Saving Orphans Through Healthcare And Outreach Inc

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF SOHO IS TO HEAL,EDUCATE, FEED, PARENT AND NURTURE ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY FROM CHILD-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN COMMUNITIES DEVASTATED BY HIV/AIDS. SOHO'S LONG TERM VISION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN AIDS AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IS A SAFE LIVING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING OF CHILDREN ARE ADDRESSED, EDUCATION IS SUPPORTED AND SKILLS ARE DEVELOPED SUCH THAT THE CHILDREN EMBRACE THEIR PERSONAL WORTH AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE PROGRAMS ADDRESS FOOD, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AND LIFE SKILLS IMPACTING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND IMPARTING INNER STRENGTH AND SPIRITUAL NURTURE. THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE POPULATION SERVED AND TO IMPROVE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE CHILDREN. SOHO PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WELCOME PLACES, IN COOPERATION WITH SOHO-ESWATINI, WHICH ARE MULTIPURPOSE CENTERS TO SCHOOL, FEED AND AS TO SERVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

SOHO PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WELCOME PLACES, IN COOPERATION WITH SOHO-ESWATINI. THESE ARE MULTIPURPOSE CENTERS TO SCHOOL, FEED AND NURTURE ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN, AS WELL AS TO SERVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THE CENTERS PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK IN THEIR OWN HOMESTEADS OR COMMUNITIES. SOHO PROGRAMS INCLUDE: A COMBINED DAILY FEEDING PROGRAM FROM MHLOSHENI AND NHLAMBENI, THAT TOGETHER SERVE 131 CHILDREN OVER 1310 MEALS WEEKLY AND FOOD PARCELS THAT BENEFIT 350 CHILDREN MONTHLY. DURING THE COVID19 PANDEMIC, WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, 150 CHILDREN WERE FED AT MHLOSHENI IN SHIFTS DUE TO COVID PRECAUTIONS AND FOOD PARCELS WERE PROVIDED TO HOMES WHERE CHILDREN WERE AT GREATEST RISK. FOOD PARCELS PROVIDED TO FAMILIES AT RISK, CONSIST OF A MONTH'S SUPPLY OF MAIZE, BEANS, SOUP MIX, COOKING OIL, SOAP AND OTHER NECESSITIES. THE FIRST WELCOME PLACE AT MHLOSHENI IS A 4000 SQUARE FT MULTI -PURPOSE CENTER. ON-SITE THERE IS A PRE-SCHOOL WHERE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IMPROVE THE LEARNING AND WELLBEING OF THE CHILDREN. IN ADDITION TO SCHOOLING, THERE ARE GRADUATION EVENTS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN ARE SOMETIMES KEPT HOME TO ATTEND TO HOUSE WORK. THERE IS A FEEDING PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FOOD FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN FROM THE PRE-SCHOOL, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE CHILDREN PERFORM SONGS, SKITS AND CULTURAL DANCES FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ENCOURAGES THE CHILDREN AND ASSISTS TO BUILD THIS PRE-SCHOOL POPULATIONS SELF-ESTEEM AND TO DEVELOP COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THE SECOND WELCOME PLACE AT NHLAMBENI, THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE COUNTRY, HOUSES THE HOPE DISCOVERY LEARNING CENTER (HDLC). CHILDREN FROM THE NEIGHBORING INDIGENT COMMUNITY, KNOWN AS THE SQUATTER CAMP, ARE ABLE TO ATTEND. ADDITIONALLY, SOHO PROGRAMS INCLUDE HOMESTEAD VISITS TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF FAMILIES, AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY GARDENS TO ENGAGE THE CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SOHO 'S OUTREACH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON MAREKAMP, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SQUATTER'S CAMP. IT IS A PLACE OF LAST RESORT WHERE CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. A ' CLEAN UP' CAMPAIGN ENGAGED THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THEIR ENVIRONMENT MORE SANITARY. A SMALL GARDEN PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED WHICH HELPED TO SERVE MANY IN THE COMMUNITY. DURING THE COVID LOCK DOWN, FRESH VEGETABLES WERE TRANSPORTED PERIODICALLY INTO THE COMMUNITY BY SOHO AND SUPPLIED TO THE CHILDREN AND CARE GIVERS. AT MAREKAMP, CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 12 YEARS ARE RECRUITED TO MAKE HOME BREWED LIQUOR AND THEY END UP CONSUMING THE ALCOHOL AS WELL. SOHO HAS BEGUN A PEER LEADERS PROGRAM BASED AROUND SOCCER AND THIS HAS BEEN A MORALE AND LIFE SKILLS BUILDER IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION CHILDREN ARE BUSED EVERY SATURDAY TO A FACILITY WHERE THEIR PERSONAL WORTH IS EMPHASIZED AND WHERE THEY HEAR BIBLE STORIES, ENJOY FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER AND ARE FED SNACKS. THE OUTREACH COORDINATOR RECEIVED THE DONATION OF A BUS TO TRANSPORT THE CHILDREN TO THEIR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND FOR FOOD PARCEL DELIVERY.

