Woke up this morning found Debbie playing with her computer, just like a small child on Christmas morning. Opening a present before she was allowed to. Anyway her ability to go to each project with a computer and access the internet will increases our accountability and the support she can offer the more fledgling organisations.
We have a big meeting this morning and later we are going to visit Sethani a project right in the bottom of the valley situated next to the dam.
Just got back we are earlier today, this means we can have an early night. Big day tomorrow, Sethani again what a project absolutely buzzing! They are once again and all the better for it a project for the community run by the community. They have a resource centre, after school club and outreach programme and they are also running a peer gold mentor programme. They have their priorities right. Because of it’s community ethos it’s not targeted by crime its one of the first organisations I have ever been to that does not have a gate! Which to me is testament to how highly they are respected in the community that they help.
Alan and I are going to go and grab a burger now.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday 6th July 2010
I’m still trying to get over last night! Come as you like they said, if it wasn’t obvious we were visitors it was when we walked in! All said it was a great evening and just another reason why Rotary should be proud to have clubs and the members which it does. I’m still also trying to get over the fact they think Alan is my father and I think he is as well!
This morning we are visiting Gozololo (easy for you to say). We have a couple of other meetings and we need to get Debbie a laptop. Breakfast finished. Talk later.
What a day, weather has changed. Amazing really can go from hot to cold so quickly. I was so impressed with Gozololo. A proper community project run by the community for the community. They are doing some amazing things. They have secured a massive donation from Spar and receive a lot of food. They have a preschool, after school clubs and support multiple care givers. What’s also amazing is there are another two centres just like this in just the same positions in the community.
What I also like is their volunteers are also from the community. In return they receive a food parcel but I do not believe that’s there motivation for helping. Although like every charity Gozololo would and could do with more support which takes away a certain amount of uncertainty and offers increased security and allows them to keep doing the important parts. Unfortunately one dictates the other. Gozololo survives mainly on SA donations which in my opinion is an incredible feat and just goes to show its there you just need to find it!
This morning we are visiting Gozololo (easy for you to say). We have a couple of other meetings and we need to get Debbie a laptop. Breakfast finished. Talk later.
What a day, weather has changed. Amazing really can go from hot to cold so quickly. I was so impressed with Gozololo. A proper community project run by the community for the community. They are doing some amazing things. They have secured a massive donation from Spar and receive a lot of food. They have a preschool, after school clubs and support multiple care givers. What’s also amazing is there are another two centres just like this in just the same positions in the community.
What I also like is their volunteers are also from the community. In return they receive a food parcel but I do not believe that’s there motivation for helping. Although like every charity Gozololo would and could do with more support which takes away a certain amount of uncertainty and offers increased security and allows them to keep doing the important parts. Unfortunately one dictates the other. Gozololo survives mainly on SA donations which in my opinion is an incredible feat and just goes to show its there you just need to find it!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Monday the 5th July
Monday 5th July – Alan again – Charlie is still busy with technology issues!!
Today we visited 3 Rotary Club projects with Patrick Draper of Hillcrest Rotary Club – the first was:
Phinduvye Community Development Project – which is run by a lady called Jabu (yet another amazing yet totally unassuming woman). We saw a photo of this plot taken a year ago and the transformation is unbelieveable as is the work that this organisation undertake.
• They have a day care centre in a Wendy House for 30 children aged 9 months – 5 years – it is run as a community project with no fees paid.
• There is a lunchtime feeding programme for 110 chilldren.
• A community garden where they grow vegetables in car tyres as the ground is poor
• The Marianhill mobile clinic visits every Monday for HIV testing and general medical issues.
Amathubu (which means opportunity in Zulu) run by Suzi Lyons & Robert Zumu – I am sorry to be repetitive BUT yet again Suzi is a truly amazing woman – she has had a debilitating illness for 2 years, is confined to a wheelchair BUT her drive is to help people in the local community by building/rebuilding houses.
