Tsabong families affected by HIV and AIDS Appeal

Help improve the lives of families in Tsabong by funding new housing, fresh food and clothes

Tsabong is the administrative capital of the Kgalagadi District of Botswana with a population of around 3000 people. It is located in the Kalahari and the climate is harsh. The rains are unreliable and temperatures range from the high 40s C in summer (November to February) to well below freezing during the winter nights of August.

HIV infection rates in Tsabong, like much of southern Africa, are very high. Although the government of Botswana is able to provide free anti-retroviral drugs to all its people, many thousands of families are still badly affected by the illness. The loss of a mother or father leads to great hardship both emotionally and financially. When a family member gets sick, it is often difficult to keep up with the constant maintenance a simple mud/dung house needs and it becomes more difficult to replace children's clothes and buy nutritious food.

Over the last few years Sister Teresa has been helping the famiies and orphans of Tsabong affected by HIV. She provides food parcels, new clothes, co-ordinates a scheme to help families improve their traditional homes and provides new homes for families affected by HIV and AIDS. This has made a huge difference to hundreds of lives. It provides security to children whose parents have either died or are too sick to provide for them any longer. Much of the building work has been done at cost price by the Thomas' of nearby Berry Bush. Their help means houses can be built for a little as £2900.

We want to help Teresa by raising cash so she can continue to help the children in Tsabong and keep provding clothes, food and shelter.

The approximate costs for doing this are:

£2900 will provide a new house

£1500 will provide food parcels for 36 families four times a year

£400 a year will provide blankets for 200 destitute and elderly people

£300 per year will provide track suits for orphaned children

£100 per month will provide weekly vegetables for 9 families, fruit for 50 orphans or a self help shelters (to improve existing traditional homes)

Click here to view a slideshow of what can be done