This evening I visited the Lambano home for children with HIV/AIDS. The leader of this organization, Lyn Coote, is deeply dedicated to rescuing children who no one else wants; she has several homes, and is in the process of putting up a hospice. They are beautiful children, and with the ARV medicines, some may have the chance to live relatively good lives.
As we entered the main home, a little boy named Giftie came up to me and lifted his arms to be held. He's probably 2-3, though with their health problems, they're often smaller than their age. Lyn said to me aside, "His mommy died last night, in the shanty town down the street." (Giftie is the little boy in the blue pajamas.)
The most startling thing Lyn told me is that there is little effort to educate people about AIDS, and little participation either from government or the culture generally in trying to stop the spread of it. Most of the money to run these programs comes from outside the country, because the wealthy South Africans think of it as a black problem. This is creating more and more resistant strains of the virus. I had to ask her, "What hope is there for Africa?" Only that Jesus will come!
The hospice is quite nice, but still needs about $100,000 to complete. This is Lyn standing in front of it.
1 comment:
Loren, we are so glad that you were able to visit Lambano Sanctuary, a model program for little children with AIDS. Thank you for taking the time when we know you must have been ridiculously exhausted after the long flight. No doubt you were gratified, as a member of Amistad International's board of directors, to know you are part of such a beautiful program. Thanks from all our board members for making the evening trip to Wychwood township to see Lambano.
Karen Kotoske
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