We visited 2 sites where this organisation has made a commitment to make a difference – the first is a property where Robert has built a house out of pre fabricated concrete fence panels (similar to Banbury buildings garages). This guy acquires second hand fence panels and converts them into houses – the benefit here is that they do not have to lay foundations and the time scale for building is far smarter. I suggested that he contact the manufacturers to see if they have reject panels and also from a PR perspective houses from fence panels!! The second is a site that they are hoping to undertake a similar project.
Robert also works with 9ocal teenagers to train them in building techniques.
Another project that has impressed us and I hope we can offer some support.
Our third project was SKADA – Street Kids+ Adult Education Development Association – this is a guy called Apollo who has no qualifications BUT has a real passion for helping these kids. Currently he has 32 youngsters on the project – the kids stay in 3 locations – a log cabin, a caravan outside the log cabin and 2 rooms in a hose close to where the kids go for vocational training. He also has a panel beating workshop. This guy is doing a good job but lacks management skills & would have to be closely monitored if we decided to fund him.
This evening we attended Hillcrest Rotary Club’s Induction evening – it is the start of the Rotary year and in the UK we call it the Handover meeting where the new President takes on the chain of office.
It was held at a rather upmarket retirement complex – most of the guys were in black tie or suits, a couple of guys were smart casual and then there was Charlie & I !! Having said all that it was a great evening of fellowship and we were accepted for who we were and not how we were dressed.
Today we visited 3 Rotary Club projects with Patrick Draper of Hillcrest Rotary Club – the first was:
Phinduvye Community Development Project – which is run by a lady called Jabu (yet another amazing yet totally unassuming woman). We saw a photo of this plot taken a year ago and the transformation is unbelieveable as is the work that this organisation undertake.
• They have a day care centre in a Wendy House for 30 children aged 9 months – 5 years – it is run as a community project with no fees paid.
• There is a lunchtime feeding programme for 110 chilldren.
• A community garden where they grow vegetables in car tyres as the ground is poor
• The Marianhill mobile clinic visits every Monday for HIV testing and general medical issues.
Amathubu (which means opportunity in Zulu) run by Suzi Lyons & Robert Zumu – I am sorry to be repetitive BUT yet again Suzi is a truly amazing woman – she has had a debilitating illness for 2 years, is confined to a wheelchair BUT her drive is to help people in the local community by building/rebuilding houses.
We visited 2 sites where this organisation has made a commitment to make a difference – the first is a property where Robert has built a house out of pre fabricated concrete fence panels (similar to Banbury buildings garages). This guy acquires second hand fence panels and converts them into houses – the benefit here is that they do not have to lay foundations and the time scale for building is far smarter. I suggested that he contact the manufacturers to see if they have reject panels and also from a PR perspective houses from fence panels!! The second is a site that they are hoping to undertake a similar project.
Robert also works with 9ocal teenagers to train them in building techniques.
Another project that has impressed us and I hope we can offer some support.
Our third project was SKADA – Street Kids+ Adult Education Development Association – this is a guy called Apollo who has no qualifications BUT has a real passion for helping these kids. Currently he has 32 youngsters on the project – the kids stay in 3 locations – a log cabin, a caravan outside the log cabin and 2 rooms in a hose close to where the kids go for vocational training. He also has a panel beating workshop. This guy is doing a good job but lacks management skills & would have to be closely monitored if we decided to fund him.
This evening we attended Hillcrest Rotary Club’s Induction evening – it is the start of the Rotary year and in the UK we call it the Handover meeting where the new President takes on the chain of office.
It was held at a rather upmarket retirement complex – most of the guys were in black tie or suits, a couple of guys were smart casual and then there was Charlie & I !! Having said all that it was a great evening of fellowship and we were accepted for who we were and not how we were dressed.
3rd and 4th of July
Saturday 3rd July – Alan
Today was a long journey to look at a project – we had an approach via our website www.gga.org.uk from an organisation called Masakhane, Port Shepstone (get your SA maps out!!) – SW of Durban.
They are a community based group serving an area of 26,000 and have been going for 7 years. They operate a nursery, youth activities, an OVC 10 week programme (Orphans & Vulnerable Children), a Youth Club, family visits using community social workers and a feeding programme in a local school.
