Wellfare project

[Flowerhat]

Hello,

I have a friend who is part of a community outreach program on our area.
There are parents who left their children with their grandparents in town, grandparents who aren't financially capable of taking care of themselves let alone their grandchildren.

The community outreach program is saving up funds to try and assist people in our neighborhood who are suffering financially. However there is a lot of uncertainty on what the right course of action should be.

The group would like to provide a means for these poor families to take care of themselves, an idea of vegetable gardens in the homes of the families is drifting around, but I can't see who is going to maintain these gardens?

Has anyone here ever had experience with a project of this nature?

Advice would be welcomed

 

[ponder]

They should start a education program on birth control and the implications of having children when you cannot afford to.

 

[Sinbad]

But the culture is for your kids to look after you in your old age. You'd be asking people to compromise their retirement in their minds...

 

[MickeyD]

But the culture is for your kids to look after you in your old age. You'd be asking people to compromise their retirement in their minds...

Unfortunately the situation as explained by the OP is commonplace in SA. In many cases the parents never return and the grandparents pass away, leaving the youngsters to fend for themselves.

A direct result of this is that many of the kids drop out of school. Girls become pregnant in order to claim child-care grants. The kids become desperate and resort to crime. And so the downward spiral continues....


@OP: I would rather go the food parcel route.

 

[Flowerhat]

Unfortunately the situation as explained by the OP is commonplace in SA. In many cases the parents never return and the grandparents pass away, leaving the youngsters to fend for themselves.

A direct result of this is that many of the kids drop out of school. Girls become pregnant in order to claim child-care grants. The kids become desperate and resort to crime. And so the downward spiral continues....


@OP: I would rather go the food parcel route.

Thank you for your opinion.

These are white afrikaans people who the community is looking out for.
Do you think its easier or more difficult to organise a self help project like this, compared to black townships?

Any ideas?

 

[MickeyD]

Thank you for your opinion.

These are white afrikaans people who the community is looking out for.
Do you think its easier or more difficult to organise a self help project like this, compared to black townships?

Any ideas?

No... you will encounter the same problems. Poverty is colour-blind.

I have a feeling that 2 of my buddies are also involved in this project.... will chat to them tomorrow.

 

[Flowerhat]

anybody else have an idea of what can be done?