Window of Hope offers Gantsi children a fighting chance
Leinanyana Tsiane | Friday April 11, 2014 12:03
Centre coordinator, Kennetseng Kahuadi, says Window of Hope makes sure that children who are old enough to attend school are taken to schools as far away as New Xade and Kuke where there are hostel facilities. “It’s very unfortunate that some did not go to these schools because there were no vacancies for them. The schools were fully booked,” said Kahuadi.
She said Window of Hope works closely with the Social and Community Development department to collect children when schools close and when they return for holidays. She explained that most of the children at the centre were rounded up from the streets while others just came in voluntarily. She said the children are fed two meals a day and return to their homes thereafter.
Interviews with most of the children revealed that they resorted to the streets due to lack of food at home, while others cited lack of parental care.
Kahuadi said the centre interviews the children on their aspirations and has found that the majority prefer practical subjects. Those who are interested in attending lessons everyday do so with the help of a teacher at the centre.
The children are consulted so that they do not feel anything has been imposed on them and to enable them to take ownership of their future.
“Most of them prefer to be hands-on, they hate academic work so we give them training skills in whatever they want to do. For instance, we are embarking on a project that will use cow-horns to make paraffin and electrical lamps, candle stands and fish sculptures. This is basically to empower them economically so that they can make money for themselves,” Kehuadi explained. Window of Hope runs income-generating projects for mothers. These include sewing and making paper beads. The women design and sew clothes for customers and make beads and necklaces out of dried paper. Kehuadi said the centre has its own challenges, such as the disappearance of children during winter, mainly to go and help in hunting activities. Such children reappear in summer.
Another challenge facing Window of Hope is insufficient funding for running costs. “There is also lack of recreational equipment and activities for the children,” Kahuadi said. She commended the Ministry of Education and Skills Development for paying the salary of the resident teacher at the centre.