Although established for 7 years they have a limited source of income and are looking for support to help them develop and become more self sustaining. The driving force behind the project is Lindiwe with support from a couple from Northern Ireland - an interesting project with potential.
Headed back to Durban and visited the Victoria Street Market – a real local experience with many beadwork, ethnic and similar items for sale and it was great to be able to haggle over prices!!
We had been invited to a Braai (BBQ) at the home of the leader of Ridge City and we felt it would be rude not to go!! It was so nice to be there as it was a genuine invitation with no “hard sell” approach. We met some really nice people and believe we can develop a relationship with this group
Sunday 4th July – Alan again – Charlie is busy with technology issues!!
We returned to St John’s (Itembalihle) to build a chicken enclosure as we feel this would be a good step up for them to have fresh eggs to supplement their food supplies. They already had a wood and stick structure and we decided to try and convert it at a very small cost by using materials that were already on site. The base was made up of cement roofing sheets (for those in the UK asbestos but don’t tell the Health & Safety!!). We then used a tarpaulin donated by Debbie our SA co-ordinator.
It was great to do a bit off “hands on” work – Thandiwe, her husband Sipho and lots of the children mucked in and helped us and 3.5 hours later we were complete – everyone was really pleased with the end product BUT the sobering issue was that across the hill (some 200 yards away) a grave was being prepared for a 6 year old girl from the community that had passed away on Friday. (Charlie here - Alan was desperate to build something! He was just not content with the lego I bought hime)!
We hosted a Braai (BBQ for those of you with short memories) at our accommodation for potential Board members for Goodwill & Growth for Africa SA. It was a great chance to network with people, some of whom have already supported us this last week, and to continue to promote the work that we are hoping to undertake in this area – views to die for!!
Today was a long journey to look at a project – we had an approach via our website www.gga.org.uk from an organisation called Masakhane, Port Shepstone (get your SA maps out!!) – SW of Durban.
They are a community based group serving an area of 26,000 and have been going for 7 years. They operate a nursery, youth activities, an OVC 10 week programme (Orphans & Vulnerable Children), a Youth Club, family visits using community social workers and a feeding programme in a local school.
Although established for 7 years they have a limited source of income and are looking for support to help them develop and become more self sustaining. The driving force behind the project is Lindiwe with support from a couple from Northern Ireland - an interesting project with potential.
Headed back to Durban and visited the Victoria Street Market – a real local experience with many beadwork, ethnic and similar items for sale and it was great to be able to haggle over prices!!
We had been invited to a Braai (BBQ) at the home of the leader of Ridge City and we felt it would be rude not to go!! It was so nice to be there as it was a genuine invitation with no “hard sell” approach. We met some really nice people and believe we can develop a relationship with this group
Sunday 4th July – Alan again – Charlie is busy with technology issues!!
We returned to St John’s (Itembalihle) to build a chicken enclosure as we feel this would be a good step up for them to have fresh eggs to supplement their food supplies. They already had a wood and stick structure and we decided to try and convert it at a very small cost by using materials that were already on site. The base was made up of cement roofing sheets (for those in the UK asbestos but don’t tell the Health & Safety!!). We then used a tarpaulin donated by Debbie our SA co-ordinator.
It was great to do a bit off “hands on” work – Thandiwe, her husband Sipho and lots of the children mucked in and helped us and 3.5 hours later we were complete – everyone was really pleased with the end product BUT the sobering issue was that across the hill (some 200 yards away) a grave was being prepared for a 6 year old girl from the community that had passed away on Friday. (Charlie here - Alan was desperate to build something! He was just not content with the lego I bought hime)!
