Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - Sunday, November 24, 2002
Ilse Fredericks
Several schools in Pietermaritzburg are taking part in the Children Helping Children project, which was launched by the child rights NGO Children in Distress (Cindi) two years ago.
Each term, children from various schools start projects to raise funds to buy medicine, clothes and food for families affected by HIV in Pietermaritzburg.
The children also visit homes to help social workers by caring for smaller children.
Cherie Poole, a Grade 5 pupil of St Nicholas Diocesan School, helped organise a mini Comrades Marathon earlier this year to raise funds for medicines and vitamins.
"This project has changed me. Not only am I able to help other children, but I have learned so much about HIV. I can now inform other children about Aids and I've even taught my parents more about the virus," she said.
Christine Chetty, of Longmarket Girls' School, said her involvement in the project had changed her perceptions of people with HIV.
"I didn't really know how the lives of people infected with the virus were like and I was a bit afraid in the beginning, but now I know I have nothing to fear. Every time I see one of these babies, I feel joy, and whenever we do a project, I get excited because I know it will improve other children's lives," said Chetty.
Cardin Sharpley, also from St Nicholas, said he was shocked the first time he visited an Aids home and saw how sick some of the children were.
"Before that, I didn't really know what these children's lives were like, but when I saw, I immediately wanted to make a difference. This project has given me the opportunity," he said.
Deb Avery, coordinator of the project at St Nicholas, said they helped the pupils make a difference and got them to see first-hand the problems that people living with HIV faced every day.
Sagree Naicker, coordinator of Ikhaya Lethemba, a home for children, said she was impressed with the effort the pupils had put into the project.
"The fundraising has helped a great deal, but what has really made a difference is the bond the children have formed with the school children. These children are doing more to help out than many grown-ups," she said.
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