History

Organisational Background

1999: Frank Mashego, lecturer at Petra College for Children’s Ministry outside Hazyview together with colleagues founded the Sizabantwana Project after realising the need to care for orphans in the area between White River and Hazyview. For the first few months only a small number of orphans were cared for, while Frank completed his theological training, followed by a specialized training course in Children’s Ministry.

2000: After his graduation in March 2000 Frank Mashego was able to give his full attention to the project. Within weeks the number of volunteers had grown to 10, and with them the number of children being cared for went up to 80 plus, with new children being added daily. The tribal community got involved in the project and Mr. Mashego successfully handed over the project to them. Frank then focused his services on the Bushbuckridge area.

2005: Members of the Dutch Reformed Church of Hazyview heard of the dire needs in their community. Together, Mr Mashego, the Dutch Reformed Church and local businessmen of Hazyview took hands in 2005 and officially formed the SizaBantwana Children Benefit Organisation and registered it with the required institutions as a non-profit organisation.

2006-2007: SizaBantwana approached farmers, local business men and companies to support their cause which at that stage focused all its attention on the Impilo Project.

2008 (First half) SiazaBantwana completed the construction of a multi-purpose care centre at Impilo and extended its care to 76 children. The number of orphans that daily visit this centre has since grown to around 120.

July 2008: Amukelani care centre was established. The number of orphans that are taken care of at his centre has grown from an initial 30 to 90 children at the end of December 2008.

Nov 2008: Management committee adopted a resolution to take the Philisani / Shabalala project under its wings. This project comprises of three satellite care centres. The project was established by the local community of Shabalala (a township outside Hazyview), but has become dysfunctional due to a lack of financial support and management capacity. At the end of December 2008 the three centres were caring for 230 orphaned children.