We hosted a Braai (BBQ for those of you with short memories) at our accommodation for potential Board members for Goodwill & Growth for Africa SA. It was a great chance to network with people, some of whom have already supported us this last week, and to continue to promote the work that we are hoping to undertake in this area – views to die for!!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Friday 02/07/2010
We are getting a bit slack with keeping up, but we are busy, busy, busy! There’s so much to see still. Plus when you find the projects that are really make such a difference its hard to keep to schedules when you stay with them and watch their good work all day! Still we must and we do. This morning we met with Caroline Horn and 40 very noisy children all waiting for their weekend food supplement. We then went to tour a local valley Kwa-Ximba.
Afterwards we visited another valley Sankontshe where we met up with the local community health workers who also run a small NGO, feeding 194 orphans 3 times a week. They like others are struggling. They are frontline staff who are also expected to fundraise and manage the needs of the children against those of administration. For several reason each has become equally important as one dictates the success of the other. They need R4000 per month roughly £400 to run their programme, they have a small amount coming from the central government but it barely meets the need. Again when we get back we will see what we can do! We then went to the site of a house that will be built in conjunction with Goodwill and Growth for Africa and the help of the Scottish community in Brechin. We were very happy to see the area had been cleared and blocks at the ready once the builder has been primed the work will begin!
We then moved onto Georgedale to meet with the local ANC Councillor who represents 44,000 people in 3 separate areas. His name is Councillor Shabalala, charming guy and one who is profoundly popular with whom he represents. He has a rate of unemployment which would make your eyes water almost 70%. He faces huge challenges and it was an honour that he had taken the time to meet with us and that he was more than pleased we had shown an expression of interest to help projects in his area.
We then went to visit a house in Georgedale, there was a girl of 13 there, her sister who is twenty is very sick and at the clinic. In the corner of the plot of land lay two freshly dug graves, one for her Mother and Sister who had both died very recently. The house is starting to fall down and the girl’s father is also very sick and not living in the same area. I must point out that the area where we are focusing our attention has an HIV infection rate of 1 in 3 and that is of those who we know about. “Sick” 7 times out of 10 means HIV. Another interesting fact is that recently the South African Government acknowledged it would not reach its target of 80% of the people infected with HIV that would get the medicines which help to manage the disease and prolong life in a very ordinary way. Yet they just spent over £5 billion on a world cup! The girl of 13 Nomvula still manages to go to school but when we were shown her school shoes which had no sole and a school dress hen pecked with holes she had been fortunate to be allowed to continue. In South Africa you have to pay to go to school - no money no school in many circumstances, you must also have an immaculate uniform if not you can also be sent away. Nomvula must have an understanding principle for which she is lucky as many others are not. We took her dress away to repair it (no not Charlie or me) and Charlie is funding the purchase of a new pair of school shoes.
We then went on to meet Sithembakuye and their youth club after we fathomed Debbie’s directions (there was no right turn that’s all I will say). The concept of youth club is different from the UK – there was no table tennis, darts, pool, music etc - it was a discussion forum. There were 18 teenagers from 13 – 18 (14 boys & 4 girls) and the topic was the importance of HIV/Aids testing.
The majority of the discussion was in Zulu BUT it was obvious for me (alan) who speaks no Zulu that there was input from most of the individuals, there was some good banter, a lot of questions and answers AND some very serious moments – I found it really positive for these youngsters to have a youth leader who is guiding them through such a difficult topic which has impacted either directly or indirectly on all of them.
Afterwards we visited another valley Sankontshe where we met up with the local community health workers who also run a small NGO, feeding 194 orphans 3 times a week. They like others are struggling. They are frontline staff who are also expected to fundraise and manage the needs of the children against those of administration. For several reason each has become equally important as one dictates the success of the other. They need R4000 per month roughly £400 to run their programme, they have a small amount coming from the central government but it barely meets the need. Again when we get back we will see what we can do! We then went to the site of a house that will be built in conjunction with Goodwill and Growth for Africa and the help of the Scottish community in Brechin. We were very happy to see the area had been cleared and blocks at the ready once the builder has been primed the work will begin!
We then moved onto Georgedale to meet with the local ANC Councillor who represents 44,000 people in 3 separate areas. His name is Councillor Shabalala, charming guy and one who is profoundly popular with whom he represents. He has a rate of unemployment which would make your eyes water almost 70%. He faces huge challenges and it was an honour that he had taken the time to meet with us and that he was more than pleased we had shown an expression of interest to help projects in his area.
