Seva
In Yoga, SEVA (Say-va) is a Sanskrit word for service. My service is through my yoga practice and teaching.
Each yoga class I teach, is also offering something back to this project. I donate a percentage of each class I teach to the project. So all my students are also contributing to this cause.
In 2010 my yoga classes raised 400 euro, including the children’s classes - I believe it is good for children to be aware of a more global world from a young age, especially as we live in a privileged society here.
In the last years Jürgen has extended his photography more and more. The images and prints he is selling are supporting the Lidgetton Community Project by a percentage as well.
Below is an update to the project. If you are interested to contribute further towards this worthwhile project, we are going to South Africa in February and would be happy to take any contributions with us.
The Lidgetton Community Project (LCP) has recently started networking with Bridges of Hope (BoH) who are also an active charity living and working in the same community. Since the BoH team all live in Lidgetton, they know almost everyone in the village, and their circumstances. They are able to give a better overview of the families needing the most urgent support, and in which manner. This includes vulnerable children as well as AIDS orphans. Of course it goes without saying they are all poor and in need of assistance, but the resources are limited and so they take on the worst cases until their situation improves.
A big chunk of the work done by BoH is to remove children from intolerable situations.
In most cases the children are removed to a place of safety immediately and washed, fed and dressed in clean clothes. One of the biggest priorities is to provide a warm, clean, safe place for these children to go where they can be cared for and rehabilitated. Much groundwork has been done up until now, but resources are limited, and it is a slow process dealing with the authorities.
So the LCP combine with the BoH team and share resources so that their efforts are mutually beneficial. The focus of the Lidgetton Community Project will not change, in that they still help needy families with food parcels and school uniforms, the only difference being their target group in liaison with BoH.
BoH has now acquired a house to accommodate the children needing foster care. Much work must be done on the house and garden to make it suitable, and volunteers and materials urgently required. There is a resident house-mother. Financial assistance is also desperately needed for salaries, rental and electricity - LCP will help with this, so that the supporting system does not collapse.
Bonn, in January 2011
Fiona Hayhoe-Weiland
Jürgen Weiland
Design & Photography
Homeopathic practice;