It´s already April 2012

Just one of those days. I am back in Madrid already 2 years. But still a big part of me is in South Africa. I am still working with Thalente. I am doing everyday things for my friends overseas. But still it´s moving inside of me. I am worried, I am restless, I think and I cry. The work in South Africa goes well and continues as I hoped for. Still there are somethings that would not have happened if I would have been there and somethings would have happened in my presence. Should I feel guilty about that or should I think it is what should have happened. I remember once that some one said to me: The people are born at places/situations that are choosen for them........I still do not believe in that, maybe I should.

Today I have been dedicating some time to look for KONY 2012 picture, just to join like everyone around the world. It´s organised by INVISIBLE CHILDREN which is another great organization in the USA. As I was going trough the web I found a page where they try to put NGO´s in a bad picture. They sabotage NGO´s, like INVISIBLE CHILDREN. Because they say the NGO is not dedicating 100% of their donation money to the NGO but 32% to incomes. This really makes me angry, ofcourse these people working for a NGO need to be paid. This people have to live, if you dedicate/work you deserve to get paid. How else can you do your "work". I have lived it myself, I had some sponsors to help me out a lot but I did not have 100% salary. I used my savings and obviously I run out of it and had to stop. How do people expect to do what you do without a salary. Yes I also realise that some NGO´s are giving way to high salary to their workers but that does not mean all of them. And so there are a lot of people out there working as hard as anyone elso but voluntary. I take a bow for all of them. And if you earn your money by working at an NGO I take my head off and would like to be one of them. People do not realise how high a running cost (water, gas, rent office, house, car) can be. If you want a NGO to work 24/7.

I hope http://www.kony2012.com/ will be a succes...Its about time.

Than it was time

Hi to all, as most of you know I went back to Spain. It was a very difficult decision but one that I had to take. If it´s the right one, time will tell. I can look back on a great 2 years. I have met a lot of different people, I have learnt new cultures and I have been in new situations. I have learned a lot about live and about myself. I will never take anything just for granted. I am very lucky beeing born in a free country and being able to travel and live in foreigh countries with no problems or more paper work than necessary. To have a house and food everyday. Health system that works. Also I learned to deal with people which I trusted and could not be trusted, that was a hard experience and a lesson for live. You can never be prepared for that 100% but it´s something to keep in mind. With this I also learned to know who are my friends. They are very valuable for me. And I am sure who reads this is, you are one of my friend! So to you, YOU ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME!

About the situation if South africa, the organisation www.Thalent.nl continues. We found a great lady within the community and she will make sure everything will continue. I am still in close contact with her and the organisation. For Khulani Simunye there is a little stop but will consider to continue in cooperation with Thalente I am very excited about that. We will see what the future brings.
As for my boys in the house, they have a beautifull future as well. One has taken his own path and is taking care of himself. the other one I had to leave him behind in a student residence but I am trying to bring him over to Spain. He has so much potential that I think he needs more oportunities and I think Spain (Europe) can offer him that. He is doing great at school and being more or less independant, at this moment, but there are some people who keep a little eye on him on a daily bases. I am very happy about that situation but I do miss him a lot but patients is something which I had to learn as well.

So the conclusion of this experience is very positive, I am a "richer" person, much more sensitive (who would ever thought that it could happen to me) and happy to have been part of some changes in peoples lives.

With lots of love,

Lilian

Is my father right.....he always is.........

It´s a longtime you heard from me again....a lot has been happening. As I told you besides by doing the things I am doing I also try to keep the organization Khulani Simunye running. It´s all a challenge. We had our first guest in January, 4 people form the organization “Thalente”. They help Khulani Simunye financially with school fees, registration cost etc...... and they decided to help me out as well...It´s because of them that I am able to continue what I am doing. What am I doing? Is it ok what I am doing? Is this what the people need? Am I really helping? Sometimes these questions come up. I always write about nice things that are happening because they stay the longest in my head but it is not always nice. I have been here now almost 2 years and I have met a lot of different kind of people. I have seen different kind of situations. I have seen people doing bad things to other people. People threatening each other, jealous people. People always asking for help, they are not willing to do anything. Lying people. Fake people....................but the people I felt for and that I came her to help are here also, somewhere. They are here for sure, I saw them again the other day, a teener boy trying his best to help his little brothers. The love and kindness in their eyes. But who is that person that you helped and now is taking it all for granted and gets angry when you can not help? Who is that person that you offer something and it´s not good enough? Why do I have to start watching my back? Do I have to question every step I make? Is this what I came her to do?.........
I came her for that teener boy that was not doing well and after a couple of conversations, big mistakes he made, I almost lost hope but now he is the best of his class and will continue as well as he can......That is why I am here!!!! For that boy that I have to kick his ass all the time but he still has dreams and tries to follow them, yes it cost me a lot of energy but he will get there and he appreciates it. It´s for that one that had a hard time but wants to full fill his dream and is doing great at school and is happy.
Another question I have...... I have been told not to give up my whole life for the people here in need because they are born here for a reason and I was born in Europe for another reason........Is this really true? I can not believe some one really makes a plan like that.

