From the Project

May 14, 2010

Edzimkulu trains locals from the community of Ndawana to become Community Health Workers who then work directly to help Edzimkulu achieve our mission. Here is what some of them had to say about working with Edzimkulu and the difference they make every day in their job.

“My name is Busie Duma a mother of 2 boys and one grandchild. I like my job more than anything but my problem is that I don’t like to fail at any kind of work, failing makes me ill. I like working with children mostly, I have training in the organization and it helps me because I can manage to confront and solve people’s problems. People aren’t dying at Ndawana through the help of the Edzimkulu organization. I am a patient and a worker too. I got support from the Edzimkulu people so that is why I have the power and strength to work.”

“I’m Nonthlantla Ntlangulela; I was born on the 12 September 1978. Mother of 2 children a girl n boy. I was working at a farm in 2004, but in 2005 I met the Canadians that is when I got training. Now I am working as a community health worker at Edzimkulu. I would like to give thanks to all Canadians. May God be with our Dear father Jim and mother Chris Newton. Now my community is better then before. I will never forget Zanele Mkhwanazi who passed away last year June. She was the one who played a huge rope in my life and in the community.”

“I am Nozithembiso Mnikathi I’m 23 years old I work at Edzimkulu as a home based care giver. I have one child. I like play music and reading funny stories. In the future I would like to be a nurse.”

“My name is Nobuhlalu D. Memela I was born on the 2nd of January 1980. I’m a single South African living in Ndawana. I like music n going to church; I like to eat pap and chicken. I have a baby girl, she’s six doing grade R. I’m looking for a man who’s tall, fit and caring. I am staying with my mother father and 4 siblings. I am a community health but still learning. I really want to be a pharmacist.”

“My name is Matukiso (Matu) Mohlaoli. I am a mother of five children two boys and three girls and married, I am a Christian. I have been working at edzimkulu since 2005 I got training in HBC, DOT Counseling and adherence in many things. Working with edzimkulu made me a strong woman who can face challenges. I like gardening and cooking but reading is the best.”

“I am Noluthando Hlakanyana my colleagues call me Hlaks. I’m married I have four children and two of them are in school. I’m working at edzimkulu as a community health worker and taking patients to st. App Hospital I want to be a professional nurse.”

“This is Babalwa Tantsi from Tabankulu village on the Eastern Cape; I passed my matric in 2000.
My dream was to be a nurse but unfortunately I didn’t qualify. I had a baby I had struggled to get a job to raise and his father didn’t take responsibility for him. On 2001-2002 I was working as a labourer in the renovations at Tabankulu prison I couldn’t afford to pay for private nursing collage but I managed to get in home base care collage. I went to visit Ndawana clinic I heard that there were Canadians I felt that this was the opportunity because what they are looking for I had qualifications to assist in. In January 2006 I took my papers and gave them to Chris and she accepted me right away my confidence grew immediately. Now I am a full time employee although it has challenges I learn from them. If it wasn’t for the late Zanele Mkhwanazi I wouldn’t have met the Canadians and be where I am right now.”

“I am Nonceba Myeki my friends call me Sncesh I was born at tabankhulu. I am lady with 2 kids in 1997 I worked as a domestic worker in Howick, by 2005 I started at edzimkulu NGO. I do home based care, VCT, adherence in ART, IMCI etc. I am grateful for the arrival of the Canadians I enjoy they company.”

“My name is Alina Mokhele. I am a twin born at Ndawana location we lost our mother while she was giving birth to the 2nd pair of twins and the one twin died as well. When our mother died we were 3 years of age and my younger sister was a day old. Our uncle and his wife took us in. After grade 9 me and my sister went to different schools and my little sister passed away in 2007 with HIV. Before I worked as a community health worker I made mud bricks and sold them. The arrival of the Canadians helped me and my community very the stigma here has decreased highly people here are more open, educated and cautious.”

“My name is Nobuhle Buthelezi I am a girl of 24 years, I passed matric in 2006   I have a single parent; I am always happy and very open. I started working at Ndawana in 2007 as a home base care giver it was difficult at first because people knew little about HIV/AIDS, so I started to help them understand by asking them questions, taking them to do there VCT how live a positive life positively it was hard but I got the hang of it eventually now almost everyone talks. Hopefully one day soon I will be a paramedic (EMRS).”

“I am Sindiswa Nqadu, born at Ndawana I did my primary education at Ndawana J.S.S. My higher education at Osborn S.S.S. in Mount Frere. I am a single parent of two. In year 2000 I had worked as a casual in social welfare at Umzimkhulu. In year 2005 I started working in the Edzimkulu N.G.O. I trained in all cause and everything that I need to know in order to help my community and myself. Now I am a C.H.W. I am specializing in ART pill counting; take blood, home visits and growth monitoring. I would like to thank God for the arrival of the Canadians and the funding for the N.G.O.”

“I am Nontsikelelo Makhohliso; I was born in 20 May 1970, a mother of six I started working as a bricklayer assistant before that I was in a womens club where we were fighting poverty we sewed painted fabric planted and sell veggies to the community and the profit we make will be our salary. The Canadians came to our village and they gave meaning to our community because before they came our community was known for poverty deaths every man for themselves. We were told that we had to get tested in order to preach something know we were thought many things like TB, HIV/AIDS, STDs and how to maintain counseling anything and everything that we needed in order in and around Ndawana. I am now a student nurse at midlands nursing school this has always been my dream. I pray that the Lord will keep me for a few more years to show the world that a person with HIV can be something and shine. No one can make it on their own but together we can. Our community is popular now because of the Canadians and we would never be what we are if it wasn’t for them we are slowly but surely growing stronger and stronger."

“My name is Thabi Mbelu born in Underberg, 29 years ago, I have started working here at Edzimkulu beginning of 2009 as a Data Capturer and as Office Manager. Thanks to Chris and Jim for the opportunity they gave me to go further with my education. I am now studying Fundamental Accounting. But the most important thing we do is to save other peoples life that what is Edzimkulu is here for. We love our people, community and we care for them. THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHRIS AND JIM AND ALL OTHER VOLUNTEERS who has been helping the Indawana community keeping it going!!!!!!!!!”