uMthombo News

uMthombo is proud to continue to help those who are truly in need. The COVID 19 pandemic & Lockdown has left many families, communities and the most vulnerable in compromising situations.

The use of drugs has been found to be widespread among homeless youth. Utilizing drugs on a daily basis for most of them is a coping mechanism with hunger, fear, loneliness and despondency they face on the streets.

As the country prepared to move to level 3 of the National Lockdown, we continued engaging with the street-connected population. There have been great highlights which gave hope during our Outreach sessions but there were also disturbing actions conducted by individuals who are opportunistic. A certain man named "Melvin", accompanied by a private security company (Boss Security) came in full force to evict the occupants in one of the derelict buildings, without any legal documentation. 

As the journey continues, uMthombo facilitated its Outreach Programme the week of the 4th May – 09th May 2020 in eThekwini Municipality Wards (26, 27, 28 & 31), these Wards are within the city of Durban. We continued to provide psychosocial support and conducted follow-up assessments from our previous month food parcels distribution.   Feedback received from beneficiaries was humbling, expressing how the food hampers gave them relief during the level 5 lockdown phase. Many mentioned they still have a bit of food to last couple of days. Part of the reason for visiting beneficiaries in derelict buildings was to ascertain how much food is still remaining so as to prepare for the next delivery due to be undertaken as of the 15th May 2020.   Our Social Workers were also in a process to inform street-connected beneficiaries who possess Identity Document about the government COVID 19 Unemployment Relief Grant, assisting to apply as well as give guidance to those who don’t have Identity cards.   Distribution of food parcels in communities was undertaken in Ward 42, which is part of eThekwini Municipality northern townships. This was undertaken in collaboration with COGTA (Cooperative Governance and Tradition Affairs Department) and the Ward 42 Councilor, where 30 indigent families with a total number of 170 direct beneficiaries were assisted.   Thank you to all our supporters for making our work possible & giving hope to our street-connected partners.   #uMthombouBuntuCampaign

Join us on the 30th of April 2020 (17:00 UK time & 18:00 SA time) in a webinar interview which will be conducted by Amos Trust our UK partner. We will also be joined by other likeminded organisations from Tanzania & India. In this interview we will be sharing our experiences during this time of COVID 19 based on our respective context.   Click on the link below to register, so you can able to see us. Do not forget to share on your social platforms and to your family & friends. https://amostrust.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7c13879bd1b66d9b8efb00a98&id=2976257b72&e=a1082c56a1   Thank you

South Africa was declared to be on a National Lockdown due to the COVID 19 pandemic from the 27th of March 2020, meaning that all South Africans should initially remain home for 21 days in order to beat this novel virus. Only essential services (Police, Doctors, Nurses, Food retailers and essential support services) were permitted to assist in dealing with measures to curb the Lockdown impact. The Lockdown was subsequently extended by the President till the end of April 2020. As organization, before the proclamation of the state of national disaster we were concerned as to how our beneficiaries will be impacted by this and as early as the 9th of March we started to engage our beneficiaries about the possible impact the virus might have on all of us as citizens of the country. For the past 25 days of the National Lockdown, uMthombo has been rendering services to street-connected children & youth and also to the homeless population by providing food, basic toiletries, and hygiene essentials such as soap, sanitizers and masks, water as well as blankets especially to those living in abandoned buildings in the eThekwini and surrounding areas. This act did not leave out those we have been assisted previously and found odd jobs to make a living and also living independently. The declared lockdown has affected them since they cannot go to work which leaves them without any income and no food source. As an organization we are supporting them with food parcels during this National Disaster. Our Social Workers have also been providing psychosocial support to about 255 street-connected population. With the assistance from our supporters, we have managed to service 255 street-connected population, which included children, youth & adults (Females=62, Males=183, Babies=10).   Thank you to all the friends, supporters & stakeholders of uMthombo for continuing believing in our work and making it possible to carry out our mission and vision to fight homelessness and also changing perception regarding street-connected children & youth. Note: President Ramaphosa has declared an extension to the National Lockdown for a period of 2 weeks (17th April to 30th April 2020). The journey still continues and will keep you updated. Your support and any form of contributions would be highly appreciated as we fight the COVID 19 pandemic. Please visit our website www.umthombo.org for any support. Join our #uMthombo uBuntu Campaign and let’s make a difference.

Through social media platforms, young people express their appreciation regarding the journey they have expereinced with uMthombo. We hope that as young people, regain confidence, more conversations such as these below will inspire others to engage in meaningful interactions that will be a supportive system through their collective lived experiences. 

Mpendulo NyembeMy Europe trip came at the right time, since we as uMthombo have been needing to strengthen our relationship with existing supporters and to build new avenues of support with other supporters. Many thanks to Amos Trust and Friends of uMthombo for making it all possible – and of course, for their wonderful hospitality and friendship!

FUN was the order of the day at the Hero’s Welcome beach event held in honour of the director of uMthombo Street Children SA, Mpendulo Nyembe, who undertook a 400km cycle from London to Paris to raise funds for local street children and youth. On the day of the event, a multi-sports festival was held on the beach at which street-connected children, the youth and public took part in various sports which was followed by a prize giving and celebration of life. The publicity generated by this event resulted in the organisation receiving over 42 calls from young street-connected individuals and families seeking help.