had to work on their laps.
Today, we have about 300 pupils who come from a variety of racial groups but are predominantly Zulu-speaking. We teach them first to improve their Zulu, to speak and write English. School, accommodation and food are free for those who can’t contribute financially.
Kindergarten is also available for children. It is run on a daily basis in conjunction with the school term.
Our facilities are not top class, but as a result of the dedication of the teachers and pupils, |  | we have achieved a 100% pass rate in "matric" (high school degree)
since the opening of the school. Our past pupils have gone on to take on positions in areas such as business, engineering, education and law. One of our pupils, who matriculated in 1989 at the age of 16, has completed his doctoral studies in foreign relations in the United States. A number of past pupils have returned to the school as teachers to plough back what they have received. Press and media have done many news stories on our different schools. The Minister of Education came several times to give himself the annual prizes to the best pupils of the year. | 
|
Many sports are available to the children who really enjoy them!! Some of our sports teams are among the best in the area. Two soccer players have joined professional training centres and one of them plays in 2nd division. |
|
