Masupatsela

AMANDA BLOCH
DIRECTED by PUMZILE MLUNGWANA
EDITED by RUAN SCHWARTZ
TX 31 August 2009

In 2001 Amanda Bloch’s seven month old son, Zachary, was diagnosed with kidney failure. The private hospital that was treating him was unable to help him and a friend suggested they try Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch. Amanda initially thought that the best treatment was available at private hospitals and was surprised to experience the best treatment at a goverment hospital.

As a result of the lifesaving assistance that Red Cross provided her son, Amanda decided that she needed to offer her help to the hospital. While Zachary was being treated at Red Cross, Amanda grew appalled at the differences she noticed between private and government hospitals. She realised that the best way she could help would be to use her social and business contacts to raise funds for the hospital.

Her first attempt to raise funding through letters to various people raised R1.8 million. Today Amanda is a dedicated fundraiser and patron of Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch, Cape Town.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OR TO CONTRIBUTE THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TRUST:
visit the trust web site or contact Amanda Bloch on 082 377 3458.

THIS IS HOW AMANDA BECAME INVOLVED AS A FUNDRAISER:
- she noticed the huge difference between private and public hospital facilities and was motivated to change this
- she decided she wanted to make a change in the transplant unit where her son had been treated
- she tried to understand what was needed
- she mopped floors when that was the only way she could help
- she contacted people she and her husband knew to raise funds for the improvement of the transplant unit
- she joined the Children’s Hospital Trust to raise further funds
- she joined the board of the organ donor foundation as director of fundraising
- she is also involved in the administration of the office

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JABEZ HEALTH CENTRE
DIRECTED by ALETTE SCHOON
EDITED by BAUKE BROUWER
TX 31 August 2009

Jabez Health Centre was started as a care centre for people living with HIV and AIDS. Over the years it has become a centre of support to people living with HIV and AIDS, to their families, to orphans and also a support centre to foster parents in Extension 9 in Grahamstown.

The work that Jabez does draws the entire community of Extension 9 into its work, either through using their help, or through helping them. They provide two meals a day for the poor and hungry, which helps to ensure that bellies are full and that those who need to take ARVs can do so because they have eaten.

As a result of parents dying from HIV and AIDS, many children are orphaned in Extension 9. Further work that Jabez does, offers support to the foster parents of these children. The Foster Parents Support Group meets to discuss problems the parents may have with their foster children. Parents and foster parents have realised that foster children are no different from their own children and need the same love and discipline that every child needs.

TO CONTACT OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE JABEZ HEALTH CENTRE:
contact the centre on +27 78 134 0833.

TO START A CENTRE LIKE JABEZ HEALTH CENTRE, HERE ARE THE STEPS YOU CAN FOLLOW:
- set up a support group for those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
- start a creche for HIV positive and other children
- develop a foster parent training course for the foster families of children kids who have lost their parents to HIV and AIDS
- establish a working  relationship with the police, so that the children do not get involved in illegal activities

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER IMAGES FROM THE STORY ON JABEZ.

MORNING STAR
In Series I we featured a story on Morning Star Children’s Centre in Welkom. In episode six, we speak to Joan Adams at Morning Star to find out how things have developed since 2007.

FOR MORE ON MORNING STAR CHILDREN’S CENTRE:
visit their web site and call +27 57 352 5176.

SCREEN GRABS FROM THE STORIES ON AMANDA BLOCH AND JABEZ HEALTH CENTRE: