Unfortunately for children living in the squatter camps in the mining area of Rustenburg, South Africa, there is a deficit of these basic human rights, including the right to survive. Lack of access to clean drinking water, adequate sanitation, a safe place to sleep and nutritious food is an issue, in an environment supporting violence and abuse. The shacks are wedged closely together leaving little or no room for children to play. The majority of children do not attend early education or primary education. It is often too dangerous for children to walk through the camps to school, particularly in camps like Freedom Park and Nkaneng, adjacent to the mines. This not only affects their education prospects, but also their nutritional status. Within the camps, it is estimated that orphans are up to 3.5 times more likely to die early than non-orphan children.
In South Africa, SERVE works with two partners - Tapologo and Tsholofelo - who are working in 12 squatter camps and tribal villages near the city of Rustenburg. These camps and villages are homes to thousands of economic migrants who have flooded into the Rustenburg area because of its extensive mining industry. Development problems which affect South Africa at national level, such as very high HIV infection rates, high number of orphans, poor access to education for the poorest, unemployment and poor child nutrition exist at extreme levels within squatter camps and villages.
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Children washing their hands before meals in Freedom Park
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While there is not a lot of demographic information available on squatter camps, HIV prevalence rates tend to be at their highest in these environments. The lack of social services as well as substandard housing contributes to poor health. Water is often contaminated, informal electricity sources like paraffin cause pollution and congestion, lack of sanitation facilities leads to higher exposure to opportunistic infections and extreme heat and cold due to lack of adequate housing has a significant effect on people with compromised immune systems. The living conditions in the squatter camps rob people of their dignity, helps HIV to flourish and promotes a culture of survival sex and violence. Women and children suffer most, with many children orphaned by AIDS related diseases.
Squatter camps near the mines are already hostile environments, but when strikes and riots break out, the safety of children is at severe risk. In the squatter camps malnutrition and disease is rampant. Respiratory problems associated with asthma and pneumonia is common among children living in these camps. Diarrhoea and untreated infections are a daily occurrence.
This is their reality.
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Tapologo OVC Nutrition Programme in Freedom Park
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SERVE volunteers in South Africa will have noticed a lack of support, services and organisations in place to care for these children. However, during the day our partner Tapologo provides services to ensure children can access nutritious food, medication and education. Once the sun sets, some children are left to roam the squatter camps looking for a safe place to sleep, while others stay with other family members or family friends.
Since SERVE began working with Tapologo in 2005, we have continued to promote the rights of children to survive and thrive, to learn and grow through our work in partnership with Tapologo. With support from Irish Aid, SERVE is supporting the Tapologo Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programme - specifically in the area of nutrition. OVC are a priority in our Irish Aid funded programme. Tapologo and SERVE regularly monitor the nutrition status of benefiting OVC and to date the trends show that the Tapologo OVC Programme is having a positive impact on the nutrition status of children.
The majority of OVC are suffering from stunted growth. Stunted growth is a reduced growth rate in human development usually resulting from a manifestation of malnutrition and recurring infections like diarrhoea. Unfortunately a significant reduction in the level of stunting is not expected due to the very low availability of holistic pre - natal and post - natal healthcare and education.
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Watch this video about the Tapologo OVC Feeding Programme in Freedom Park, South Africa.
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The Tapologo OVC Programme reaches approximately 650 children per month. As of June 2015, SERVE monitoring data indicates that 55% of OVC are at the ideal Body Mass Index (BMI) level. BMI is a key index used for relating weight to height to determine if someone is underweight, normal / ideal weight, overweight or obese. The percentage of children who were severely underweight has also dropped significantly since November 2013 (from 15% - 0%) indicating that the Tapologo OVC programme has identified and responded to those children facing serious nutrition programmes. SERVE volunteers built the capacity of Tapologo care givers in 2014, providing them with training in CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) Weight Charts and how to identify children who were most vulnerable and in need of special attention. This is important because not only can centres now ensure that the children who are most in need are prioritised, but care givers are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to continue accurate monitoring and data collection.
While these figures illustrate the success and urgency of the SERVE and Tapologo OVC programme, thousands of children continue to wander through the camps unaware of this programme continuing to suffer in the heart of the squatter camps.
SERVE and Tapologo work in close partnership to address many needs and issues, but there are many critical areas that still need attention. We will however remain active in supporting Tapologo's Programme and will continue to promote the rights of children in the squatter camps to ensure that they survive and thrive, and to learn and grow in a difficult situation.
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For further information, please watch the SERVE Development Programme video below.
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SERVE Development Programme
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If you would like to support the work of the SERVE and Tapologo OVC Programme, please click the button below;
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Care worker Julie Carlos is a volunteer at Boitekong OVC Centre. Julia helps to cook nutritious meals for children attending the centre.
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Yours in Solidarity,
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