Charlie - Very cold last night in SA, but woke up in the heat this morning. Complete calm apart from Alan as he wakes up and goes to the shower, and they say young people don't have manners! We have a great breakfast and I'm berated for being late.
We left for our first project Ithembalihle - drive on the main road for a couple of kilometres and then Debbie says its up here. It doesn't look to bad 30 seconds in and the Toyota Yaris (less power than a hair dryer) struggles it's way up whilst the words of the car rental ring in my ear "undercarriage damage is completely liable to the person renting the car". This road was made to claim the lives of such small vehicles. As we approach Ithembalihle you can see it well in the distance and Alan and I both described it as a beacon! its a bright blue and white building set against the sun scorched earth of Sankontshe Valley. We pull in and we are greeted by Thandiwe, Ithemablihle's founder. She shows us round and we discuss her circumstances - a truly remarkable woman of which you will have to visit our website or come to a talk to find out more. The children are not used to visitors let alone white people and hide in the shade and the house, they look once or twice and then run back inside once we catch eye contact. The place has a feeling that is of comfort and don't get me wrong its far from plush! They have a discarded oil drum which acts as the boiler and they use it to warm water for showers (which is standing in a bucket and washing yourself). One thing that sticks in my mind is the number of children Thandiwe has taken in already and the way in which she reacts to applause for what she has done - it goes beyond modesty its simply what she has done and that is all she feels no more and no less than what someone may do in her opinion. So much need and so hard to prioritise. The children have roughly 7 mattresses and less blankets - they all sleep on the floor in the same room from aged 3 to 17. After handing out some donations we say our goodbyes and head for lunch with some Rotary members. We then spent the afternoon at Lily of the Valley another organisation of which I have to say is amazing in what it has achieved and continues to do so.
Now its Alan's turn to give his take!
Firstly I have to say that it is now 10pm UK time and Charlie has gone to bed - these youngsters, no staying power!!
I don't want to be repetitive BUT all I can say is that Thandiwe is a remarkable woman - she gave up a good job as sales Manager with a good salary & company car, left her husband & 2 grown up sons to move to this area to help and support this community. The compound houses a building with 5 rooms, a small church/meeting room, a toilet block with no running water (although they do have a tap in the compound) and the shower room that Charlie has already described!!
This place is the hub of the community - the children are fed and IF there is anything left it is given to local community members who drop in to socialise in the hope that they MAY get some food. What a humbling experience to witness but if it wasn't for the efforts of Thandiwe things would be so much worse. In fine weather all the cooking is done outside on open fires in a "witches cauldron" - the children queue for their meal, no pushing or shoving, and some have to wait until one of the other kids has finished so that they can use a spoon or fork - some eat with their fingers and all the kids are made to wash their hands whilst in the food queue - just in case.
Did you know that 27,000 children, under the age of 5, die daily from poverty related diseases!!
Thandiwe has a clock in the kitchen which was not working - I put a spare battery from my camera case into the clock, set the time and walked out with it to show her - you would think she had won the lottery - so modest, so remarkable, so humble and despite everything so positive - for those of you that know me you won't be surprised to hear that I really want to help this lady.
I am a Rotarian and we met up with 3 Rotarians from 3 seperate local Clubs and we are hoping to be able to work with or with support from these guys - some of the projects they are involved in are amazing, the work they are doing in this area is inspirational - congratulations to you all.
Following the World Cup - pause for a moment and think - we are 25 miles from Durban - the new stadium is amazing, the infrastructure has been totally upgraded BUT at what cost? - just think what that money could have done for Thandiwe and thousands of others in the 25 mile radius.
It's goodnight from me & it's goodnight from him!!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday 28th June 2010
Monday 28th June - ALAN
9am UK time and we are sat in Jo'burg waiting for our connection to Durban. Seems a long time since we left Banbury at 3.30pm yesterday! Does anyone know the football result? Second again - we thought we might see the guys heading home!!
Flight was great, only 11 hours, and I am really looking forward to getting to Kwa Zulu Natal and looking at some projects. After our transfer to Durban we picked up a hire car and drove 25 miles to our B + B - arriving at 2pm UK time (22.5 hours jouney time BUT what a view from our terrace!! - makes it all worthwhile).
