ANGEL FOR ALEX AIDS ORPHANS

There are those South Africans who have a strong desire to serve the community they live in and won’t sit back and allow situations to reach detrimental proportions. They see within themselves the ability to change the circumstances in their community. They recognize that they are the solution, IT STARTS WITH THEM!

It might be difficult in the beginning but they press on because they understand and know the hardships that those less privileged go through daily. Working for your community does not end, it’s a journey of constant life changing deeds.

One such woman who is the epitome of courage, perseverance and kindness is Diana Teffo. Diana Teffo runs the Alex Aids Orphanage Project, which is a community based organisation situated on the corner of Impala Road and Springbok Road on the East Bank of Alexandra Township. This woman finds fulfillment in helping people in Alex. This community-based organisation is a catalyst in changing the status quo of the people. It composes of 51 families and grannies that take care of child-headed homes and try to bring stability in the lives of these children.

Proudly SA was sent on a mission to find out more about Diana and her Alex Aids Orphans’ Project. The following questions were asked to find out more about Diana as this special woman needs to be celebrated and embraced.

When did you start this initiative?

This project commenced in 2001 by psychiatric nurse Sr. Rose Ledwaba and child psychiatrist Dr.Wendy Vogel. I only joined the project in 2002.

What motivated you to be part of this community based organisation?
The pain caused by death in families and the distressed faces of children I see on a daily basis motivates me to do more to help, care and protect the children. What I have realised is that if structure and stability isn’t in place to assist children and families affected by HIV/AIDS and care for the emotional needs of bereaved children, there will be an inevitable increase in trauma and these children will grow to adulthood lacking the ability to feel for themselves and for others. If they don’t learn to be productive and have sustainable jobs, or sustain intimate relationships needed for stable family lives, history will repeat itself and they will also die of HIV/AIDS like their parents.

How many people do you work with and what are your roles in this orphanage?
We are a team of six women, and part of our responsibilities and our roles are to conduct home and school visits, accompany grandmothers and orphans to different government departments such as Home Affairs, Social Development, hospitals and clinics. We assist in the completion of application forms, registrations of late births (for birth certificates) in order to get identity documents, fundraising, income generating projects, feeding schemes, bereavement groups, social skills groups and more.

What motivates you to keep on going when things are not going well in your life and with the orphanage?
My faith in God and prayer keeps me going. When faced with challenges I ask God to give me guidance and strength. With God everything is possible, we CAN overcome.

What sort of challenges do you experience in running this orphanage?
Lack of funding, food and clothing for the children remain a challenge to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Can you share a success story?
We are proud of the children who matriculated in 2009. The extra support we gave them paid off. One learner obtained five distinctions and enrolled for BBA at CIDA University (thanks to Alexander Forbes for paying her fees). Another learner obtained a B symbol and wanted to study BCom Accounting. He is now working on improving his Maths marks and also gives extra Maths lessons to matriculants at one of the High schools in Alexandra.

What are some of the things you still hope to achieve in the future?
Being able to see orphaned children completing school, and empowering others. Ensuring that no child goes to bed hungry.

In closing, it is only appropriate to celebrate the women who are not in the limelight and still continue to make a difference in the lives of others. Diana and the ladies who assist her are unsung heroines who try to create a better future for this country. The decisions we make now will determine where we will be in future. Our collective efforts need to continue in order to eradicate the poverty cycle and all the social inequalities. We can achieve this through supporting our homegrown companies’ products and services to ensure that our industries continue to grow and are able to create more sustainable jobs for the future.