Friday 24th February 2012 - Church and community in partnership for the poor

Constance, Lydia, Maria & Evelyn with Fathers Sam & Labius

Constance shows Sam some home grown peppers

We woke today in Lichtenburg in the North of Matlosane.  After a speedy journey with Archdeacon Sam Diplokwane in his “Backie” (pick up truck) we passed through the northern town of Zeerust and ended up in a rural village called Lekubu.  We knew we were getting further north when we saw road signs for Gabarone (the capital of Botswana)… were we really this far up in South Africa?

We were taken to a community care project which was started in 2002.  It is a gathering of those of good will in the community of Lekubu… with members of all the local churches involved.  The Anglican Church has a number of members involved and we were introduced to the care volunteers by the local priest for St Francis Lekubu, Father Labius Tori.

As we entered the brick building there were lots of school children finishing a cooked meal which they receive every weekday after school, before they go home.  All ages are welcomed and those who are orphaned or vulnerable in some way are given priority. 

The 22 care volunteers join together every day to cook the meal for the children, and also tend a very productive community garden (which provides food for the feeding programme with enough surplus to sell).  They undertake home based care visits to orphaned and vulnerable children and we were shown the detailed records they have in order to keep track of the children.

Father Sam outside the new metal nursery extension

We were astonished to hear that they often have 40 nursery school age children… in a very small room.  They have recently built an outdoor extension (made of corrugated metal… which is hot in summer, cold in winter, but cheap to build).

Lekubu Care Volunteers

Constance (one of the leaders) was please to show us around and tell us all that they do for the needy in their community. The ladies (20) and men (2) are very proud of what they do, but are not complacent, and do not receive any payment or financial incentive for their work. They are keen to receive help and support for all that they do, and we promised to tell others in the UK about them and the project which does so much for needy children in Lekubu.  There are more than 130 children on their records and they often help more than 150. 

We wondered whether a church or community group in Lichfield diocese would like to partner with them; a rural group reaching and serving the poor in their midst… a great example of churches working together to transform lives in their local community.  Anyone interested?

It is interesting and challenging to see a group of people who see that loving the vulnerable and needy in their community is the “normal” thing to do.  It seemed fantastic to us.  Perhaps that says more about us than it does about them?

Rose & Richard