BIG CAVE GIVES BACK
Community Project @ Whitewaters Secondary School, Matobo
Every child deserves to have a childhood
60% of the 460 children are orphans, cared for by grandparents, relatives, neighbours or orphanages. Many have no-one - it is not uncommon to have a child-headed household. In order to afford basic necessities like food and toiletries children as young as 13 work in the fields at the end of the school day and some children do not attend school because they have to work to bring in money. Attending school has it's challenges. It is rare to find a pen, pencil or piece of paper in class because they are unaffordable. Children struggle with concentration because one meal a day is not enough for a growing and active child. Children can walk up to 20km each to get to school. School fees are the last of their priorities: only 15% can afford to do their "O" levels and 5% can afford to do their "A" levels.
Would you like to sponsor a child?
$150 pays school fees for a year
$210 pays school fees plus stationery
$250 pays for school fees, stationery and a uniform
Siyubuliso Nyoni
Male 15 years old.
Family of 3, all children. Child-headed household.
His mother passed away 3 years ago and the three siblings live alone.
His older school going sister takes care of him.
His father left home years ago and never returned.
The children work in people's houses in return for a plate of food.
SPONSORED BY CARON & DAVE WADDY
Adelaide Ndebele
Female 14 years old. Lives with her mother. Father is deceased. Family of 13. Nine are school going children. The mother works to support the family and occasionally a brother sends money to help them. |
Benefit Ncube
14 year old male. Lives with his grandmother. Both parents are deceased. Family of 6. The grandmother works in the fields but is often ill and cannot work. |
Bishop Masuku
Male 17 years old. Lives his with his grandparents (65 and 73 years old). Father deceased. Family of 5. Mother left to secure a job, but does not send money or communicate with them. |
Buhlebenkosi Siqalaba
Female 12 years old. Family of 5. Her father passed away two years ago from an illness. Shortly after that her mother was in a car accident and injured her back so her working options are limited. An uncle gives them a little money. |
Dephne Ncube
Girl 13 years old. Both parents are deceased. Lives with her grandparents. Family of 7. Grandparents work on a farm and sell vegetables to care for their 5 grandchildren. |
Crispen Moyo
Male 18 years old. Lives with his father and ill mother. Family of 10. Father works on small jobs to buy food. Sometimes the money doesn't bring in enough for the mother's medication. Crispen is often out of school as he has to work for money to buy food. |
Fortune Lunga
Male 17 years old. Family of 12. Lives with grandparents age 73 and 89. His mother is a housemaid in town and sends a little money home for basics like food and clothing Father's whereabouts are unknown. |
Hilder Ndlovu
14 year old girl. Lives with her mother. The father is deceased. Family of 5. All the children help the mother to sell vegetables for money. |
Hlaniphani Ncube
16 year old boy. Lives with his 72 year old grandmother. Father is deceased. Family of 6. The grandmother works but is old and ill and cannot work too often. |
Kwanene Kavesu
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Melisa Mwale
13 year old girl. Family of 10. Lives with her 82 year old grandmother. Her parents are divorced and the mother does not contact her and her father's whereabouts are unknown. Money comes from the grandmothers other children occasionally. |
Michael Ncube
14 year old boy. Lives with his mother. Father is deceased. Family of 4. |
Ndodana Moyo
Male 15 years old. Both parents deceased. Lives with his grandparents (aged 65 & 68 years old) They cannot work. Family of 7 (4 school going children in the family) Receiving support from an auntie who works in town who has her own family. School fees required. |
Nokuthula Nyathi
Female 14 years old. Lives with grandparents who plough fields for money for food. Family of 6. |
Precious Ndlovu
Female 19 years old. Lives with her mother. Her father is deceased. Family of 7 Three siblings and three children whose parents are deceased. Mother moulds bricks to sell to the locals. |
Nqobile Mhlonga
Male 15 years old. Lives with his crippled mother. His father is deceased. Family were in a car accident where the father died. Family of 6. They survive on money from relatives and school uniforms are passed down from neighbours. |
Pride Sibanda
Male 13 years old. Lives with his father. No contact with his mother. Family of 3. They work in the fields to earn money, often Pride doesn't attend school because he works with his father to earn money for food. |
