IKHETHELO INTERN/RESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION First of all, we are grateful that you are considering interning/volunteering at IKhethelo Children’s Village – a place of love, warmth, and care for vulnerable children. Thank you for offering your time, experience and gifts to benefit these precious children and this ministry. As workers and volunteers at IKhethelo we want to be living examples to these children and this community of the love and goodness of Jesus. May you be blessed and filled with joy in doing so too. We are sure you must have many questions and we hope that this information will answer most of them and help you make an informed decision regarding applying to volunteer here. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF IKHETHELO AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE IKhethelo Children’s Village is a children’s home set in the beautiful Valley of the Thousand Hills. Currently we house 50 vulnerable children, ranging from 18 months to 19 years of age - all of whom have lost one or both of their parents to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The children, residential staff and volunteers all live on a secure 5.5 hectare campus (12 acres) located near the communities of Bothas Hill, KwaNyuswa and Embo – approximately 35 kilometres from the port city of Durban. Each child lives in a cottage with seven other children and a house mother, where together they operate as a family unit. They all attend various schools in the community, and we as a team are responsible for all areas of their growth and nurture – physical, social, spiritual, and academic. IKhethelo is run by a team led by Chief Executive Officer, Nic Addison and his wife, Melissa, ably assisted by social worker Nombuso Dimba-Ndaleni, Logistics Coordinator Zandile Nhlumayo, bookkeeper Nosipho Chonco, and Senior House Mother Nomtha Ncane. The organization partners with a sister orphanage called Lily of the Valley (Lily) located near Eston about forty minutes’ drive inland. There is often a sharing of resources between the two villages, and given our large level of co-operation we do try to optimize our volunteer resources as well. Occasionally this may mean that we ask certain volunteers to help out at the other children’s village for a period, should the need arise. Invariably this does mean our volunteers receive an even more diverse experience.

Our centre, beautifully located in the Valley of a Thousand Hills.

In addition to taking care of our children we also serve the surrounding community in a number of ways:

• Lilyvale School. Located at Lily of the Valley our school currently caters for vulnerable children from Kindergarten (Grade R) to Grade 6. The Headmaster, Jonathan Tanyanwira leads a very capable team of teachers and volunteers whose goal it is to give our children an excellent education and grounding within a healthy, loving, hard-working environment. Our children are able to receive supplemental and, if necessary, remedial help to make up for deficiencies they may have had prior to coming to IKhethelo or Lily. After school there is a sporting and music program. Our bus leaves IKhethelo each morning for Lilyvale and returns in the afternoon.

• Hunger Alleviation Programs. These include providing food parcels to families in crisis, feeding out-patients at the nearby AIDS clinic, supporting other community orphanages, as well as cultivating our own community garden. Altogether we provide approximately 4500 meals per month.

• Community Distribution Centre. IKhethelo acts as a distribution centre for donations of clothing, food and other resources from multiple sources as we reach out to help the poor and sick where we can. This ministry particularly focuses on reaching vulnerable children and the elderly.

• Crisis Counselling. In conjunction with the Hunger Alleviation and Distribution Programmes our social workers and volunteers will attempt to come alongside, assist and advise families and children in crisis.

• Medical Support. IKhethelo frequently hosts doctors and nurses who then serve in various local community clinics and hospitals. The Two Weeks+ organisation based in the UK provides us a regular stream of qualified medical professionals who usually stay 1-3 months at a time.

• IKhethelo Youth Camps and Special Events. In the July and December school holidays, and sometimes in partnership with other organisations, we host camps for youth to teach valuable life-skills within a Christian worldview.

• Sports fields. These are also a recreational resource for community children, and provide opportunities for teaching life skills, and for sharing the Good News.

These activities all provide multiple areas in which you can get involved. Some are as follows: • Education: Helping at the Homework Club (3.30 to 5.00 pm), reading

circles, math Olympics, helping in the Computer room, extra lessons, etc. or with our small preschool (9.00am to 1.00 pm)

• Clothing: General stock control and sorting of donated clothes and linen, assisting in the purchase and distribution of clothing, keeping storeroom tidy, giving out school uniforms etc.

• Recreation: Oversee sports, music lessons, drama, art and crafts, sewing, baking, woodwork, fix bicycles, teaching maintenance skills, playing games, accompany kids on outings, etc … we welcome YOUR own ideas!!!!

• Spiritual: Assist in leading Bible studies, worship or group discipleship. • Administration: General office admin, answering telephones, up-dating

files etc. • Community Development: Food parcel distribution, feeding scheme,

family profiling, vegetable garden program, community outreach.

• Driving: Daily driving as and when required – eg. taking children to and from school, church or sports activities; or collecting and delivering food as part of our community support.

