The History and Location of Ingwavuma Orphan Care

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Location - Open Map

The town of Ingwavuma is situated high in the Lebombo mountains in Northern KwaZulu Natal. It would be a border town with Swaziland if Cecil Macks Pass was open. The town has one main road with the Hospital, Shopping Centre and Women's Centre on the first hill and the Post Office, prison, Welfare Department, Home Affairs, Magistrate's Court on the second hill. Houses and homesteads are scattered over the hillside, so it is hard to say where the town starts and finishes. The town also boasts one of the palaces of the Zulu King complete with airstrip on its outskirts, although it is rarely used as royal residence.

However, Ingwavuma Orphan Care does not just work in the town, but spreads its services over the 3 surrounding tribal areas which cover about 2100km2. It reaches in the north up to the border of Mozambique on each side of Ndumu Game Reserve. In the South the area is bordered by the huge Pongola Dam, and the Pongola river complete with crocodiles and hippos runs northwards up its eastern boundary. The Western side of the area is the Lebombo mountain range while the Eastern side is the sandy flat flood plains of the Pongola River.

History of Ingwavuma Orphan Care

Dr Ann Dean came from the UK to work at Mosvold Hospital in 1997. At that time there was huge stigma and denial associated with the AIDS epidemic while statistics were showing a dramatic rise in cases. Frustrated that the government was not doing enough to tackle this emerging crisis, Dr Ann researched what was being done in South Africa and other countries and then started to fundraise to put together a package of care which would start to fill the gaps in service provision. A visit to God's Golden Acre near Pietermaritzburg in 1999 had a profound effect on her. As she listened to a group of orphaned children singing to her, the vision of Ingwavuma Orphan Care was born. "It was as if a thunderbolt hit my heart and I knew that I had to do something to help the children in Ingwavuma" she says.

In June 2000 Ingwavuma Orphan Care was formally registered as a non profit organisation. The project grew rapidly and when more funding came in it was followed by the Home Based Care Project and a HIV prevention project in 2002. These all started under the umbrella of the hospital and Friends of Mosvold Trust, but as the demands grew and the work expanded, the organization moved out of the hospital in January 2004 into its own centre on land donated by one of the local tribes. Dr Ann also gave up her post at the hospital to become full time Medical Director, supported by her church in the UK.

Almost all the staff have been recruited from the communities that the project serves. Over the years they have been growing in skills and confidence so that they are better able to support the people they serve. Many have taken orphans into their own families and see the work they do as a vocation rather than just a job.

We cover a huge area, including all the following places (they're like hamlets):

Mpondwane
Sikhandane
Eziphunzini
Ndabeni
Sakoleni
Gwaliweni
Entombeni
Mhlahlandlela
Jangeni
Escabeni
Emthonjeni
Magugu
Elangeni
Manhlali
Nkondosini
Kwallatha
Emkhontweni
Lwidizwe
Okhakweni
Khwelelani
Mambuzikazi
Lundini
Nkoyoyweni
Mahlabashana
Emachobeni
Emanguzi
Mpangasi
Phophopho
Ntabeyengwe
Emlambongwenya
Nyamane
KwaJona
Sovana
JP Area
Velaphi
Emabhanoyini
Ophondweni
Endabeni
Nkongwane
Mgabadeli
Esingeni
Emsiyane
Ohskindoda
Edanistini
Thakani
Engagwini
Emhlangeni
Emabheshwini
Ezinhlabeni
Ezakheleni
Dumoni
Emathayeni
Nomgidi
Ezinbengeni
Kwashukelo
KwaShamu
Gawule
Makhanes
Sizani
Emsizini
Esikomi
Emakhabeni
Mwayi
Mbundwini
Mthanti
Mnothophansi
Futhululu
Munywane
Empake
Eziphosheni
Emagwanga
Emphandeni
Emadeya
Emunywana
Mbekwane
Mkhayeni
Mgedule
Nxangikhona
Mbandleni
Emthonjaneni
Magwanga
Emkhayeni
Khume
Mabona
Mashewalane
Maphekane
Emqokoweni
Endabeni
Macbibi
Nphakazana
Eluqageni
Emsizini
Emaphayipini
Dedefani
Enqonyameni
Enkumgwini
Ezanhleni

Funders

Our partners are important to us for their financial support and for the relationships and mutual learning that is possible. Our major funders were:

1999/2000:	The AIDS Foundation of South Africa DG Murray Trust
2000/2001:	The AIDS Foundation of South Africa
2001/2002:	The AIDS Foundation of South Africa Sunday Times Charity Crossword Friends of the Children of Southern Africa RB Haggart Foundation
2002/2003:	The AIDS Foundation of South Africa Investec Bank Desmond Leech Bequest
2003/2004:	The AIDS Foundation of South Africa The Elton John AIDS Foundation Friends of the Children of Southern Africa Community Care Centres RB Haggart Trust Mercury Phoenix Trust The American Consulate GA Niven Trust Investec Bank
2004/2005:	The AIDS Foundation of South Africa Johnnic Communications The Elton John AIDS Foundation Friends of the Children of Southern Africa The Global Fund (through South Coast Hospice) Nelson Mandela's Children Fund Mercury Phoenix Trust The Rural Health Initiative GA Niven Trust
2005/2006:	Artists for a New South Africa The AIDS Foundation of South Africa Johnnic Communications The Elton John AIDS Foundation The European Union Friends of the Children of Southern Africa CHABHA Community Care Centres The Global Fund (through South Coast Hospice) The Isle of Man Development Agency iThemba Ingwavuma Orphan Trust Fund of New Zealand
2006/2007:	Artists for a New South Africa The AIDS Foundation of South Africa Johnnic Communications The Elton John AIDS Foundation The European Union Friends of the Children of Southern Africa CHABHA Community Care Centres The Global Fund (through South Coast Hospice) iThemba Ingwavuma Orphan Trust Fund of New Zealand The Tides Foundation The DG Murray Trust