It is my first time in South Africa and I am a little apprehensive (ask my wife, Sue, she will confirm this) - as many of you know I have been involved in Sierra Leone for the last 5 years BUT this is a new challenge for me personally and I have mixed emotions as I am outside my comfort zone and know very little about the area we are visiting and don't speak Zulu!! - despite the 6 page crib sheet that Charlie gave me b4 we came away!
Really strange I left the UK near Midsummer but here we are in SA and it is dark at 5.30pm!!
Charlie -
Well the flight all I can say is I did recieve a phone call and she did allow me an extra 5kg's, so a vist to the baggae shop and a very hot and sweaty twenty minutes later we were able to check in!
To be honest I still hadnt thought of our final destination and it dawned on me only as we landed. I had left South Africa only 7 months earlier after being there for 19 months. South Africa is a country were I left part of my heart and it was given back to me as soon as I walked of the plane. After our connection and hirring our car I drove, unaided by maps or directions I knew this place like I know England it was home from home. We arrived at our wonderful BB with a view of which you dream of. We unloaded and made our way to Gods Golden Acre, I was so nervous I did not know what to expect, would they remember me? would they be happy to see me? The answer I'm so fortunate to say is yes. There were a few people I wanted to see one was Asanda, one of the children I myself brought to shelter at GGA she was perfect, perfectly formed and natured and happy to come to me. Asanda is one of a few people that I have thought about everyday since I left. Here she was all very surreal, all a bit too much. Even though I met Asanda when she was 3 days old and she bathed in my sink spent the afternoon in my office and napped with me on a sunday aftyernoon she didnt know me anymore. She like so many people in South Africa, continues to survive and still with a smile on her face. I look forward to hopefully spending more time with her in the next few weeks!
Afterwards we met some old friends and went for Dinner, of which I was the main humourous topic! Until Alan tried to speak Zulu!!!
One day down already so much to do and see, Im just concerned whether Alan can keep up as he seniority is a concern to me! - Im preparing a funding propsalfor a Zimmer frame after I have done this!
9am UK time and we are sat in Jo'burg waiting for our connection to Durban. Seems a long time since we left Banbury at 3.30pm yesterday! Does anyone know the football result? Second again - we thought we might see the guys heading home!!
Flight was great, only 11 hours, and I am really looking forward to getting to Kwa Zulu Natal and looking at some projects. After our transfer to Durban we picked up a hire car and drove 25 miles to our B + B - arriving at 2pm UK time (22.5 hours jouney time BUT what a view from our terrace!! - makes it all worthwhile).
It is my first time in South Africa and I am a little apprehensive (ask my wife, Sue, she will confirm this) - as many of you know I have been involved in Sierra Leone for the last 5 years BUT this is a new challenge for me personally and I have mixed emotions as I am outside my comfort zone and know very little about the area we are visiting and don't speak Zulu!! - despite the 6 page crib sheet that Charlie gave me b4 we came away!
Really strange I left the UK near Midsummer but here we are in SA and it is dark at 5.30pm!!
Charlie -
Well the flight all I can say is I did recieve a phone call and she did allow me an extra 5kg's, so a vist to the baggae shop and a very hot and sweaty twenty minutes later we were able to check in!
To be honest I still hadnt thought of our final destination and it dawned on me only as we landed. I had left South Africa only 7 months earlier after being there for 19 months. South Africa is a country were I left part of my heart and it was given back to me as soon as I walked of the plane. After our connection and hirring our car I drove, unaided by maps or directions I knew this place like I know England it was home from home. We arrived at our wonderful BB with a view of which you dream of. We unloaded and made our way to Gods Golden Acre, I was so nervous I did not know what to expect, would they remember me? would they be happy to see me? The answer I'm so fortunate to say is yes. There were a few people I wanted to see one was Asanda, one of the children I myself brought to shelter at GGA she was perfect, perfectly formed and natured and happy to come to me. Asanda is one of a few people that I have thought about everyday since I left. Here she was all very surreal, all a bit too much. Even though I met Asanda when she was 3 days old and she bathed in my sink spent the afternoon in my office and napped with me on a sunday aftyernoon she didnt know me anymore. She like so many people in South Africa, continues to survive and still with a smile on her face. I look forward to hopefully spending more time with her in the next few weeks!
Afterwards we met some old friends and went for Dinner, of which I was the main humourous topic! Until Alan tried to speak Zulu!!!
One day down already so much to do and see, Im just concerned whether Alan can keep up as he seniority is a concern to me! - Im preparing a funding propsalfor a Zimmer frame after I have done this!
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