• Medical: Accompanying children to Clinic / Doctor / Hospital. If trained, you can assist with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, routine medication, upkeep of records, and administration of medicines in conjunction with staff members and members of the Two Weeks+ organisation.

• IT: Assist with setup and maintenance of IT equipment, or help teach IT skills to children or community in our IT lab.

• Social: Assisting with Birthday parties, holiday programs and sponsor letters - all important to the social fabric of the village.

• Management, Marketing & Legal: For qualified professionals (i.e. MBAs and lawyers) there is a surprising amount one can contribute. We interact almost daily with government, international aid foundations, and corporates representing orphans and vulnerable children in the NGO sector as well as sustainability and job creation enterprises. There are complicated issues, challenges and opportunities, meaning you are unlikely to be bored.

• Maintenance: We have a constant need for volunteers/staff with real maintenance skills – especially electrical, plumbing, carpentry and mechanical.

We could not accomplish the amount of work we do without the assistance of young (and not so young!) adults who are prepared to offer much of their time and energy to care for our young people and to the context within which they live. Within our vision of working together for a common goal, your input and ideas will be appreciated. Furthermore, it is our dream that a season of interning/volunteering and serving at IKhethelo will be a catalyst, or first step towards a lifetime of servant leadership for all who come here. We are excited by the impact we may have on your dreams, and hopefully we will have helped grow your understanding of the practicalities and “how-to’s” of such ministry.

Some of our IKhethelo family.

EXPECTATIONS Ideally interns/volunteers will come to IKhethelo for at least 3 months, thus allowing time to really make a lasting difference in our community. The general

expectation is for resident interns/volunteers to assist a minimum of 30 hours per week - hopefully more, as this includes numerous social and Christian activities which would be part of your daily life regardless of where you were. J On arrival you would sit down with the Chief Executive Officer and the Logistics Coordinator and work out a tailor-made schedule for you so that the whole team will be on the same page from the start. This schedule is a living document and will evolve as your understanding and familiarity of IKhethelo, and our knowledge of your strengths, develops. Before you come to IKhethelo and we begin to introduce you to our children, we will give you information that will both help you during your time here and ensure the safety and proper care of these precious children. Please remember that all of them have experienced major loss of at least one parent, plus some form of neglect, and even abuse. They have been placed at IKhethelo as a place of safety by the State and we have both a legal and a compassionate obligation to protect, love and nurture them. Hence, we have created rules and procedures to help ensure this happens. IKhethelo Children’s Village is a Christian-based organization and as such there are certain lifestyle guidelines and boundaries which volunteers are asked to respect, with the view that everything we do here is aimed to glorify Christ. Please respect our Christian ethos and refrain from advocating, to the staff, children and community, any other ethos that is contrary to ours whilst you are with us. Thank you for this. You will be encouraged to attend at least one of the weekly evening Bible studies for the various age-groups, as well as attend one of the local churches with a group from IKhethelo on Sundays. Volunteers are expected to work most weekends, as that is our busiest time with the children when they are not at school. Your off day and a morning off will be during the week, with one weekend off a month. You will be able to do shopping when you are off, and each day we have several vehicles passing through nearby Hillcrest which has a reasonable selection of shops. Irrespective of your background, personality, age or reason for coming, one sure thing about your stay at IKhethelo is that it will affect many aspects of your view of life – socially, emotionally, spiritually etc. On your arrival, you will no doubt be feeling excited, wary, eager or even apprehensive. Please be assured that the staff and other volunteers will help you find your place here and help to make your stay a rewarding and enriching experience. We have included suggestions and feedback from previous volunteers and we hope you will find it helpful and relevant in your preparation should your application be accepted. Housing and Finances:

• The interns/volunteers live in houses with kitchens, so you will do most of your own cooking. You will have access to grocery stores where you will be able to find many of the foods that you are used to.

• The house where you stay is your home while you are here, so please do make yourself at home. IKhethelo does not charge interns/volunteers for accommodation; however there are costs associated with the program – transportation, utilities, consumables, communication etc. – and so we ask that those who can afford it, to contribute R500 per month towards these costs.

• Each person is responsible for the provision of their own food and for preparation and cooking of their own meals and keeping their cottage tidy. These duties are often shared with other interns/volunteers. Cottages need to be kept clean on an on-going basis and may be checked for cleanliness from time to time, so please keep your house clean.

• It is essential that interns/volunteers have sufficient finances to provide for their food and toiletries etc. while they are here. A paid return ticket to their country of origin is required by customs when you enter the country. We recommend a minimum of R2500 (Two Thousand South African Rand - approximately $220 USD, or 180 Euro) per month, as this will cover your basic food needs and any personal expenses during your stay here.

