October 19 - Philani Development Centre in the township of Khayelitsha

                                                                         

Philani kids dancing and blowing kisses


In the middle of a crowded tin roof settlement called Khayelitsha is an NGO called Philani Development Centre. Philani provides an integrated program of health and early education for mothers and  their small children.One of the services they provide is to send workers into the community to weigh children and determined if they are malnourished. They then provide follow up care. We toured their onsite preschool classes and watched their mothers create handpainted aprons and colorful weavings.
When we left we were mobbed by adorable children who wanted hugs and high fives which we gladly gave them! Philani is a refuge and a symbol of hope for the future. 

Becky Wright and Bets deJong