She joined the project in 2001. The drop-in centre looks after orphans and vulnerable children. Under Ms Thobejane, Fanang Diatla provides the children with three meals a day, a centre with carers to help with arising needs, life skills and supports the children with their education. In addition to being a single mother with five of her own children, Ms Thobejane personally looks after and is mother to five aids orphans with no extended family to care for them, three of whom are HIV positive. Fanang Diatla’s Project Manager, Agnes Qwabe, advised us that Ms Thobejane helped set up and now mentors six similar pilot projects in Bodultlolo, Mphaaneng, Mampa, Malomanye and two other areas. These six drop-in centres under Ms Thobejane’s mentorship care for 1096 orphans and vulnerable children. Ms Thobejane says she must be there to help these children as “they may be tomorrow’s president”. The children help create an income by making and selling juice and mango achar. Ms Thobejane’s dream is to get enough funding for the children to have tertiary level schooling.