Destination Airport: King Shaka International Airport in Durban (DUR) is your flight destination. We are about an hour away. We can organise for volunteers to be picked and dropped off, however we do ask that you pay for the cost of the vehicle and driver to collect you – currently R400 per vehicle. Clothing: Depending on the length of your stay at IKhethelo, you will need both warm and cold weather clothes. It can get VERY cold at night during the winter months (June, July, and August) and VERY hot during the summer months (late December, January, February and March). Note that even when it is warm it can get cold at night. Buildings are not climatically controlled, and are built to minimise summer heat – hence there is even a wind chill indoors when it’s cold. Casual clothes are best for your time around IKhethelo. A waterproof jacket is also useful for the summer months. Personal Effects: We recommend that you bring any prescription medication needed with you. Just bring enough of your toiletries to get you started and you can buy the rest here. You can find nearly any brand of shampoo and other personal items here, along with feminine products you may need. The only exception is if you need one particular product due to allergies, etc; then we recommend that you bring enough for your time here. You will need to bring a swimming towel, but bed linen will be provided along with extra blankets for when it's cold. You might also find a sleeping bag useful, especially if you plan to travel during your time here. You can purchase electrical plug adaptors for plugs from almost any country at a much better price here than at home. Because we have devotions and Bible study at IKhethelo, and attend church together we suggest that you bring a Bible with you. If you have been involved in children's ministry or teaching previously and have any materials you may want to share or use, bring them as well. Driving: If you have a Driver’s license and plan to drive while in South Africa, we advise that you get an International Driver’s License from your national Automobile Association before you leave your home country so that you are able to drive while you are here. You could be asked to drive a vehicle for IKhethelo from time to time - should you agree – and this would be helpful to us. Health/Travel Insurance: State provided health care in South Africa is unlike that in Europe, and would not be of the same standard. A private doctors is not difficult to organise and medicine is readily available, and not very expensive. However, we advise that all international volunteers have sufficient insurance to afford them private hospitalisation if such an emergency arises. If coming from the US your regular health insurance should be sufficient for you here as medical costs are considerably less than in the USA (though do check for coverage before leaving home). On the other hand, those from Europe or Australasia who rely on state-sponsored systems at home should purchase travel insurance that covers private hospitalisation here (This is not very expensive and is essential). Bringing Gifts: We often get asked what would be useful gifts to bring for the children. Our strong recommendation is do not lug gifts you buy at home half way around the world. Our needs are always evolving. If you arrive and perceive a need please discuss it with management and you can acquire it locally. The only

exceptions would be a laptop or tablet that you may be replacing but that still works well and would want to give away; or training or teaching materials you need as part of a program you are teaching. COMMUNITY LIVING

• Please be aware that by being helpful and assisting with recreational and educational programs on weekends you are allowing key staff who generally work or remain on site and on call 24/7/365 the opportunity to rest. This is priceless to the sustainability of this ministry as our staff are our greatest asset. Your dedication and creativity to this task alone will make a huge contribution.

• Kwazulu Natal has sadly been at the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and it has decimated large segments of our population. Some of our children at IKhethelo are HIV positive, and hence we do take necessary precautions when dealing with First Aid. Simple cuts and scrapes occur as they play and this may result in exposed blood. Please do not panic, just remember we do not touch any open wound without gloves. The child is simply taken to the first aid room (where there are gloves and a basic medical kit which you can use: disinfectant, plasters, bandages etc) or to their housemother for treatment if the cut is minor. Remember if there is a doctor or nurse present in the village to consult with them first. For anything more major we drive the child to the Community clinic a kilometre away, and this is open 24/7. We always remember to cover our own exposed cuts, too. J

• You will be a role model for the children. Please remember that what you find normal in your culture might not be acceptable in this culture, so please be aware of this and try not to offend others.

o Please use discretion when dressing at IKhethelo and do not wear provocative / revealing clothing.

o Interns/Volunteers are not allowed to have alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs or pornography on campus.

o Please remember that IKhethelo is a swearing-free zone! Communication

• It is fairly easy to receive mail and packages at IKhethelo’s Post Office box, although it’s hard to predict how much time things will take to get here.

• We do have internet access at IKhethelo, and there is a wireless modem in the office so if you have a laptop and wish to, feel free to bring it. We do have a data transfer cap and thus if you wish to transfer large files or photos we suggest you use another internet that is not so constrained.

• Pay-as-you-go cell SIM cards and phones can be purchased in South Africa relatively easily. There is a chance your cell phone from overseas might work here if you replace the SIM with a local one and the phone is not locked by your service provider.

