Our mission statement on the home page bears repeating: We are engaged in a relationship that addresses the alleviation of the legacies of apartheid – hunger, poverty & disease – through self-empowerment, respectful dialogue, and sustainable projects.
This is Monica & Wellington - both have publically shared that they have AIDS, and are receiving ARVT drugs.
Sethu - 2009
Sethu is their daughter; she also has AIDS - and is doing well with ARVT.
Sethu - 2012
Here she is in 2012 - receiving a necklace gift from Bonnie.
The bridge over the Upper Ncera 'river' - not an easy commute!
THE JONINI-FRANCES HOME GARDEN COMMITTEE:
Convener: Cynthia Mgwadleka, 59 years old - caring for a family of 8 Secretary: Nomvula Dyantyi - 46 year old mother of 2. Treasurer: Monica Gwaza - newly widowed when Wellington died on 2 August
There are 48 families in the Jonini-Frances Committee. The average age of the head of family is 44; attesting to the fact these are among the last villages settled in the valley. More than 30% of the families have one or more members with AIDS.
JONINI-FRANCES HOME GARDEN COMMITTEE
Jonini & Frances are among the last villages settled in the Tyhume Valley as part of the apartheid policy of restricting the black population to their former homelands. This dirt road heading eastward from the Upper Ncera road dips down into the valley created by the Ncera River head waters, then up the hill to the village of Jonini - and another 5 km or so to the village of Frances.
Wellington ...
He loved his family, his goats, his garden - and his chickens!
... and his garden.
... and his grave - placed at his request in the garden he loved.