LIMPOPO MIRROR
16 2 December 2011 By Elmon Tshikhudo
Former unemployed women improve their lives
Masindi Primary School at Maila village outside Vleifontein held an award-giving ceremony at the school premises last Friday. Hardworking pupils were awarded certificates and trophies during the event. In our photo, the principal, Mr Ernest Makhesa (left), presents a trophy to the best pupil, Monica Ndou, while a teacher, Ms Grace Mathivha, looks on.
Teachers Adelaide Rangani (left) and Sayo Sigadawani (right) present trophies to the best netball players, Mukhethwa Maphau and Livhuwani Makhwara.
A group of formerly unemployed rural women at Khakhu-Makulemi village outside Louis Trichardt who had nothing to do have come up with a better way of using their precious time. They started the Tshanduko Land Care and Cleaning Project. Started with 14 members just a month ago, the project is rapidly making an impact in the village. The project specializes in cleaning the village streets by collecting used bottles, cans, papers and all unwanted objects in the village. They also do cleaning at the local rivers. The leader of the group, Rejoice Vele, said because of unemployment in the village, they used to roam the streets of the village with nothing to do. “Doing nothing tempts people into doing bad things, so that some of us ended up using our precious time for gossip, which sometimes landed others in deep trouble,” she said. She said they had a meeting and the idea to form a project was born. “We could not just sit down as unemployed women waiting for handouts. We decided to start this project as a job-creation tool as we hope to sell our garbage in the future, which will provide us with an income,” she said. She said they were also worried about the environment’s being polluted with no one taking notice. “The whole world is speaking in one voice on climate change and global
warming, which have a negative impact on our lives. We have a role to play in making our immediate surroundings better places to live in and our health will improve,” she added. The group says they have collected a lot of garbage since they started and
they are just waiting for the municipality to collect it. They made an impassioned plea to the government or any company to provide them with machinery or buy the waste from them. Those wishing to help the project can do so by phoning Vele at 083 732 5046 or 079 977 7737.
Tshanduko Landcare and Cleaning Project members.
Project members busy at work.
By Elmon Tshikhudo
Government and private doctors join diabetes fight
Photographed are some of Masindi Primary´s pupils who received certificates for their outstanding performance in various grades.
A diabetes awareness campaign, aimed at supplying information regarding the disease, was held in Thohoyandou a fortnight ago. The campaign was the brainchild of the Vhembe Department of Health, Dr Ndivhuho Rathando in Shayandima, Dr Khathu Hadzhi of Khathumed in Thohoyandou and the Permanent Moving Man-
Masindi´s best athletes were also rewarded during the ceremony. From left are Mr Thomas Mphephu, Mpho Thagwana, Rofhiwa Lukhwareni, Phathutshedzo Lukhwareni and Mr Michael Mudau (SGB chairperson).
agement (PEMMA). The proceedings were preceded by a 4km fun run. Many community members, mostly elderly people, completed the fun run. Group sessions were conducted and members were given the chance to ask questions. A screening and testing session was also held towards the end of the function. Mr Mackson Matodzi of the Vhembe
Department of Health described the occasion as historic, saying that it was the first of its kind where private practioners joined forces with the department to make the community aware of the disease. He said the prevalence of the diabetes pandemic had become a source of concern, which had prompted the campaign. He said there is presently no cure for the dangerous diabetes disease, which is costing so many lives in the community.
Together we can do more ... Private medical practitioners Drs Ndivhuho Rathando (left) and Khathutshelo Hadzhi (middle) and Mr Mackson Matodzi from the Vhembe Department of Health joined hands with PEMMA for an awareness campaign.