ROKPA Times November 2020 EN

SOUTH AFRICA
Hearing with the heart: Libulele
Libulele Simani is seven years old and deaf since birth. He
lives with his family in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, one of the
largest slums in the world. Being deaf is not his only misfortune:
his grandmother and uncle, who have been feeding the
family up to now, have been unemployed since the lockdown.
The nationwide curfew has pulled the rug out from under the
feet of the family of 12 – but especially of Libulele.
South Africa has fallen into a deep crisis. Not only because of
the health consequences of the coronavirus, but also because of
its economic ones. Libulele's grandmother worked as a home
help, her uncle was a performance artist. Both have lost their
jobs.
The beginning of an education crisis
Since schools were closed at the end of March, all children have
had to stay at home for the foreseeable future. Libulele is no
exception. He is increasingly losing his connection to school, as
he lacks paper and school supplies. He doesn't want to play
outside as children of the same age bully him because of his
deafness. In addition, the 12 family members live together in a
very confined space. The tensions between them are growing.
Libulele often feels sad and hopeless.
The “Izandla Zobomi” project (Hands for Life)
Together with UNIMA SA, the South African Association of
Puppetry, ROKPA, and therefore YOU, are helping around 100
families who have been plunged into crisis because of COVID-19.
The Simani family is one of them. First and foremost, physical
well-being was taken care of and food was distributed. Libulele's
uncle says: "When Libulele saw the food packages, he was
overwhelmed. He could not believe that people were coming to
help."
Libulele is happy. Not only can he study again, he can now also
draw and do crafts.
Food for the body and the soul
Children need something to do, but many families cannot afford
pens and notebooks. Therefore, in addition to food, learning and
craft materials were distributed as well as craft ideas for the
whole family.
Handicrafts help develop children’s fine motor skills, while joint
activities in turn strengthen cohesion in the family. Violence can
thus be reduced. This project also strengthens the sense of
community within the township: the approximately 100 families
work together to make dolls and wooden figures which are sold
locally and internationally.
A food package for a family
contains flour, rice, beans,
vegetables, pasta, powdered
milk, tea, salt, soap,
bandages, detergents and
cleaning products.
Photo: © Luke Younge
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