Read a personal account of a donor's recent visit to the Reheboth homes here.
What is the Boomerang Project?
The Boomerang Project was established in 2001 by a group concerned about the impact of Aids on orphans in South Africa. We came together because we decided we couldn’t sit on our hands and do nothing…we chose South Africa because it has the highest rate of HIV-AIDS infection in the world, and because some of us were born there and could play more of a hands-on role.
In order to move forward we needed credibility, the ability to administer our funds and tax deductibility.
To this end we formed a liaison with APHEDA, the overseas aid arm of the Australian Trade Union Movement. Apheda has a long history of involvement in humanitarian projects in Southern Africa and provides an important monitoring role in our project.
Rehoboth Trust
We wanted to donate our funds to an organization that helps children whose lives had in some way had been affected by Aids… the innocent victims of this terrible disease. The Rehoboth Trust in Port Shepstone, Natal, more than fulfilled these requirements. It is a foster care village for HIV-infected abandoned or orphaned babies, toddlers and young children. Helpless kids who have been dealt not one, but two, cruel blows – having no loving parent and being HIV-positive.
Every baby and every child deserves to grow up in a safe warm and caring environment. Rehoboth provides a happy environment for kids whose lives have been hell on earth…they come from overcrowded hospitals, or families where the mother has died and there is no carer, or situations where it is too dangerous for children, especially little girls, to stay at home. Each child at Rehoboth has a heartbreaking story of suffering and deprivation.
The Rehoboth Trust, a grass roots project, aims to provide a good quality of life to some 48 such children. The aim is to build 12 cottages in the village; each cottage will house 4 children and a foster mother, replicating as far as possible a family environment.
To date, funds sent under the umbrella of the Boomerang Project to Rehoboth total around $300,000 (R1.5m). These funds have totally funded 5 houses (out of 6 built), a crèche and general infrastructure. Further development is awaiting reclassification of the project by the Social Welfare Department to a "Children's Home" which is expected shortly. The village is at full capacity and as soon as houses are built, kids currently living in horrendous conditions will fill the places. Funding is needed for further infrastructure and operational costs, which are escalating rapidly as the intake of kids expands.
In the province of KwaZulu Natal where Rehoboth is situated there are a staggering 150000 young children orphaned by AIDS – almost incomprehensible. It is anticipated that Rehoboth will be used as a prototype for further such villages in the country.
Our donor funds are carefully monitored. Unlike many larger aid organizations administration costs are small, and almost every cent donated makes its way to the intended recipient. We receive regular reports as to how the funds are spent. Eight visits have been made to Rehoboth since our association - our goal is to be there at least twice a year.
The Boomerang Project has hosted 5 successful functions and intends to continue doing so at regular intervals. In the meantime anyone wishing to donate can download a donation form , and send it to Apheda who will then send a tax-deductible receipt to the donor. Alternatively, prospective donors can contact Geoff Mymin on 02-93888151.
