Children in Distress

My visits out to the rural schools are on hold at present because Penryn students ( The school that runs the outreach) have exams. So I am going out with another NGO called Children in Distress. This is run by a local church.
"We are currently looking after 470 orphaned and vulnerable children and their 236 Care Givers, who are in distress due to poverty and the HIV Aids pandemic."  (from their brochure )
CID cares for these children on a long term basis, from babies until they are young adults. Children come into one of five centres, five afternoons a week, where they get a hot meal. CID provide classes at the centres ranging from computer classes, crafts, health care etc.  Children and Care Givers also receive health checks and basic medicine. Center Mothers, cooks, and gardeners are employed by the church.
At present we are giving children shoes and warm jerseys. These are donations that have been collected from the community. Seeing their faces light up when they get their shoes and jerseys is a real delight.


Going out into these communities has been a real eye opener for me. Their houses are often nothing more than very rough shacks. Many of the dwellings do not have power or running water and the roads we travel on in the townships are deeply rutted clay tracks.


These photos have been taken on my cell phone and not brilliant but let you see these beautiful children.

Isn't she just too cute

Mobile computer suite. Five laptops don't spread far between 470 kids.

Some of the shoes waiting for new owners

We have got new tops and shoes now patiently for a treat, a chocolate donated by a local super market! It is hard to get these little ones to smile.