Women Who Care

                   

Leadership for Africa helps support Women Who Care.  This organization was founded in 1985 when a Canadian, Mrs. Carol Weber, started visiting the children in Ward 8 at Mbabane Government Hospital.  It was obvious that both the abandoned children and long-term patients needed stimulation and someone to care for them and about them.

Women Who Care filled that need.  Robin Pratt continues the work started by Carol Weber.  WWC raises the funds to pay for two permanent staff members who are there to bathe, feed, dress, do laundry, and 'mother' the children. The staff members are there from 7 to 4:30 every day. Other expenses include: clothing, personal need items for the children, school fees and all other school expenses related for 3 boys that attend Ekhwetsembeni Special School (for handicapped children). We also pay for taxis for the children to and from school but hope the hospital will take over this responsibility soon.

We currently have 10 children living full time at the hospital, ages ranging from 18 months to young adults. The young adults came originally as young children, but due to mental or physical handicaps, have no other place to go.  These children tend to be discarded by family more frequently than children without disabilities. The advantage of the varying ages is that the children have formed their own 'family', with the older children assisting the younger, and the younger providing amusement for the older!

We are thankful to many organizations that have helped us through the years by donating money and materials to enable Ward 8 playroom to be transformed into a well equipped and colorful place. The children are in this room during most of the day. There are toys, a TV, VCR, washing machine and dryer, lunch tables, and cots for the babies to sleep in.  It is as close to a home atmosphere as is possible within a hospital. Waterford High School blessed the children with an outdoor play area which is currently in a state of disrepair. (Any volunteers willing to fix it up are welcome!) They also include the children in their community outreach program, visiting the children at the hospital and even taking them up to the school in a bus occasionally, just to give the children a change of environment.

Women Who Care aims to support and supplement the care given by the hospital and to ensure the abandoned children have 'family' to look after them. Our funding comes from the generosity of local companies, organizations and caring individuals. If you would like to donate to this program, please click on the 'Donate Now' button.