Eluxolweni

ELUXOLWENI CHARITABLE TRUST

Contents

ABOUT ELUXOLWENI

The Eluxolweni shelter provides some children with perhaps the first stability they have ever experienced, although the conditions are poor. There are three house parents in the shelter, including a qualified social worker, as well as the director, David Classen. The shelter is a haven for many children aged between 4 and 17, and gives them the chance to escape the cycle of poverty and addiction by getting an education, and to deal with the difficulties they have encountered. Money is urgently needed on an ongoing basis for food, clothing, books, educational materials, laundry and kitchen equipment. The shelter is also planning a significant extension and renovation of the living area.


A view of the Eluxolweni shelter from the outside.	Although the bedrooms are cramped and sparsely furnished, they are the nearest thing to a home that many children have.

Eluxolweni Director David Classen, pictured with Joan Kaye outside the shelter.

In March, Sheila (of Soweto Connection) visited Eluzolweni with some of the jerseys collected through the "Jerseys for Africa" appeal. She also brought a half dozen soccer balls, and met with the assistant manager, Tarbita Ndleleni.

Tarbita is pictured here in the Shelter's kitchen with the Eluxolweni cook, Zanele Herber

There are now about 30 boys in the Eluxolweni shelter, 11 girls in a similar shelter at Robbie St. , and some 9 boys in another shelter for older lads. Tarbita explained that most of the children at the shelter come from poor backgrounds, with abuse in the home or from near relatives or neighbours. She told about one lad who came after being very badly beaten up by his mother, requiring stitches to his head, and ongoing monitoring for possible brain damage.

While visiting Eluxolweni, Sheila made sets of jerseys and soccer balls available for the children to use. She met two boys who were really pleased to hear they now had soccer balls. They said they had been asking and praying for them for a while now, and Tarbita said that they had indeed been constantly asking.

Sheila also met the director, David Claassen. He said the money from Soweto Connection was really useful, and said that while the last funding was used to buy the stove and the plastic chairs, the next transfer would go to replacing the fridge, which was indeed in terrible condition.

Sheila and David Classen beside the stove which was bought using Soweto funding (left). And below, a picture of the inside of their fridge which also needs replacing.

October 2005: Soweto Connection Sponsor New Stove

In July 2005, Soweto Connection responded to an appeal for assistance in procuring a new stove for the Eluxolweni Shelter. This stove was bought in August with money provided by Soweto Connection.

Below is a picture of the new stove, with pots on it. The old stove can be seen next to it.

On one of the first days after the new stove was installed, some of the children enjoy a hot lunch cooked in it.

Eluxolweni also purchased the chairs being used by the children with the money provided by Soweto Connection.