Katha Day Care Center

Going to the Katha Day Care Center is a life changing experience. This is a refuge for children from infancy to 6 years of age where these children come from 7 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. They walk from long distances for short little legs and they come because here they are loved and cared for. These are aids orphans who are in foster care at night and on the week-end. They are taken care of by "Grannies" who receive a pittance to have them sleep in their homes. They often have nothing to eat in these homes as poverty is so severe. The norm is to come Monday morning with ailments that come from not eating anything. The day I visited, there were 75 orphans there and 58 are HIV positive. Many will not live to See their 6th birthday.
These are the cutest, most beautiful children you have ever seen. They are polite, really somewhat reserved and curious. But when you smile and sing to them they express joy in small smiles and a little sparkle in their eyes.
This Center is a miracle in their little lives. The women who work there (mostly for nothing but food in return) LOVE these children. They cuddle and laugh and clean and change them and feed them. Another miracle in their lives from this is that they have 2 meals a day and an insulated place to be....a place of protection from predators, from weather and it is just a happy place. They always are touching each other and holding hands and putting their arms around each other.
We took toys and blankets and hygiene kits from the Humanitarian Warehouse. They patiently stood in line as they came to get toys to play with....but they didn't know how to throw the balls, or run the cars on the floor. We had to teach them and then they came alive. Actually, we were also teaching the teachers how to use the stuff.
They had as much fun as the children racing cars, throwing balls, rolling balls, and actually playing with 2 very large cranes that some wonderful person had constructed and sent. The children could sit on those and manipulate it and they will be treasures for a very long time. Sister O'Frieo and I (the stake president's wife) have arranged to do some workshops out there for the teachers to help them know how to help children
They are sooo excited. They just hugged us when we told them we would come and teach them some games and how to act out stores, etc. We both have been teachers so I know we can help. Actually, any Primary teacher could help immensely. The director is going to arrange to have the teachers from some other similar daycares in the neighborhood come and learn too. We will start in August. I must say though, they do know how to teach the children to sing!!!!
The director is am amazing woman. She is in her 50's and really loves these children....She has been serving for 20 years. The place is spotless, inside and out. It is located out of Joburg about 30 minutes so there is some property around it.
She has gardens for fresh vegetables that are tended precisely. My favorite is the room with all the herbs. She goes out into the veld and gathers these herbs....brings them back and pounds into powder as needed. Each shelf is labeled according to the ailment. For example: heart problems, indigestion problems, open wounds, sore throat, skin rashes, for immune system etc. Everyday, these children drink a concoction she has brewed and it is remarkable how healthy they are in spite of their problems. She comes from a line of African doctors (sangomas) who have treated the people in their villages for years and she was taught by her mother and grandmother. I don't know what good it does, but I think it does something, if nothing more than show tremendous love, but she pointed out that their weren't any coughs (except me) and no runny noses. That is amazing in the cold winter. She said that every Monday morning when they come back they all have diarrhea from not eating or from eating things to harsh for little ones, and she says by Wednesday she has them in order and keeps them that way until the week-end and then they start all over again. She is happy and loving and amazing. I think of Mother Teresa when I see her.
There is a choice when we see places like this. You can go home and cry and fret and worry and wonder or you can be thankful that for a few hours each day these precious children are looked after by angels on earth. They have food. a roof and loving arms around them. I know Heavenly Father is aware of these children and loves them and is grateful to anyone who makes their life a little easier. I went home a little more humble again.