Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - June 4, 2006
Bongani Mthethwa
McLaren and her sugar-cane-farmer husband Keith have established a centre where nearly 100 HIV/Aids orphaned and abandoned children from the community of Monzi find sanctuary.
The 50-year-old former teacher took it upon herself to look after these children.
The McLarens have spent R200000 of their own money and receive some help from churches in Australia, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and Mount Edgecombe.
Some members of the local community do volunteer work at the centre, others provide food and one farmer is giving R150 a month.
"We're happy we're able to make a difference in a significant way in the lives of this community," McLaren said.
She said her involvement started in 1997 after she had been exposed to the poverty in the area. There had also been high levels of prostitution and alcoholism.
"We found that children were left unattended from 4am when parents went out to weed the fields," said McLaren.
McLaren said when her attempts to start home-based childcare proved ineffective, she started a creche which has now been running for two and a half years.
"We medicate, evaluate the level of the problem and feed and clothe the children," she said.
The Edwaleni Church and Care Centre now has 83 children and five teachers.
McLaren said that since opening the creche, child abuse had decreased dramatically.
She also runs an HIV/Aids awareness programme.
Jabu Khumalo, 38, a cook at Edwaleni, described McLaren as a "messiah".
Cynthia Mzinyane, a nursing supervisor at the nearby Ezwenelisha Clinic, who has worked with McLaren for four years, described her work as "wonderful".
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