Rose of Hope Care Centre

Sophie is now representing us in Johannesburg after moving back home to South Africa at the end of last year. She has found her first project for the year and has launched head first into helping the Rose of Hope Care Centre, a tiny pre school situated in the Good Hope Township outside Germiston.

I was terrified the first time I visited the Good Hope Township. Inhabited by over 15 000 people, and it being my first visit to the heart of a South African township, I must admit that my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking! But the very first thing I noticed was the boundless supply of smiles and happy faces. Despite having nothing, living in shacks and bathing in dirty water, these people smiled and laughed as if the held the grace of God in their hands. This was the moment that I knew that this was going to be Vimba’s next project.

My feeling was confirmed when I met Shadrack Tshabalale, the founder of the Rose of Hope pre-school. In 2004, Shadrack opened the doors of his own tiny shack he calls home and took in 72 children aged between 6 months and 6 years and started teaching them. 3 years later, thanks to various sponsorships, Shadrack was able to give these children the education they so deserved. A school was built in 2007 which now houses 66 children from 6am to 6pm every day. These children are involved in learning to speak in English, count and sing and are also given ‘outside time’ where they practice their running.

It was clearly evident that although these children were getting a fantastic start to their education, they were lacking basic human necessities such as food, nappies, medical supplies and sufficient space. Consequently, with the help of Holy Rosary School, I started my plight to find these children another classroom area and a constant supply of essentials.

We have had an extraordinary response so far – generous donations have enabled us to buy Shadrack another section of land which he is using as a classroom and dormitories for orphans. We have also managed to get a 12 week supply of tinned food which is delivered to the children on a weekly basis. There is still a long way to go and our next aim is to buy the school a gas fridge / freezer, as well as keeping up the supply of food, baby supplies and medicine.

To those who have already helped with this incredible project, I thank you dearly. This is however an ongoing problem, so if anyone would like to get involved with this amazing cause, please contact me at sophie.whiteley@gmail.com or call my SA number – 0728186131.

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