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Here in a poor black township nearby Johannesburg is where the Dlamini children live. Nhlanhla Dlamini is the younges. She is 14 years old. Then comes her 16year old sister Lindiwe and brother Teddy is with 18 years the oldest of the three. Since their parents passed away the children are trying to survive on their own. They live in one of the many shacks of township Ivory Park. There are holes in the roof, power most of the time fails and the children are often going to school with a hungry belly.
Nhlanhla Dlamini, 14 years old
“When there is not enough food, then I drink water to fill my tummy. I remember when my mom was still here we would never be hungry. She always cooked for us and she would put us in bed and then she played with us. “
Teddy (don’t give the title here, but at the next quote of him)
“When I am hungry I cannot concentrate at school. Then I don’t have the power to read and write.”
Teddy shows us, on our request, the only picture he has from his mother. Mother Rose is the one second on the left, dressed in white.
Teddy Dlamini, 18 years
“I don’t look at the picture very often, because then I remember so many things. And then my heart becomes sore and my tears come out. If she would be here we would not suffer like this.”
The estimation is that 600 people die of AIDS every day in South Africa. It is especially hard for the children. Not only parents die, but also aunts, uncles, neighbours. Nowadays there is a new offical category in the population records of South Africa. The category is called: Child headed families.
The Dlamini children also fall into this category. But they can call themselves lucky, because they can sometimes ask the sister of their mother for food: Aunt Josephina. But Josephina also has aids and is often too ill to help the children. Teddy and Nhlanhla are afraid that one of these days aunt Josephina will also pass away.
Knock Knock
Come in
Hello
Hello
I am a little bit hungry.
Hungry oeh...where is your sister?
She stayed in Ivory (Park).
Ok would you like some fruit, he?
(baby cries)
Here I will give you something to eat.
Mmmm.
(she put oranges in a bag)
That’s what I have.
Ok
Yeh Bye bye, come back next Saturday.
Bye By. Greetings.
Ok.
Josephina Zodwa, aunt
“I am without a job, so I cannot give them much. Just sometimes I can give them some groceries. But other times I just feel too ill, then the children get worried, because then I have to go to the hospital and I am not there to help them. “
In the middle of the township stands the Holy Rosary Church. Once a month the church hands out food to around 500 orphans. The three Dlaminichildren also get a food packet. Without this packet it would be very difficult for them to survive. But the flemish priest Herman van Dijck is afraid that to give food is not enough. Because without moral guidance of parents many children find it difficult to stay on the right path. They are more likely to drop out of school, they get easier into crime or prostitution.
Herman van Dijck, priest
“Als men ziet dat een van die kinderen de verkeerde weg op gaat, dat doet altijd pijn. Dat doet altijd pijn. De kinderen komen hier, je ziet ze en dan zie je ze langzaam aan de verkeerde gaan en dan zeg je: waarom? Konden we niet meer doen om ze op het rechte pad te houden? Konden we niet meer doen om ze het zelfvertrouwen terug te geven?”
Translation dutch into english:
“When one sees that one of these children goes into the wrong direction, it hurts. It always hurts. The children come here, you see them, but then slowly they turn out badly and then you ask yourself: why? Was it nog possible for us to do more for them? Was it not possible to give them back their self confidence?”
(at this scene do not give name titles to the children, because it will distract too much)
(Teddy:) “Dear mommy and daddy. Every day I think of you. Please help me to look after my two sisters because I don’t know how to do it on my own. Amen.”
(Lindiwe:) “Dear mommy and daddy: please make that people help us.”
(Nhlanhla:) “Dear mommy and daddy: I wish you would be here so we could talk, have fun and eat, just like the way it was.”
At the end of the day it is time to dance. For a minute AIDS seems very far away... Untill the youngest dancer gives her contribution.
(there is no name of this girl)
“Aids/hiv is an incurable disease. My friend with Aids/hiv is still my friend. Don’t touch blood with neglicence. Some are infected, but we are all affected. Thank you.”
