“Your Help Builds Their Future”
“Your Help Builds Their Future”
Category: VMS
We are experiencing chilly winter months in Venda. Despite the cool weather, our school continues to work towards its mission to provide orphans and vulnerable children with the highest possible standard of personalized care and education. We continue to emphasize English language learning, offer free transportation, three nutritious daily meals, second-hand clothing and medical assistance for all disadvantaged students including those affected by HIV/AIDS.
We are working with other stakeholders towards zero new HIV/AIDS infection, zero stigma and discrimination for people living with HIV/AIDS and TB. We also ensure that HIV+ people take treatment and remain taking it to reduce the risk of new infections.
Currently at VMS, in pre-school through Grade 3, there are 152 students. These are divided into groups of Toddlers age 1-2 years, 13 students; Advance Toddlers age 2 -3 years, 23 students; Pre-School age 4-5 years, 33 students; Grade R age 5-6 years, 40 students; Grade 1, 23 students; Grade 2, 11 students; and Grade 3, 9 students.
We are happy to announce that, in South Africa, fewer children are being born with HIV/AIDS. Out of the 159 students in our care only 4 were born HIV+ and all are on treatment. This is a victory that we have been working towards since 2007.
72 of our students are fee paying from within the community and 88 students are impoverished families also from within the community. Parents who can are prepared to pay school fees since the school has an excellent reputation. Including paying students also helps subsidize the orphans and vulnerable children. Parents and guardians are aware the school exists to provide for disadvantaged children and those living with HIV/Aids. Bringing all children and parents together helps to alleviate the AIDS stigma.
We see a huge improvement in the children 's physical appearance and self-confidence. When children have access to healthy meals, they become healthier and show normal growth. When they have decent clothing and receive love and respect they grow in confidence. Full bellies, improved health, feeling confident, loved and accepted is the greatest gift for children and allows for learning to take place. With your support, that is what we offer to all of the children at VMS.
Formal learning continues to go well. Our primary school students (Grade R- Grade 3) are competing with other students. VMS students have currently made it through to the 3rd round! We appreciate our dedicated educators for their work in making this all happen.
I enjoy sharing our daily routines, special activities and occasions and how they impact children, families and the larger community. Read on to learn what we have been up to over the last few months.
Staff Development
We hosted a 2-day capacity building workshop for 12 staff members. The focus was on personal growth, self-care and self-development. This was a hands-on workshop facilitated by our chairman who has 40 plus years of experience as an educator, school principal and community developer. The workshop was a huge success! Thank you to those Scotland families who sponsored the workshop.
Extra-curricular ActivitiesIn February we celebrated Valentine’s Day in style. The children and staff dressed in red and white and had a lovely day sharing the love.
During the month of May we hosted a PJ party for children and celebrated Mother’s Day. In June we celebrated Father’s Day. Each special day the children came to school dressed in their pajamas, mother’s or father’s clothes. They were very special days.
In June we hosted a birthday party for all the children born January through June. The parents and staff decorated the hall and brought 4 huge birthday cakes! Each child received a present and a professional photograph was taken. We do this to help make their childhood memorable as it is rare for birthdays to be celebrated at home.
In August we transported the school children to Polokwane, about 164 km from our school. The trip began very early at 5 am and returned at 7 pm that evening. We visited the airport, the Stadium and the Bird and Snake Park with lunch at McDonalds. For most of the children this was their first long trip and for both children and staff it was their first time visiting the airport. It was an amazing day and everyone had a wonderful time. We appreciate the staff and parents who made these days so special.
August is also women's month in South Africa. We honor the many women behind the VMS vision. Some are no longer with us but continue to watch over us. To all of the other women who support Vhutshilo Mountian School, we celebrate your kindnesses and strengths. It is encouraging that, together, we keep the school flag flying high.
Renovations
VMS received a face lift with the painting of the outside of the building. The inside walls of grade 2 classroom were bricked in as they had been found to have zinc inside and termites eating away the wood. We appreciate the families in Scotland who helped make these renovations possible.
New Vehicle
We are over the moon to announce the school finally has its own transport. This makes our days so much easier and, most importantly, makes it safe for our children. It also provides us the opportunity to visit other schools and schedule more educational trips. Thank you to Hope for Limpopo for matching our funding and making this a reality.
Future Plans
In June we hosted a guardian/parent meeting to inform parents about the children's progress and to discuss plans for extra-curricular activities. We encouraged new parents to get to know the VMS staff they and their children would be working with during the upcoming year. We updated parents about the school’s future plans and asked for their input and suggestions. It was agreed by all that VMS would not add grade 4 in 2026. However, it is our plan to eventually add grade 4 and slowly, over the years, add grades up to and including Grade 7, which would make us a complete primary school. We will move forward slowly, weighing our options and making sure not to affect the sustainability of the school. We are humbled and pleased by parents support and truly appreciate their input and assistance. Everyone agreed the meeting was a success.
VMS continues to support our community. Our 15 staff members and volunteers are from surrounding villages. The school employs 5 local contract drivers who transport the children to and from school. The local businesses and artisans rely on VMS for both employment and trade. With a local unemployment rate of over 60% (mostly women) this small school is making a significant difference in assisting the community to achieve a higher standard of living.
It has been 20 years since the school opened and we are recognized as one of the best Early Child Development Centers and Primary Schools in our area. Your continued support and dedication to our school has not gone unnoticed. Here’s to another year of success, growth and happiness for all the children at VMS!
Thank you so much to our wonderful sponsors, the VMS board members, parents/guardians and staff members who help make these opportunities available to our children! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families, churches and congregations in Scotland and to the staff and supporters of Hope for Limpopo. We are all in this together!
Sincerely,
Khathu Nemafhohoni
Share this: