INTRODUCTION
Khayelitsha is an informal settlement just outside Cape Town, South Africa. Its home to over three quarters of a million people – many of whom are unemployed and have HIV/AIDS. Sadly, overcrowding, poverty and lack of proper family structures contribute to Khayelitsha having one of the highest incidences of child rape in the country. It is estimated that one in three children, boys and girls, in this community will suffer serious sexual abuse by the time they are 18 years old.
In 1999 the local community decided that enough was enough. They turned to committed community leader, Nocawe Mankayi, to set up a project that would protect their children. As a result the Nonceba Family Counselling Centre was opened to respond to these problems of sexual abuse, particularly that of children.
The little centre is now at the heart of an anti-abuse campaign in Khayelitsha. It is also the ONLY centre in a township of three quarters of a million people where sexually abused children can come for help. And so far their track record is heart-warmingly impressive. The staff and volunteers at the centre are living proof that there are angels among us.
Working from three small rooms rented from SHAWCO (a University of Cape Town welfare project centre), Nocawe Mankayi and her team have successfully set about helping children who have been, sexually abused and raped; physically abused; victims of family violence; orphaned after their parents have died of AIDS and neglected.
Nocawe Mankayi is a Paul Harris Fellow, as is Hazel Black the treasurer and Dr Georges Tsalacopoulos the Chairman (a Rotarian).
THE OTHER ROTARY CONNECTION
Nonceba Centre was moving along gaining support for their building programme, progress was not fantastic but the commitment of those involved was. In 2002 a group of Interact members from Herzlia School in Cape Town were taken to the centre by Hazel Black. For one of those students, Ashley Kaimowitz this was to be a life changing experience. Ashley wrote about her life and her visit to Nonceba, and this can be read on the Rotary 9350 website in full. But let me just include this piece from Ashley’s story:
“We entered the little centre and were shown into a small room wherein sat a 4 year old little girl, with the saddest, loneliest face I have ever seen. She had been raped by her father the previous night and had just been brought to the centre by a family member. My father is my hero, my protector and caregiver. When the reality of this girl’s life and future dawned upon me I was more overwhelmed by emotion that I had ever been to date. I leaned down and opened my arms and the little girl looked at me and then buried herself within my hug. I began to cry uncontrollably and it was at that moment that I knew that my purpose on this earth was nothing less that to change it.”
Those were the words of a sixteen year old Rotary Interact member.
Ashley’s story tells you how she went on to make a film, and created a fund raising force and how she went to Japan as a Rotary Exchange Student, and on her return continued with her amazing work for the Nonceba Centre.
Khayelitsha is an informal settlement just outside Cape Town, South Africa. Its home to over three quarters of a million people – many of whom are unemployed and have HIV/AIDS. Sadly, overcrowding, poverty and lack of proper family structures contribute to Khayelitsha having one of the highest incidences of child rape in the country. It is estimated that one in three children, boys and girls, in this community will suffer serious sexual abuse by the time they are 18 years old.
In 1999 the local community decided that enough was enough. They turned to committed community leader, Nocawe Mankayi, to set up a project that would protect their children. As a result the Nonceba Family Counselling Centre was opened to respond to these problems of sexual abuse, particularly that of children.
The little centre is now at the heart of an anti-abuse campaign in Khayelitsha. It is also the ONLY centre in a township of three quarters of a million people where sexually abused children can come for help. And so far their track record is heart-warmingly impressive. The staff and volunteers at the centre are living proof that there are angels among us.
Working from three small rooms rented from SHAWCO (a University of Cape Town welfare project centre), Nocawe Mankayi and her team have successfully set about helping children who have been, sexually abused and raped; physically abused; victims of family violence; orphaned after their parents have died of AIDS and neglected.
Nocawe Mankayi is a Paul Harris Fellow, as is Hazel Black the treasurer and Dr Georges Tsalacopoulos the Chairman (a Rotarian).
THE OTHER ROTARY CONNECTION
Nonceba Centre was moving along gaining support for their building programme, progress was not fantastic but the commitment of those involved was. In 2002 a group of Interact members from Herzlia School in Cape Town were taken to the centre by Hazel Black. For one of those students, Ashley Kaimowitz this was to be a life changing experience. Ashley wrote about her life and her visit to Nonceba, and this can be read on the Rotary 9350 website in full. But let me just include this piece from Ashley’s story:
“We entered the little centre and were shown into a small room wherein sat a 4 year old little girl, with the saddest, loneliest face I have ever seen. She had been raped by her father the previous night and had just been brought to the centre by a family member. My father is my hero, my protector and caregiver. When the reality of this girl’s life and future dawned upon me I was more overwhelmed by emotion that I had ever been to date. I leaned down and opened my arms and the little girl looked at me and then buried herself within my hug. I began to cry uncontrollably and it was at that moment that I knew that my purpose on this earth was nothing less that to change it.”
Those were the words of a sixteen year old Rotary Interact member.
Ashley’s story tells you how she went on to make a film, and created a fund raising force and how she went to Japan as a Rotary Exchange Student, and on her return continued with her amazing work for the Nonceba Centre. In late March 2005, Ashley was involved in an accident with a drunk driver and was killed instantly, ending a life filled with promise. One of the tributes from a Rotarian said;
“We have all, adults and children, from religions and cultures across divides, learned much from Ashley about humility, determination and cheerfulness when faced with challenging circumstances and, now she is gone, we like to think that this is a cherished legacy from her to all people. Perhaps, if nothing else, this is the finest monument to a compassionate, loving and wise young woman – that she left a small part of her personal philosophy and attitude to life with everyone she touched.”
Those Rotary Clubs closely involved with Ashley, Hout Bay, Sea Point, Claremont and Kromboom agreed that we would establish a Memorial Fund in memory of Ashley and the proceeds would in total be donated to the Nonceba Centre. Rotary further made the commitment that our organization would continue to support the centre when ever possible to perpetuate the memory of Ashley Kaimowitz, a Rotary Interact member, a Rotary Exchange student and an outstanding young woman.
THE NONCEBA CENTRE UPDATE MARCH 2007
Following some amazing donations the building of the centre commenced at the end of February 2007. Rotary’s Ashley Kaimowitz Memorial Fund which has been given coverage in many Rotary circles and indeed the official publication of our organization, The Rotarian, has reached a total of R170 000 ($25 000 USD), the collection of contributions have been world wide and currently the eClub of SW USA is collecting in the States; these monies will form part of a matching grant and the proceeds will be used to equip the Nonceba Centre.
SUPPORTING THE NONCEBA CENTRE VIA THE ASHLEY KAIMOWITZ FUND
Donations can be sent in the name of the Rotary Club of Hout Bay to :
First National Bank
Hout Bay Branch – code – 204009
Account – 53452281009
Or directly to The Administrator of the Ashley Kaimowitz Memorial Fund, PP Don Peters,
Rotary Hout Bay, P.O.Box 26353 Hout Bay 7872. Cape Town South Africa.
Email; peters@wdsl.co.za
CONCLUSION
In Ashley’s words;
“ I have learnt that even though there are horrors facing our world, there is good buried within it, evident in those willing to reach out a hand and a heart and help. I firmly believe that the life of one person, if helped, can change the course of the world, as you never know who that one little girl or boy could be or could achieve.”
You can view the documentary that Ashley produced on this website.
1 comment:
Emily,
I truly enjoy reading about your adventures in Cape Town and this entry about this specific service project is very moving. I had read about this before and am thrilled to see that you are involved in such a wonderful project.
Reading your blog makes me even more excited to be heading to Cape Town in 2008!
Take good care,
La Shona
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