We then went to visit a house in Georgedale, there was a girl of 13 there, her sister who is twenty is very sick and at the clinic. In the corner of the plot of land lay two freshly dug graves, one for her Mother and Sister who had both died very recently. The house is starting to fall down and the girl’s father is also very sick and not living in the same area. I must point out that the area where we are focusing our attention has an HIV infection rate of 1 in 3 and that is of those who we know about. “Sick” 7 times out of 10 means HIV. Another interesting fact is that recently the South African Government acknowledged it would not reach its target of 80% of the people infected with HIV that would get the medicines which help to manage the disease and prolong life in a very ordinary way. Yet they just spent over £5 billion on a world cup! The girl of 13 Nomvula still manages to go to school but when we were shown her school shoes which had no sole and a school dress hen pecked with holes she had been fortunate to be allowed to continue. In South Africa you have to pay to go to school - no money no school in many circumstances, you must also have an immaculate uniform if not you can also be sent away. Nomvula must have an understanding principle for which she is lucky as many others are not. We took her dress away to repair it (no not Charlie or me) and Charlie is funding the purchase of a new pair of school shoes.
We then went on to meet Sithembakuye and their youth club after we fathomed Debbie’s directions (there was no right turn that’s all I will say). The concept of youth club is different from the UK – there was no table tennis, darts, pool, music etc - it was a discussion forum. There were 18 teenagers from 13 – 18 (14 boys & 4 girls) and the topic was the importance of HIV/Aids testing.
The majority of the discussion was in Zulu BUT it was obvious for me (alan) who speaks no Zulu that there was input from most of the individuals, there was some good banter, a lot of questions and answers AND some very serious moments – I found it really positive for these youngsters to have a youth leader who is guiding them through such a difficult topic which has impacted either directly or indirectly on all of them.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday 01/07/2010
Thursday 1st July - Alan is in the chair
We visited "1000 Hills Community Helpers" this was a project that was not on our orignal list to visit but it was suggested to us by a local Rotary contact and this was a real case of local knowledge being worth a great deal.The project began as a feeding programme in 1989, a year later it was realised that a community clinic was neede to cope with the impact of HIV/AIDS and the project has just developed and become a real flagship organisation - the place was buzzing, a real inspiration.
So what do they do - on average they feed 1,000 people a day, they run a free clinic 5 days a week (averages over1,300 per week) , they have a baby room, creche & pre school,community gardens project growing food to supplement the feeding programme, a skills development programme (Adult Basic Education Training,computer skills, an internet centre,a craft centre training people in sewing & beadwork and selling on to raise funds for the project,a library, a home based care scheme, a 4 x 4 ambulance which is on call 24/7 - do you get the impression that is a busy place?!! There was a holiday club for children yesterday and over 150 kids were taking part in activities.
The centre is run by Dawn Leppan with a fantastic team of staff and volunteers and we were just SO impressed by the phenomonal amount of hard work, care and attention that was evident in evry department we visited.
I find it hard to put into words exactly how good this organisation was - it had to be seen to be believed and I am hoping we can form a relationship with Dawn & her team.
We then headed off to Ridge City an organistion that has been going for 5 years approx.
They have a number of projects - Ridge Enterprise that offers loans for community members to set up their own businesses, a cluster foster care facility for 4 children, Ridge Cafe which offers food & drinks, background music and a TV, stocks convenience items and operates a soup kitchen once a week that feeds an average of 200, Ridge Youth which works with the disadvantaged (Arts Academy - dance, drama & music lessons) and a football programme.
A really good organisation that is always looking for other opportunities to develop and continue to serve this marginalised community and they are submitting some funding proposals for our consideration.
We visited "1000 Hills Community Helpers" this was a project that was not on our orignal list to visit but it was suggested to us by a local Rotary contact and this was a real case of local knowledge being worth a great deal.The project began as a feeding programme in 1989, a year later it was realised that a community clinic was neede to cope with the impact of HIV/AIDS and the project has just developed and become a real flagship organisation - the place was buzzing, a real inspiration.
