The Miriam Makeba Home for Girls houses about 15 girls, between ages 13-18 years, who have been placed there by Social Workers because they either ran away from home; most of them from abusive environments, or they had been chased away from home by remaining relatives, because they are orphaned.

At the Miriam Makeba Home they are placed under the guardianship of a social worker and house mothers who look after their well being. During the day the girls attend nearby schools, come back and do their home work.

The girls are accommodated in three bedrooms in which each girl has a bed. They do however share a bathroom and all other facilities, more like a proper family home set up and they assist the House mothers with house chores such as cooking.

Several organisations assist the Home financially, as a result, the kids have enough food, school books and all other basic things required in a home hence Agang Sechaba has chosen to not help financially as well.

In 2010 Agang Sechaba painted the Girls' Home and have since chosen to do the same this year. As an organisation, they feel they have become closer to the girls and the project, understand their needs more, and feel one of the things the girls need is to feel appreciated and loved.

"We want to do more than painting. We would like to leave the place with a feeling that someone cares. We hope this feeling will go a long way in helping the girls as they battle with life issues," says Nomsa Ntshingila of Agang Sechaba.  

The Miriam Makeba Girls is one of Agang Sechaba's ongoing youth enrichment project in which it seeks to empower them with life skills to manage any challenge they come across effectively.

About Agang Sechaba

Agang Sechaba is a women's initiative which was formed by professional women who are passionate about community development. It is aimed at improving the lives of the children and women in the South African Communities. Agang Sechaba is managed by the same women, who come from diverse professional backgrounds and are passionate about making things happen, rather than watch.

As a result of this passion and quest to give back, a trust was registered through which charitable deeds and empowerment of unemployed women and child headed households would be realised.

 

Agang Sechaba conducts its work in child-headed homes, orphanages and among unemployed women. Their services include sponsoring children's education, sponsoring soup kitchens, ensuring the children it sponsors are clothed, supporting/initiating sustainable Women Community Projects and also partners with other community organizations based on a synergy of strategy, technical and chemistry fit.

Some of Agang Sechaba's current projects include:

 

·         Kwa Thema (Soup Kitchen),

·         Langaville (Titimang Project),

·         Xmas Project (Olivenhout, Tlhokomelo-Home Orlando, Kwa-Thema),

·         The Winter Project (Blankets),

·         The Educational Project (Issuing of bursaries to financially deserving individuals with good academic records),

·         Adopt a child/family Project and

·         Miriam Makeba Home for Girls.

 

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For more information on the Agang Sechaba, Nelson Mandela 67 Minute Project or to interview an Agang Sechaba representative, please contact Grace Kadzere of Continuum Studios on (011) 784 4314, 073 317 6581 or grace@continuumstudios.co.za