07 Dec 2015

The project coordinator of House of Hope Trust in Palapye has appealed to stakeholders to assist in a sponsor a child programme.

Briefing Palapye Administrative Authority Sub Council, Mr Laone Van Vuuren said the Sponsor-a-Child programme assists the trust to meet the operational costs of the pre-school.

He said an individual, group, company or government department may help cover the costs of raising a vulnerable or orphaned child. The costs of raising a child may include school fees, food, clothes, toys and transport.

In addition, he said the programme creates life-long relationships between the sponsor and the sponsored child.

House of Hope Trust is a non-governmental organisation which began operation in 1999 with the aim of providing psycho-social care, support and integrated early childhood development for orphans and vulnerable children.

It also works with HIV positive adults, offering counselling services, economic empowerment and psycho-social support.

Mr Van Vuuren further said since the operation of the trust it has been solely depending on individuals, companies, the business communities and volunteers from Peace Corps International and ENSA, adding that the current USAID programme donor funding was also coming to an end in March 2016

He said through participatory partnership with the community, the House of Hope would provide a comprehensive support system to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The trust has a pre-school for children aged two-and-half to six years and also offers a life skills programme for orphaned and vulnerable children of seven to 18 years.

He further told councillors that the pre-school has a capacity for 120 pupils, but that the current enrolment was 116 of which 53 were orphans and vulnerable children.

For his part, the board chairperson and nominated councillor for Palapye, Mr Gaethuse Morake said everything about the trust was open and transparent.

He said the trust was sponsored by USAID to the tune of  P1.8m annually for all the costs incurred by the trust.

He also appealed to members of the public, councillors and the business communities to adopt or sponsor a child at the trust.

For their part, councillors appreciated the service offered by House of Hope and promised to inform communities they were representing. ENDS