So what do they do - on average they feed 1,000 people a day, they run a free clinic 5 days a week (averages over1,300 per week) , they have a baby room, creche & pre school,community gardens project growing food to supplement the feeding programme, a skills development programme (Adult Basic Education Training,computer skills, an internet centre,a craft centre training people in sewing & beadwork and selling on to raise funds for the project,a library, a home based care scheme, a 4 x 4 ambulance which is on call 24/7 - do you get the impression that is a busy place?!! There was a holiday club for children yesterday and over 150 kids were taking part in activities.
The centre is run by Dawn Leppan with a fantastic team of staff and volunteers and we were just SO impressed by the phenomonal amount of hard work, care and attention that was evident in evry department we visited.
I find it hard to put into words exactly how good this organisation was - it had to be seen to be believed and I am hoping we can form a relationship with Dawn & her team.
We then headed off to Ridge City an organistion that has been going for 5 years approx.
They have a number of projects - Ridge Enterprise that offers loans for community members to set up their own businesses, a cluster foster care facility for 4 children, Ridge Cafe which offers food & drinks, background music and a TV, stocks convenience items and operates a soup kitchen once a week that feeds an average of 200, Ridge Youth which works with the disadvantaged (Arts Academy - dance, drama & music lessons) and a football programme.
A really good organisation that is always looking for other opportunities to develop and continue to serve this marginalised community and they are submitting some funding proposals for our consideration.
Wednesday 31/06/2010
Morning all, well we have had our breakfast which once again beat expectations. The weather has turned here its gone very cold very quickly this morning we are meeting Sithembakuye. We have already agreed to fund there Grannie support programme, when twice a week 92 ladies who have become the main care givers ranging from 60 to 80+ years old, get together and almost have a forum, similar to a WI meeting I suppose. They participate in other activities including a Football team (We have been told they are very good, apparently they asked England for a warm up game but they declined – probably best for the English team already been embarrassed enough). They also have a net ball team.
We arrived there this morning at 10am, there where the Grannies (Gogo in Zulu) were all sat chatting and waiting for their morning meal prepared in a very small kitchen in a house which has only 4 rooms which during the week doubles up as a crèche for 26 children and one room with seven beds that sleeps 14 children from the age 2 – 17 years of age. There is one toilet and no shower (its the bucket again) Russell the founder of Sithembakuye is showing us round and at the same time running the operation with an army of volunteers from the community! Lionsraw an English charity which has done some amazing things and is based on the principle of helping the countries where the world cup is being held and bringing football fans to build and support projects – they are building Russell an extra building with a lot more space and showers!! Jon the founder is a very nice guy and asked that we have a chat so that we don’t double up our funding. He prepares legacies for all his projects and we of course agreed. Russell stands out and from the start he has been completely open about his monetary position and what comes from where, he has quotes for us he has ideas for us. However its very easy to get carried away and give huge amounts of money, which hinders rather than helps projects like Sithembakuye as they start new initiatives without the capacity this is not helpful. We have a great SA co-ordinator and all through out the trip we have formed some great connections we have actual opened up a great network and what’s refreshing is that gone are the days when people don’t want to support others and only concentrate on there projects. We have to start realising we are in this together, such a small amount if administered properly can make a huge difference. Just thinking of not throwing something away and rather donating it to a charity helps.
We had a really good discussion with Russell and talked about a way forward and we are very interested to help with his enterprise projects which he would involve his Gogos, we also want to offer him a route to market. We discussed what we would expect and how Debbie our co-ordinator would help alongside him to grow at a reasonable rate to create self sustainability not dependence.
Whilst in the valley where Sithembakuye was based we were pointed out a few mounds on the hill. This we were told is a mass grave for those who have died from HIV and have no money to be buried any differently. Cremation is not accepted in the Zulu Tradition. 4,500 people have been buried there in the last 4 years. Without the same respect and grief of those buried in the UK. That is 3 people per day, that’s mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters etc and worst of all children. In an area no bigger than a small village in the UK, all dying from poverty and HIV aids related diseases all of which in most cases in the UK are manageable or even curable.