SOHO ENGAGES IN AWARENESS RAISING ON ISSUES SUCH AS GENDER-BASED ABUSE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF GIRLS AND DOMESTIC ABUSE ARE CRITICAL ISSUES IN ESWATINI AS ONE IN THREE GIRLS IS ABUSED. AN ANNUAL FORUM IS HELD IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN, GENERALLY IN SEPTEMBER, FEATURING A NOTABLE GUEST WHO DEALS WITH SOCIAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE ORPHAN POPULATION THAT SOHO SERVES. A SPECIAL PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. S/HE INSPIRES SOCIAL AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE POPULATION SERVED IN ESWATINI. FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, THIS GAME CHANGERS FORUM HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER THOUGHT LEADERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND THE US TO. DISCUSS HOW TO PUT AN END TO THE PANDEMIC IF GENDER-BASED ABUSE AFFECTING WOMEN AND GIRLS. ON THE HEELS OF THE UN INSPIRED 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM, SOME OF SOHO'S GAME CHANGERS AND TRAIL BLAZERS WHO WERE HONORED BY SOHO AT PREVIOUS GALAS PARTICIPATED IN A VIRTUAL EVENT SEEN INTERNATIONALLY. FEATURED GUESTS INCLUDED: YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA, PRINCESS OF AFRICA AND UN AMBASSADOR, DAWN MINOTT, UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND, EXPERT ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS AND WOMEN, GAIL MASONDO, CHAPLAIN, AUTHOR, LIFE COACH AND SOHO SA ADVISOR, PEACE ACTIVIST, REV. NONTOMBI NAOMI TUTU, DAUGHTER OF NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATE, ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU. ALSO FEATURED IN THE PROGRAM WERE THE INSPIRING STORIES OF THREE YOUNG SWAZI AMBASSADORS WHOSE LIVES WERE CHANGED THROUGH THE INTERVENTION OF SOHO. THE FORUM WAS HELD IN COLLABORATION WITH OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY, HUNTSVILLE , ALABAMA. CHILD HEADED HOUSEHOLDS LACK EFFECTIVE ADULT SUPERVISION. CHILDREN ARE AT RISK OF ABUSE, EXPLOITATION OR DISEASE. EDUCATED AND EQUIPPED, WOMEN CAN BE BETTER CARE GIVERS, COMMUNITY EDUCATORS, MENTORS, INCOME EARNERS AND ROLE MODELS. WOMEN ARE SEEN AS ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO REVIVE AND REBUILD COMMUNITIES. SOHO PROGRAMS AT OUR WELCOME PLACES STRIVE TO EDUCATE, FEED, AND NURTURE ORPHANED CHILDREN, AS WELL AS EMPOWER WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT VULNERABLE CHILDREN FROM HARM.

HOPE SEEKERS ALLIANCE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE - THIS MOUNTAIN FARM WILL BE THE SITE OF A CHILDREN'S VILLAGE PROVIDING EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND BASIC HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN AT RISK. AGRICULTURE AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WILL HELP TO MAKE THE PROGRAM SUSTAINABLE WHILE ADDRESSING POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN THE AREA. A VISIT FROM GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ANDREWS UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE , BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN, RESULTED IN NURTURING SESSIONS THAT BENEFITTED MORE THAN 200. MEALS WERE PROVIDED DURING VISITS, CLOTHING WAS DISTRIBUTED, AND NEW BOOTS AND RAIN WEAR WERE DONATED TO ALL THE CHILDREN. MUSIC, PLAY THERAPY AND COUNSELING BROUGHT HOPE TO CHILDREN WHO KNOW A GREAT DEAL OF NEGLECT. A MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN AMONG YOUTH IS SUICIDE. THE TEAM OF 20 PROFESSIONALS VISITED SOHO PARTNER SCHOOL, EKUKHANYENI HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE ASSEMBLIES AND SMALL GROUP COUNSELING WERE HELD FOR 700 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE WAKE OF SIX SUICIDES OCCURRING WITHIN SIX MONTHS. SESSIONS WERE HELD WITH THE TEACHING STAFF OVER THE TWO DAY PERIOD. STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ROLE PLAY THEIR CONCERNS AS WELL AS ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS OF SOLUTIONS. A CAREER FAIR WAS ALSO CONDUCTED IN MANZINI, BY THE VISITING GROUP, FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN INTERIOR DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE. THE DISCUSSIONS WERE A WAY OF INSPIRING AND ENCOURAGING YOUTH WHO STRUGGLE IN A COUNTRY WHERE JOBS ARE FEW.