• PLEASE BE AWARE that laptops, cell phones, jewellery and cameras are not covered by the insurance of IKhethelo and so you do bring them at your own risk.

• The office telephone may be used by IKhethelo volunteers when related to project work. All personal calls must be made using an international calling card, or Skype (voice only) – though preferably outside of normal office hours. International calling cards are easily found here and it is a much better deal to buy one here than at home.

Vacations and Recreation • During your stay at IKhethelo there will also be time for fun and we hope

you will take the opportunity to experience some of the beautiful tourist destinations in KwaZulu Natal. Together with other volunteers one can organize trips to places like Zululand to stay in a traditional Zulu village or visit a game reserve or go hiking in the beautiful Drakensberg mountains.

• There is good shopping in Hillcrest (10 minutes away), and very smart malls at the Pavilion in Westville, and the Gateway “Theatre of Shopping” in Umhlanga. A more unusual shopping experience can be had at the nearby Shongweni Farmer’s Market in Assegai.

• The Ushaka Marine World is an experience not to be missed whilst in Durban as well as a day or so spent on the beautiful Durban beaches. If you wish to travel further afield whilst in South Africa, the staff at IKhethelo will be happy to make suggestions and give advice.

• Please request holidays from the Chief Executive Officer, and try to take them either before or after your period of interning/volunteering.

CONCLUSION: It is a great privilege to have the interns/volunteers and the Children’s Village on the same property. It gives every person the opportunity to be involved in the lives of our children and staff, and to experience our local Zulu culture up close. If you are uncertain about how things work and procedures in the Village then please ask the staff. We are here to help you feel part of our IKhethelo family. We would encourage you to take this opportunity to develop the gifts, talents and interests that God has given you. READING: If you are a non-resident of South Africa we encourage you to learn as much as possible about the country before you come. We highly recommend you acquaint themselves with some of South Africa’s history, and the challenges and questions you will face. There are so many sources, particularly on the internet, for you to consider. Here are some books (most quite long) that we subjectively recommend for those wishing to go below the surface in understanding South Africa, the Zulu People, African missions, the history of Kwazulu Natal, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic:

1. Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela

2. The Washing of the Spears: The Rise and Fall of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879 by Donald R. Morris

3. Love Has a Face: Mascara, a Machete and One Woman's Miraculous Journey with Jesus in Sudan by Michele Perry and Heidi Baker

4. The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World. by Richard Stearn

5. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Editors)

6. A History of South Africa, Fourth Edition by Leonard Thompson and Lynn Berat

7. Love in the Time of AIDS: Inequality, Gender, and Rights in South Africa by Mark Hunter

General Information on HIV for Interns/Volunteers: We are not sure how much you know about HIV, but here is some information on it: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes a weakened immune system by attacking white blood cells. The virus attaches itself to healthy cells, damages the cells, and replicates itself to help continue the attack on the immune system. Ultimately, the immune system weakens so much that the person is unable to fight off serious opportunistic infections (ex: cancers, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, tuberculosis) and the resulting collection of signs and symptoms that the person exhibits is then called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Virus). Differences between HIV and AIDS:

• HIV can be passed on – AIDS cannot. • HIV is a virus that damages the immune system – AIDS is a collection of

illnesses caused by HIV. • HIV + people often appear healthy for a long time – AIDS involves signs

and symptoms therefore the individual is noticeably ill.

Manifestation of AIDS • failure to thrive (low weight and height, developmental delays) • hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and spleen) • chronic pneumonia (lung infection) • candidiasis (thrush/ white patches in mouth) • parotitis (swollen parotid glands) • recurrent bacterial infections (ex: urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis,

meningitis) • developmental abnormalities.

The HIV virus is found in almost all body fluids (saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, tears, urine, breast milk), but evidence thus far shows that HIV infection is only transmitted through semen, blood, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. The three most common ways that HIV is spread is through direct contact with blood, mother to child (inutero, at birth, breastfeeding) and intimate sexual contact with an infected person. There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but early diagnosis and ARV (anti retro viral) drugs have helped change this disease from rapidly fatal to a chronic, but terminal disease. ARV’s work by slowing down the body’s production of HIV, thus lowering HIV levels in the blood and strengthening the immune system. Despite the fact that ARV’s do not work for everyone, can have very unpleasant side effects, and need to be taken every day at precise times, they are still the best chance for HIV infected individuals to improve their quality and quantity of life. Proper nutrition, exercise, and adequate rest also help to keep the body healthy. About 14% of our IKhethelo children are HIV positive and thanks to proper care they are able to live relatively normal lives and the long term prognosis for them is good.