About

About Linawo

Why South Africa?

South Africa is struggling to manage one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world and many, many children are orphaned or abandoned due to this disease. In addition, despite the desire and efforts of many energetic and passionate South Africans of all races, the poverty, unemployment and lack of education caused by years of apartheid are still having a big impact on the daily lives of many people in the country.  Homes like Linawo serve an important need of caring for children who are orphaned or abandoned due to the difficult consequences of poverty and HIV/AIDS.

How did Linawo Children’s Home get started?

Ivy Konisi started the Linawo Children’s Home in 2002 when a dying mother asked her to care for her child. Ivy saw an urgent need in her community to care for some children whose parents, for a variety of reasons, were unable to care for them. Ivy’s children’s home has grown since its inception and she now has 15 children, ages 2 to 13 years, in her care. She has several caregivers who work closely with her and a Board of Directors which oversees the operations of the Home. The love and commitment that Ivy has shown these children are extraordinary.

Where is Linawo Children’s Home?

Linawo is now located in Pinelands, a community in Cape Town, South Africa.  Linawo ‘s previous location was Khayelitsha, South Africa, the largest township in Cape Town that lies about 30 minutes from the city center.

 

How to Help

There are many ways to help Linawo and support the efforts of Friends of Linawo.  Please consider making a donation, posting pictures of your personal experiences with the children on this website or joining a trip to visit Linawo.  Read on to find out how to help.

How can I donate?

You may make a tax-deductible donation through Women Like Us Foundation either online or by sending a check in the mail.  Please note that 10% of your tax-deductible donation, made through Women Like Us Foundation, will go toward worthy projects designed by the Women Like Us foundation.  90% of the money donated in this way will go to Linawo Children’s Home. 

Please click here DONATE NOW to make a donation online. Please indicate that your donation is for Friends of Linawo Children’s Home.  In addition, please email Amy at agleason1221@gmail.comwith the amount of your donation for our records.  

To make a tax-deductible donation by check, please write your check to Women Like Us Foundation with Friends of Linawo in the memo line.  Please send this to Friends of Linawo, c/o Amy Gleason, PO Box 1334, Concord, MA 01742.

What are the Home’s needs at this time?

Linawo has an ongoing need for items involved in the basic care of the children.  These items include food, clothing, bedding, toiletries, school uniforms and school supplies.  Funds raised through Friends of Linawo are used for urgent items in these categories unless another designation is indicated by a donor.

Donors may also contribute to Linawo's building fund to help pay off the cost of their current home or to Linawo's Education Fund to help support the schooling and tutoring of the children.

 

Linawo would benefit greatly from a vehicle that could hold all of the children.  Currently, they must rent a vehicle to take the children on any outings.  The total cost of buying and maintaining a vehicle is approximately $38,000, but a donation in any amount toward the purchase of a vehicle would be helpful.

I would like to make a small donation.  Will this make a difference?

Any amount will go a long way in helping Ivy to provide support for the children’s daily needs.  Here are some examples of the current costs of taking care of the children.

Food for one child: $60/month

New Sneakers for all of the children:  $165

School fees for one child: $55/year

School books for one child: $40/year

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes. Our umbrella organization, Women Like Us Foundation, is an American non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status. After making your donation, you will receive a thank you note from the Women Like Us Foundation which will serve as your receipt for your donation.  In addition, if you donate online, you will receive immediately a receipt from Paypal by email.

How do I know that the money will be used properly?

We have witnessed Linawo to be a stable children’s home, and it is clear to us that Ivy has committed her life to bringing up these children as well as she can. Friends of Linawo is working closely with Ivy and Heather Wonnacott (chairperson of the Board of Directors of Linawo) to ensure that the money raised will be used appropriately. The Board of Directors of the home will oversee and provide documentation of the use of any funds we provide. Members of Friends of Linawo also plan to visit regularly to stay connected on a personal level and to consult with Ivy and the Board about changing needs and issues.

I am interested in joining a service trip to South Africa. How can I find out more?

Please contact Amy Gleason at agleason1221@gmail.com if you are interested in joining other Americans on a trip. The next trip planned is for the summer of 2012.

If you are interested in organizing your own trip, please contact South African Michael Gathercole at mikeg@2waytravel.org to work with 2 Way Travel directly to plan your trip.

I have visited the children and would like to post some pictures or description of my travel on this website.  What should I do?

We would LOVE to learn more about your time with the children.  Please send pictures and prose to Amy Gleason at agleason1221@gmail so she can post them.  Thank you for sharing!