End of report
Here in a poor black township nearby Johannesburg is where the Dlamini children live. Nhlanhla Dlamini is the younges. She is 14 years old. Then comes her 16year old sister Lindiwe and brother Teddy is with 18 years the oldest of the three. Since their parents passed away the children are trying to survive on their own. They live in one of the many shacks of township Ivory Park. There are holes in the roof, power most of the time fails and the children are often going to school with a hungry belly.
Nhlanhla Dlamini, 14 years old
“When there is not enough food, then I drink water to fill my tummy. I remember when my mom was still here we would never be hungry. She always cooked for us and she would put us in bed and then she played with us. “
Teddy (don’t give the title here, but at the next quote of him)
“When I am hungry I cannot concentrate at school. Then I don’t have the power to read and write.”
Teddy shows us, on our request, the only picture he has from his mother. Mother Rose is the one second on the left, dressed in white.
Teddy Dlamini, 18 years
“I don’t look at the picture very often, because then I remember so many things. And then my heart becomes sore and my tears come out. If she would be here we would not suffer like this.”
The estimation is that 600 people die of AIDS every day in South Africa. It is especially hard for the children. Not only parents die, but also aunts, uncles, neighbours. Nowadays there is a new offical category in the population records of South Africa. The category is called: Child headed families.
The Dlamini children also fall into this category. But they can call themselves lucky, because they can sometimes ask the sister of their mother for food: Aunt Josephina. But Josephina also has aids and is often too ill to help the children. Teddy and Nhlanhla are afraid that one of these days aunt Josephina will also pass away.
Knock Knock
Come in
Hello
Hello
I am a little bit hungry.
Hungry oeh...where is your sister?
She stayed in Ivory (Park).
Ok would you like some fruit, he?
(baby cries)
Here I will give you something to eat.
Mmmm.
(she put oranges in a bag)
That’s what I have.
Ok
Yeh Bye bye, come back next Saturday.
Bye By. Greetings.
Ok.
Josephina Zodwa, aunt
“I am without a job, so I cannot give them much. Just sometimes I can give them some groceries. But other times I just feel too ill, then the children get worried, because then I have to go to the hospital and I am not there to help them. “
In the middle of the township stands the Holy Rosary Church. Once a month the church hands out food to around 500 orphans. The three Dlaminichildren also get a food packet. Without this packet it would be very difficult for them to survive. But the flemish priest Herman van Dijck is afraid that to give food is not enough. Because without moral guidance of parents many children find it difficult to stay on the right path. They are more likely to drop out of school, they get easier into crime or prostitution.
Herman van Dijck, priest
“Als men ziet dat een van die kinderen de verkeerde weg op gaat, dat doet altijd pijn. Dat doet altijd pijn. De kinderen komen hier, je ziet ze en dan zie je ze langzaam aan de verkeerde gaan en dan zeg je: waarom? Konden we niet meer doen om ze op het rechte pad te houden? Konden we niet meer doen om ze het zelfvertrouwen terug te geven?”
Translation dutch into english:
“When one sees that one of these children goes into the wrong direction, it hurts. It always hurts. The children come here, you see them, but then slowly they turn out badly and then you ask yourself: why? Was it nog possible for us to do more for them? Was it not possible to give them back their self confidence?”
(at this scene do not give name titles to the children, because it will distract too much)
(Teddy:) “Dear mommy and daddy. Every day I think of you. Please help me to look after my two sisters because I don’t know how to do it on my own. Amen.”
(Lindiwe:) “Dear mommy and daddy: please make that people help us.”
(Nhlanhla:) “Dear mommy and daddy: I wish you would be here so we could talk, have fun and eat, just like the way it was.”
At the end of the day it is time to dance. For a minute AIDS seems very far away... Untill the youngest dancer gives her contribution.
(there is no name of this girl)
“Aids/hiv is an incurable disease. My friend with Aids/hiv is still my friend. Don’t touch blood with neglicence. Some are infected, but we are all affected. Thank you.”
End of report