June 10, 2005
Exciting months at Schoemansdal Centre
by Leonardo Santana

The months of February and March were exciting times at the LifeChild orphanage in Schoemansdal, (a little town outside of Malelane).  ABSA bank teamed up with Doctors For LifeInternational to bring major improvements upon the site.  This LifeChild centre currently has no electricity, plumbing, furniture, beds and has only one outdoor toilet.  There are currently 17 kids (9 boys/8girls). 

Leo and Anthony busy inserting the drain pipe

Somewhere in South Africa, on the outskirts of Malelane, lays a small fortress built out of the labor of love.  This concrete house is called ‘home’ for 17 of our orphans;  9 boys and 8 girls.  It is filled to the brim with songs of praise, unity, joy, laughter and life and of course homework as well.  The project started in 2004 and is more than half way finished.   Last month volunteers have installed new washinglines, replaced missing windows, instated government standard rubbish bins and dug holes for the plumbing line. 

The most obvious addition of all was the painting.  Neil Parrow and assistants, artists from DFL, came in and displayed their remarkable talent upon the walls.  The children stood in awe of the new animals, trucks, angels, flowers and ocean.  The interior is now refreshing.   (article continues below pictures)



Anthony and Leo holding the step ladder whle one of the children do the work!

Tombenthle and Daniel (Above and below) doing some preparation for the paint work.




Neal Parrow busy painting the' Angel's scene' .

Anthony and Ash Wilkerson putting on the base cover.

The finishing product in the education room: " Thank you very much to you Neal and your team..."

To read more about this event follow this link which will include more photos...

Also last month ABSA bank teamed up with Doctors For Life again to help plow the fields for a future garden.  Some members donated an irrigation system for the soon to be harvest field.  We believe that if we teach the kids now how to labor for their food, they will take these valuable traits into their adulthood.  The kids marveled at the tractors leveling their field.  Their facial expressions depicted amazement of how this once empty land is being transformed into their small imaginable paradise. Much work still needs to be done but we believe with everybody’s support and effort this building will be a joy of our orphans. Even though the kids sleep on the floor, they still smile in the morning.  Thanks to all who are making this possible. (article continues below pictures)

The tractor was from MADALA cc in Malelane

The ABSA Team planted some vegitables a few days later. Although this garden will ultimately meet the childrens daily nutritional needs which they so desperately need, it also served as an educational tool for the children, teaching them some life skills.

Below are some of the pictures taken that day, telling the story of their hard work and dedication to help our children.

Ingrid and her team make ready to hand out some sweets to the children

The 'micro irrigation' system is from Omnia

Doctors for Life International represents more than 1000 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of who practice in South Africa. DFL was founded as a South African organization in 1991 and has spread across the globe. DFL is involved in several community projects including orphan care, the care of terminal AIDS patients, malaria prevention and the care of abused women.

For more information visit the Life-Child web-page