Ziseze – Parcels of Hope

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

– Galatians 6:9

Project Overview

Zisize Parcels of Hope are small food packages that are distributed by volunteers of the two home based care projects Ithembalethu and Mkiweni, supported by Zisize Care Centre in KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa.

Food is primarily distributed to those suffering the consequences of HIV/AIDS & tuberculosis. They are often orphans and the sick and poor. The food parcels also include vegetable seedlings for community and individual gardens. The medication they receive is free but is not effective without eating vegetables. There is often no money to buy vegetables. Poverty is quickly becoming the predominant issue facing the people in this area of SA.

Prayer Requests

  • Rain and other water sources for the gardens that provide the vegetables for the food parcels, the alleviation of poverty.
  • Staff and management of the Zisize Care Centre, the residents of Zisize Care Centre for the disabled, the Zisize board members, the government of South Africa.
Project Details

The Zisize Home Based Care Project helps to alleviate the suffering of AIDS patients and their families. There are two committees of dedicated community volunteers each having close to 20 volunteers The Mkhiweni committee operates in a remote, dry rural area not well served by any health clinics. The Ithembalethu project is in a more densely populated rural area. In both, the volunteers visit the homes of AIDS patients, orphans, and other affected by the epidemic by offering basic help by bringing parcels of food, basic education, medication, and the hope of the Gospel. In a year volunteers make over 5,000 visits and distribute over 3,000 food parcels.

A food parcel costs about $43 CAD and usually contains some basic food staples and adult incontinence products if needed. However, one family rarely gets a full package as they are often split between multiple families due to great need.

Location

KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa

Project Start & Partners

The Zisize Care Centre is operated by the diaconal commission of the Uniting Reformed Church in KwaZulu Natal.

Highlights
  • The provision of food parcels not only supports those with serious health conditions but also helps nourish and encourage their family members. This assistance enables many children in these households to attend school regularly.
Challenges
  • Hunger and poverty is one of the main problem and our intervention is provision of food parcels and it help in those families.
  • Some children are still at school and are staying with grandparents and volunteers encourage them to make sure that they go to school so that one day they finish school and improve their lives.
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