I can not safe the whole world but one at the time is enough..........that is what I believe in.

But still there is the question..... Is my father right when he says; What are you doing there, think about your future?...........................................

With love
Lilian

Merry Christmas and a great 2010

WE WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A LOVING XMAS AND MAY YOUR HEART BE FILLED WITH PEACE AND JOY FOR THE NEW YEAR

WITH LOTS OF LOVE FROM THOLA IKHAYA

KHUMBULANI, PERFECT & LILIAN

Up date our house Thola Ikhaya "find a home"

We have had some changes in our house. Tessa has left our house and now it´s just Khumbulani, Perfect and me. The plans of taking more boys in the house have changed as well as we financially can not effort it but we help some of the boys (3), we wanted to take in the house, with food parcels ones a month. I also keep a close eye on them. They all passed to their last year. I am very proud of them. Perfect passed with great marks to grade 10 if he continues like this he will become the lawyer he dreams about. For Khumbulani we have a changed plan he will not be going to do his last year at the school he went to, he will be going to study and work at the same time. Perfect has joined a dance company and has been performing a few times now (photo´s included) he realy enjoys it and will continue next year. Khumbulani started a weekend job and also works as a volunteer for an organisation which helps out animals. He works in the Music shop, they sell donated stuff to fundraise money for the organisation. He enjoys it very much as he checks all the electronical stuff that´s delivered before it will be sold. They are very busy even on their holiday. Also for next year they will help me out with the things we want to do for Khulani Simunye. Also for our house Thola Ikhaya it´s going to be a great 2010...With lots of love........

I was invited as a guest speaker for grade 1 at the school our children go to.....Look at the picture!!!!! How cute they look, the future of South Africa.

New year new start

Hi family and friends,

It´s been a longtime you had some news from me....

I would like to tell you some great news. After a few months with a lot of doubts and worries I finally got the answer on the question "Can I stay or not?" YES I will stay for at least one more year !!!!!!! I am getting help from sponsors....... Sponsors for my 5 boys school fees/transport, my teen mom school fees/transport/rent/groserries, food parcels for 3 students and help with the rent for our House "Thola Ikhaya" (Find a home).....I am so happy with all this help, I herewith would like to thank all the sponsors, Susane van Rijn, Stacie Mohagen, Organisation "Thalente", Sonsoles Garcia, Jan-Paul & Rob, Mom and Dad. Also I would like to take the opportunity to thank for all the help I received last year, as you will understand I can not do this without your help!! thank you all so much!!! There is also another change for next year, I will be helping the organisation Khulani Simunye with the field work. As my friend Lizzy is leaving South Africa to have her baby in the Netherlands I will take over some of the work she did. I am very happy with this responsibility. I will continue with all the good work the organisation does. Most important will be helping the community out with getting their birth certificate/ID books. Also I will continue with delivering bread to other organisations which we get from the factory. "Kids in action" will also be one of the activities I will do with lots of pleasure. We also would like to restart with the english lessons and create more workshops for the people from the community to make sure they learn skills which might help them with an income. We have a lot of plans for 2010 and we will still need your support to make it all happen. It´s going to be a great year !!!!!

Our house

Just to give a small up-date about our house.... We are doing great, the two boys are doing well at school and they stay out of trouble, so we are very proud of them. By selling their necklaces they are able to provide themselfs with extra´s. One of the boys is starting with his drivers licences and the other one will start dance lessons. They are investing their money in things they are good at, what gives them reason, hope in their lives and realy enjoy. Soon my mom will come to visite us again, and all of us are looking forward to see her here in South Africa again. They call her Gogo (grandmother). For the moment we can not take more boys in the house which I regret because I know another boy who realy would like/need to live with us. He is trying on his own to make a better live for himself but it would be much better if he stays with us. He is 17 years old and has made some mistakes in his live already but is willing to leave everything for a better future. But I am sorry to say that financialy we can not effort to have another boy. If you or some one you know who can help us out please let me know, it will make a difference in their lives as I have seen with the boys in our house.