Tumelong:
Mission & Development Programme
Diocese of Pretoria

In the Diocese of Pretoria, under Tumelong and Anglican Aids and Health care Trust, we are running as youth peer educators programme called Siyafundisa ( Teaching our children), it is a HIV prevention programme focusing on teaching the youth about Abstinence and being faithful by offering them Peer Education and Life Skills programme. The main aim is to encourage the youth to abstain from sexual activities until they are married.

One of the exercises we give to young people during our workshops is for them to discuss and give percentages to risky behaviours that young people engage in. The shocking statistics are that unprotected sex, pregnancy and abortion always top the list by between 80%, 90% and 95% this is worrying it means we still have a long way to go in changing young people attitudes and behaviours.

 Many young people find it hard to talk about sensitive topics with their Parents so they get information and advices from friends, school mates, TV and etc. So what Peer Education does is to take a group of suitable young people from the age of 10-13, 14-18, 19-24 and train them so that they can pass the correct information to other young people on the following topics: Sexuality, Gender, The advantages of abstinence, Consequences of sexual activity, HIV and AIDS.

So far, Soyafindisa have reached 3489 with messages of abstinence.

Siyafundisa Supervisors with the Fieldworker and Programme officer

While the girls from St Mary’s DSG  believe that education is important in the lives of the young people to prepare them for the life ahead, they equally believe that the environment is also key to enabling one to achieve one’s objectives. The St Mary’s DSG entourage wanted to see this area addressed.

 Together with Ms Carna Kriel, the girls – who are now in Grade 7 – swam 8 miles across the Midmar Dam to raise funds. This enabled them to erect a shade for the Maboloka Haven. The children can now play and eat under the shade without worrying about the rain or the scorching sun.

 This is not all they did when they reconnected with their little friends this year. They also hosted a picnic and shared meals with them. Trees were planted for more shade. This time the girls were accompanied by the Head of Junior School Mrs Barbie Craig and the School Chaplain the Reverend Leonard Nyakale. It was a moving experience to see the two getting their hands dirty as they planted trees. The Director of Tumelong Keba Matlhako could not resist the temptation to participate.  They left the centre having changed the environment.

 Our girls are now moving on with the knowledge that they have fulfilled their promise of making a difference. In her comments Mrs Craig expressed her excitement to see the difference at the Haven. It had received a new coat of paint. Tyres dug in for kids to play, after the local youth group got involved as part of their community development practical training. Mrs Craig thanked the girls for sharing their time with the children and for contributing positively towards the improvement of their lives and their environment. She thanked the staff at the Haven for what they do for the children.

Ms Carna Kriel and the Girls who swam the midmar under the shed erected by the money they raised

Cake Cutting for the 70 years and older

The Gala Dinner held at St Mary’s DSG was the major attraction point of the celebrations.  In his address to the members present, Bishop Jo thanked everyone for their support and further indicated that Tumelong is not a rich organisation, and if parishes can give, as per the Synod Resolution, towards Tumelong, another 70 years will be realised. He further paid tribute to Mrs Mary White whose unwavering support of Tumelong, over the years, was unquestionable and immaculate. “Its people like Mrs White who represent the love of Christ to those less fortunate”, the Bishop exclaimed.

Mr John Mojapelo, who was one of the speakers and the author of “ The corner people of Lady Selborne”, which records six decades of the life in Lady Selborne, where Tumelong was established.  In his address he highlighted Tumelong as ‘a Chicky Tumelong’ which was at the fore front of challenging the powers of the time on the issues that people were dealing with.

We convey our sincere gratitude to all who participated in the events and those who continue to support the work of Tumelong. We still have a Brick for Development , with only 70 bricks going at R1000 per brick, each brick will be engraved with the name or logo of the sponsor. These Brick will be used to erect a Tumelong Development Wall towards the end of the year.

Please continue to journey with Tumelong towards its centennial existence.