The point is people like Russell and projects like Sithembakuye and others we have seen are making huge differences, changing the lives of so many and creating development albeit in a small pocket of South Africa but it has to start somewhere. Suffice to say we are both very impressed.
After this we went to Makaphutu which is a model project, they have achieved so much and they are what all projects should aspire to be. It makes a massive difference to see success like this and how our projects could be one day with the right support and management they can become as successful.
I myself have always compared charity and the work they do to a business. Children, Grannies, Mother, and their babies they are the profit. Donations are the investment. Although sometime the profit margins are tight the end product is priceless. Although this model is slightly dehumanising and takes away other factors, when you see what a nominal amount can do and what results that produces. A business that’s upon success and growth delivers development and betterment for others. Get it right now and in twenty years it maybe a very different picture and I may be out of the job and I truly hope so!
We arrived there this morning at 10am, there where the Grannies (Gogo in Zulu) were all sat chatting and waiting for their morning meal prepared in a very small kitchen in a house which has only 4 rooms which during the week doubles up as a crèche for 26 children and one room with seven beds that sleeps 14 children from the age 2 – 17 years of age. There is one toilet and no shower (its the bucket again) Russell the founder of Sithembakuye is showing us round and at the same time running the operation with an army of volunteers from the community! Lionsraw an English charity which has done some amazing things and is based on the principle of helping the countries where the world cup is being held and bringing football fans to build and support projects – they are building Russell an extra building with a lot more space and showers!! Jon the founder is a very nice guy and asked that we have a chat so that we don’t double up our funding. He prepares legacies for all his projects and we of course agreed. Russell stands out and from the start he has been completely open about his monetary position and what comes from where, he has quotes for us he has ideas for us. However its very easy to get carried away and give huge amounts of money, which hinders rather than helps projects like Sithembakuye as they start new initiatives without the capacity this is not helpful. We have a great SA co-ordinator and all through out the trip we have formed some great connections we have actual opened up a great network and what’s refreshing is that gone are the days when people don’t want to support others and only concentrate on there projects. We have to start realising we are in this together, such a small amount if administered properly can make a huge difference. Just thinking of not throwing something away and rather donating it to a charity helps.
We had a really good discussion with Russell and talked about a way forward and we are very interested to help with his enterprise projects which he would involve his Gogos, we also want to offer him a route to market. We discussed what we would expect and how Debbie our co-ordinator would help alongside him to grow at a reasonable rate to create self sustainability not dependence.
Whilst in the valley where Sithembakuye was based we were pointed out a few mounds on the hill. This we were told is a mass grave for those who have died from HIV and have no money to be buried any differently. Cremation is not accepted in the Zulu Tradition. 4,500 people have been buried there in the last 4 years. Without the same respect and grief of those buried in the UK. That is 3 people per day, that’s mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters etc and worst of all children. In an area no bigger than a small village in the UK, all dying from poverty and HIV aids related diseases all of which in most cases in the UK are manageable or even curable.
The point is people like Russell and projects like Sithembakuye and others we have seen are making huge differences, changing the lives of so many and creating development albeit in a small pocket of South Africa but it has to start somewhere. Suffice to say we are both very impressed.
After this we went to Makaphutu which is a model project, they have achieved so much and they are what all projects should aspire to be. It makes a massive difference to see success like this and how our projects could be one day with the right support and management they can become as successful.
I myself have always compared charity and the work they do to a business. Children, Grannies, Mother, and their babies they are the profit. Donations are the investment. Although sometime the profit margins are tight the end product is priceless. Although this model is slightly dehumanising and takes away other factors, when you see what a nominal amount can do and what results that produces. A business that’s upon success and growth delivers development and betterment for others. Get it right now and in twenty years it maybe a very different picture and I may be out of the job and I truly hope so!
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