The following story was not written by me but by one of my staff that has shared so beautifully a glimpse inside the Swazi culture and inside the life of Andile, a child that attends one of our CarePoints. The wording has not been altered, remember that English is the second language for Swazis. The pictures throughout this blog (taken by a recent team) are not of Andile but of a variety of children that Children Cup touches through various CarePoints.
HOW THE PROJECT CHANGED ANDILE's LIFE
God bless you as you read on how your prayers and support has helped Childrens Cup touch and change the hopeless lives of many kids with one Andile Gamedze being today's example.
Andile is an eight year old boy who was abandoned by his father while he was still young. After having four kids with Andile's mother he then ran away from responsibility without trace. He is said to have moved on with other ladies,impregnanting them and leaving them stranded and not taking responsibility of his deeds as is common practice in this culture. As a result Andile's mother who is not working didnot know what to do with her lovely kids who needed three meals a day, quality medical care,quality education,to mention but a few.
But God had a plan through the partnership of Childrens Cup and Mission of Mercy to take care of such kids. His mother left him with others to go and look for a job which is very scarce to get in this country.Since then she has only been visiting her kids once in a while. Now the kids had to live without both parents something that has contributed much to the increase of crime in the country as statistics has proved that more than 80% of the country's parents or not even one of them involved. His grandmother had to assume responsibility something common in this culture since many give birth prematurely to kids that they can't take care of leaving the grandparents with no option but to come to their rescue.
Recently, Andile injured his toes and was admitted into a nearby hospital where the doctor said he needs to have his toe removed (amputated).
Constant prayers were made by facilitators and cooks for this young boy who was lying helplessly in the hospital not even aware of what was about to take place. God intervened, miraculously the doctor said there was no longer a need to remove his toe and was later discharged. His granny did not even have an idea on how to settle all the hospital bills but God knew. Childrens Cup medical wing took care of all the costs which was a great relief to the granny who was then confused.
Making matters worse is the fact that Andile's grandmother is not taking care of only the four kids but is also taking care of his nieces, cousins, uncles and aunts who are depending on this one old lady who is not working. How does she manage to shoulder such a huge responsibility, only God knows? Have it not been for what God is doing through Children's Cup, Andile would be one of those many kids in the country who have never been to school in their entire lives. That means not able to read and write and also means a bleak future.
His granny can't afford paying school fees for kids that are close to ten that are under her care at least one meal a day something she had always struggled with. The CarePoint relieved her by providing for her grandchildren at considering that education is expensive in this country. Andile attended the CarePoint pre-school,did his first and second grades here before transferring to neighboring primary school where he is doing his third grade now.
He is now happy and healthy like any other child.
Thank-you for your prayers,support and contributions which enable this noble ministry to this huge impact in the lives of many others with Andile being a sample. Thank-you for reading this article may God bless you.
Written by Njabulo Ndlovukazi
