Umtha, South Africa
Umtha means ‘ray of light’ in the Xhosa language. Umtha is a Cape Town based organisation, which provides training and employment for previously disadvantaged women. Their employees range from single mothers and/or HIV positive women who live, mostly, in the nearby slum. Because of their status they would otherwise find it difficult to get any work at all.
Umtha operates under their own “Black Empowerment Policy” which seeks to recognise and encourage native African leadership.
The business is run commercially but is a ministry centre of it’s own as the workers pray and share together regularly. Their prayer points are worth crying over as you see the basic needs they are asking God for, as they live in the midst of the insecurity of the slum.
They produce wonderful jewellery.
TABISA’S STORY
(in her own words)
I am Tabisa France, 26 years old and started working at Umtha in 1999. I was at school at that time for half the day and at work the other half. I work with people older than me. I was very happy to work with them and I still am happy.
As years went by I found out I was getting sick in 2004. It was TB (tuberculosis). But in 2005 I got sick again when I thought the TB had gone. I took a blood test. I was told that I am HIV positive. I told my mother (who also works at Umtha), and she told Dave and Cheryl [Umtha coordinators]. I have accepted it, although it was difficult. My mother and her family, and also Dave and Cheryl are on my side.
I am taking anti-retroviral [HIV medication] and eating healthy food. I visit the clinic near my home every morning and get an injection, before coming to work.
There is one thing that I know - there is a future ahead of me, and I’m working today. I ask God to give me many more years to live. When I was sick everyone was shocked when they saw me. There is no sickness going to rule my life. It’s only God, that is my life.
