Weekend in Africa

On saturday we had a funeral. It was not of someone I knew but the father of some boys I know. It is very sad to see them suffer. It was a nice funeral, lots of singing, crying and dancing. It took for around 5 hours. What mostly chocked me that the sons were not near the mother the whole day. They were among friends. They really had a hard time.



On sunday we went to a church. Not because I am religious but just to enjoy the people singing. Each time I go in a church or hear these people sing and pray to the Lord, I wonder why is the Lord not hearing them? Why do these people have to suffer so much? I do get sad thinking about it. When we got there they already started singing. The man who runs the church is a very kind cheerfull person who does a lot of things for the community. He gave us a warm welcome and we were presented to the people. It´s a time of joy and sadness at the same time.

I am also enjoying my time

As I do get the question often if I enjoy my life here and if I take time off. O yes I do!!! One of our guest took me last week out for a day in Durban. We were going to see the Women expo that was here for 4 day but when we arrived there was nothing.....after asking some people we found out that the tent was build up the day before but they had to break it down again as the licencees were not correct. One friendly lady, which was one of the organisation, told us it would be build up again at night and that she will send me a text message when it will start again. We are still waiting for that. But as it was at the beach in Durban we spend our time well at the beach.

After lunch we went to visit another friend of us, she works at Umthombo project http://www.be-more.org/be-more-en/projects/umthombo in Durban centre. While she was still working we took our time and tried some coctails.........

She stayed with us for the weekend. At night we went for diner at a nice restaurant in Durban centre before we went back to Crestholme.

Not doing bad !!!!!!!

Give a helping hand Isolubantu

Friday we left early in the morning to collect some beds (13 beds) Gunter got them donated from overseas. We were meeting today with the organisation Isolubantu This organisation is created by people from the community. Great people that do not have theirselfs the finance to even get their own food every day on the table but do have a big heart and good ears to listen to the people in need. They have a list of "clients", as they call them, and they are around their own neigbourhood. Although neigbourhood is here a big word because it might be 10km away from where they live. As they do not have transportation they do it all by foot. We were told that on friday we will be going to two schools and 13 houses to bring the beds. At the first school we met the director and the teachers. Also a local newspaper came by to do an interview. And there were pictures taken. At the school we got to know two beautifull children they were choosen by the school director to be the lucky ones to get a new bed. They were choosen as they are orphanes and to be one of the poorest at the school. While we were waiting I went walking around the school, the lunch break just started so children were everywhere, I smilled to all and felt realy happy walking around them. But it became a bit strange as they were shy, they looked at me and just started laughing at me, and pointing fingers at me. I was the strange object at the school!!!!! Never realised that I could be an outsider!! When we finished at the school we all (including the kids)got in to the car (pick up car) and trailer.

After that we went to the second school where we also met the director and teachers. Other two children were presented to us and one of the grandmothers was there.The other grandmother was on her way but we will meet her on the road. Later I realised how far away this grandmother had to walk to come and meet us at school. +/- 7 km with a lot of hills and here grandchild has to do it every day. Luckely we met her and she could join us in the pickup car. Then we started our tour to pass by every house that the organisation Isolubantu had planned for that day. I realy was impressed, sad and happy on the other side to see which kind of houses we were going to. In the beautifull country side where we were,we stopped at the most poorest houses I have ever seen. Some people had to make space for the bed as they just have such a little house and the only thing they own is for an example a little cupboard with no doors is already taking space in the house. One house we only entered with 4 of us to prepare the bed and when they finished they hardly could get out and the door could not open anymore. I am very happy to know that this organisation will take care for this people and that they are not left behind. Although they can not help them with finance they can help with listening and give them advice. For me it was a great experience, the whole day driving in the back of a pickup, seeing the beautifull country, see people smile after they received the bed, my first sugarcane chewing, be surounded by great loving people and I even got a Zulu name Bongiwe.....which means someting like Thank you......I hope you can feel what I felt looking at the pictures.

Team Isolubantu

1st school

The two orphans

The Orphans 2nd school

2nd school

Let´s goooooooo

Just kids on their own

Caregiver

Sugarcane

Bye Bye

Long walks

We can not fit

Door can not open

Go guys !

Finally at his house

Yes a bed

Happy? Do you see me?

All together

Talk to the client

Isolubanto keep up the great work.............

Visit to spain

I just got back from my visit to Madrid. Just before I left South Africa I was not feeling well because of a tick bite. Luckely I could go to a hospital just before taking the plane. After a long flight with a high fever I arrived in Madrid. It was nice to be back for a week. The first days I had to recover from my flight and tick. Luckely my mom came over with a friend and I was well looked after by them.

On the friday 4th of july Project Sawubona http://www.proyectosawubona.es/ did their presentation to the spanish public. I was there to do the presentation of Khulani Simunye. Thanks to the family and friends of Sonsoles (one of the girls of Proyecto Sawubona) it was a great evening. A lot of people showed up and listened/watched the presentation. After the presentation there was time to relax and chat. The reaction of the people was very positive. And I understood that Proyecto Sawubona did receive some money that evening to keep up the great work they do. It was a pleasure to be in Madrid and to be part of the event.

By the way I am feeling better now....and ready to do a lot of work in South Africa.

First garden Meeting Incognito Khulani Simuyne

What suposed to be a small garden meeting with three ladies telling their stories became a big event with around 125-150 people. It was a great experience.....We invited 3 ladies to tell their stories, to come out and show other people that it is ok to talk about things happening in your life. First lady talked about her life and dealing with the fact she has aids. Second lady talked about her experience being rapped by 4 men. Third lady talked about her abuse in her youth, continued by her husband abuse and how he also molested her daughter. All stories that are reality but no one "should" know. With letting them tell the stories it will help them to talk about it but also let people think and start talking about their lifes. The ladies all spook in their mother language and was translated by a friend of us. By each story you could hear the people responde. It does not matter if your black or white these stories happen to a lot of people in the world. Although the stories were sad there was also time to laugh and ofcourse singing and dancing.

The three brave ladies and the translator (white blouse)

People listening

Dancing and singing

First garden meeting and it was a great succes.

Even in bad weather they go on

Even in South Africa it can be bad weather. Rain Fog and it´s cold!!!!






But the boys go on........

You can not help everyone

Yesterday we went to delivery some other beds to two different families of a friend of us. This friend of us has a organisation for Orphan kids. We went (Huib, Jill and I) with him to the first family. A lady who worked with him in a township helping children in the township. At this moment she helps a lady with a baby from Zimbabwe. They have to be pretected due to the xenophobic attacks within south africa. We placed the bed and the kids loved it. Then we wanted to go and place the second bed in an other township but we were told that it´s better not to do it. It was for a 21 year old girl that has two children. We have been told she will sell the bed to get alcoholic drinks. Last time she received blankets and food and she sold half of it. Our friend told us that he will make sure he will help this woman and get her to a place where they will take care of her and her children. Bringen a bed will not be the solution, the bed will be placed at another house soon. 21 year old, being abused all your live by your father, having two children and thinking live is not worth living for.......that makes you think.......

The bed for the boys: