Beads,projects and good-byes!

When I left this morning, I drove down the track and saw a beautiful kingfisher; it stayed in front of me for a few minutes but flew away just before I could reach for my camera. I then continued and came across a troop of monkeys. I love South Africa; there is no other place like it on earth!

This morning I made my way up to Amangwe Zulu Crafts near Escourt about one and half hours away from Pietermaritzburg. I met with Barbara and I bought some brilliant craft to re-sell in the UK.  After I had had an in depth conversation with Barbara, about the fantastic work she is doing, I headed back to Pietermaritzburg.

I pulled into the shopping centre to print some pictures for the children and Ithemablihle and then continued on to Sithembakuye. I met with Russell and we had a good chat about the future.  I gave them some hats which have been knitted by a wonderful lady in the UK.

Sithembakuye - with their new hats



Then I went to Ithemablihle to check how the house was coming along. From the pictures you can see things are still progressing. I said my farewells to all the children and Thandiwe. I hate this part of the trip. I hate good byes!!

The glazing has been finished at Ithembalihle



The doors have also been hung at Ithembalihle



They have also prepared for the plumber

Wednesday. I dont wont to leave!

Today I spent the morning again at Dlalanthi. I was taken by Gugu and Faith into a very rural area outside of Pietermaritzburg. There I met with an inspirational group of people, a mix of young and old, male and female. They are running a community-led Childcare Forum. They are doing some great work and deserve credit for their achievements thus far. However when It came time to leave we had to make a dash due to an almighty thunder and lightening storm. I went to run from undercover to the car, I slipped and in true comic style feel flat face first in the mud! I was covered and had drive 45 minutes back to Pietermaritzburg and had to go home and have a shower before my next meeting.

I then went to meet with Dawn at 1000 Hills Community Helpers. We had a very posoitive and productive meeting. She is truly an amazing woman and her staff members are also a credit to her organisation.

Then i visited Theresa to collect some paper work and handed out some donations. After that I went to Ithemablihle to check on progress and the pictures tell that story.

Handing out some donations with Theresa

Glazing in at Ithembalihle

Doors have been delivered and ready to be fitted

Dlalanathi and more

Today I spent the majority of the day with Dlalanathi (www.dlalanathi.org.za) an organisation based in Pietermaritzburg. They are working with communities on child-development focusing, on the family and how parents interact with their children. We were shown around one community by two of Dlalanthi’s finest community managers. They are doing some very interesting work and tomorrow I will visit another project of theirs in another community on the outside of Pietermaritzburg.

Unfortunately Debbie and I witnessed why roads in SA are so unsafe. A combi taxi which was travelling too fast hit a pick up and careered into a group of school children. We rang the emergency services and our thoughts are certainly with those families which were effected.  

We then travelled to Ithembalihle to check on progress there. The weather has been awful here for the last few days. Although today has improved. We arrived and distributed school shoes, which had been bought by the building group, for the children, who attend school. They had painted the window frames and hopefully the glazier will come tomorrow. The solar boilers and doors will hopefully be fitted this week.

Sipho painting the window frames.

Some of the children with their new shoes

I'm still here!

Well after a day at the coast and catching up with an old friend. I travelled up to Greytown yesterday (Sunday) which is about 70 kilometres from Pietermaritzburg. I stayed with Jenny and Keith who laid on a great dinner for me and a bed for me to sleep in. Jenny and Keith are friends of the Morrison Family up in Dingwall.  Sometimes the more I speak to people, the more I realise we live in a small world. Jenny organised for me to visit two projects today (Monday) ‘LETCEE’ and a ‘Out Reach Charity connected to Shalom Church’.

LETCEE was an ECD (early child development) project. I have one word which sums up this project – AMAZING. I'm terrible with names but the founder/director, Mary and her staff are doing amazing work against tough circumstances. They train pre-school teachers and this year alone 350 women will leave LETCEE with an accredited diploma in pre-school education. They also run out-reach programmes; which centre on ECD in rural areas where children can not access pre-schools as easily as others nearer larger villages or towns. Whatever I write will not give LETCEE the credit it deserves. The women at the training facility all make their own equipment which will be used by them when they graduate and start working in pre-schools. All the equipment is made from recycled rubbish which items include a desk and chair which is strong enough for an adult to sit on.

This is a chair, which is made from old cereal packets and loo rolls.

This is one of the outreach pre-schools. They gather materilas from toy libraries.

I then moved on to visit the project connected to Shalom Church. Lauren a young woman, a qualified nurse, is embarking on developing a new system of distribution of ARV’s, ARV compliance and also testing for HIV. It’s an interesting concept & if she is able to make it work, she will be able to save hundreds of lives. I wish her all the luck and I hope to be kept informed of her progress.

Since arriving two weeks ago there seems to me there is a new emphasis on community participation in projects. In other words the community is consulted on projects which organisations they wants to implement in their communities. Interestingly at first this project struggled but with the community participating the success rate is outstanding and far more productive. There has been, and unfortunately continues to be, a mentality of "we know best". As such projects are started without proper understanding and often hinder rather than help. There is one thing for sure there is still no one model which can be applied to the up-lift-ment of the community. However charities are getting closer and there is one thing for sure, without the community behind you, which you are trying to help, that success is very limited and has a short life span.

Hamba Khale - We will miss you!

Alan: Well today is our last full day in South Africa and there is still a lot to do, BUT now at the end of the day all the rooms have been rendered, the shuttering has been taken off the shower trays, we have installed a solar light in the outside toilet and we have completed the steps and pathway around the building and we erected the sponsors name board on the building. We had to say our goodbyes, never easy to do, but we sang songs with the kids, took photos and then it was time to leave.

The effort of the volunteers, both before and during the trip, is without a doubt, superb. They worked long hours, and took their own holiday to help build a home, for 18 children. Through their own expense and sweat. Both GAGA and Ithembalihle are indebted to them and wish them all a safe journey home.

THANK YOU!

Hetic rush - but we are finished!

Wednesday.

Helen: The team met all their objectives yesterday, the showers were completed, and the second chicken coop was finished. The third step leading up to the front of the build was laid. Two of the team went to a local garden centre; each member of the team had offered to buy a tree. Seven trees were purchased, three avocado, two orange, one lemon and one grapefruit tree. They were all planted and well watered!

New steps leading to the veranda

Last room being rendered



Laying the path

Charlie: I had a great meeting with Thokozani Meya from Frey’s. Frey’s is the business which owns the pre-school building which ‘First Step Right’ operates from. Alan and Gael joined me for the meeting; we all showed Thokozani around. I hope, and I’m pretty sure, he was impressed with the whole operation.  Liz had also joined us and whilst Gael was busy, she took over the running of her class. Thokozani confirmed the interest of Frey’s to support the pre-school, which is a great assurance for all of us. We look forward to a positive relationship. Watch this space!

Gael with her class

Thursday.

Alan: Well today is our last full day in South Africa and there is still a lot to do, BUT now at the end of the day all the rooms have been rendered, the shuttering has been taken off the shower trays, we have installed a solar light in the outside toilet and we have completed the steps and pathway around the building and we erected the sponsors name board on the building. We had to say our goodbyes, never easy to do, but we sang songs with the kids, took photos and then it was time to leave.





A break from the grind and more visits to potential projects

Some of the team members took time off today to visit PheZulu Village. At the village they have a large colony of crocodiles, the eldest being 106 years old, originally from Botswana. The reptile house was the next place of interest. The guide explained which were harmful and how they affected you if you were unlucky enough to be bitten. Two of the girls took all their courage in their hands as well as a huge python!

A mock Zulu village saw us being entertained by traditional singing and dancing and visiting traditionally built houses. A mini safari took us over the hill tops where we were lucky enough to see giraffe, wilder beast and zebra’s almost at hands reach.

It was not all play however; another step had to be laid at the build and a check up on how the rendering was going.

PheZulu - Zebra

Alan and I visited projects yesterday we started with COCA which is a church based operation with an outreach programme into the local community. We met with Bobby and Minky who discussed the programme who then took us to the community centre where about 150 local women where attending 6 to 7 workshops including cooking, beading, a new baby club and many others. The whole operation was very impressive and the ladies where clearly enjoying all the different activities.

COCA - Cooking workshop

Then we moved on toward Durban and met with ‘The Robin Hood Foundation’. Again Alan was clearly impressed with the presentation of the organisation as was I. Again they are doing some brilliant projects and we hope in the future we may be able to look at how we could work with them. Kim who is their co-ordinator showed considerable passion and it was obvious the level of attention which is taken in each programme they undertake.  

Finally we met with Dawn Leppan, from 1000 Hills Community Helpers. Alan sat and had a brief conversation with her. She was recently awarded for her outstanding efforts to the community and she was telling us about the ceremony. Alan and I both believe there are few if any more deserving! We went with Dawn to visit Theresa at another project in Inchanga which GAGA may look to potentially support. Dawn is going to investigate some of the issues Theresa has, and hopefully we will be able to get them resolved for her.  

Dawn and Theresa with some of the girls

Sorry for the delay!

Well it’s been a few days since we’ve blogged but we’ve been busy....beach, bars and a spot of shopping - Only joking, honest Tony.

Actually, this is what we’ve been up to: On Saturday, all seven of us (‘magnificent’) arrived on site at 8.30 and by 10.00am the second half of the roof was completed by teamwork again (after overcoming a few access obstacles – a steep drop down one side). After that it was the internal ceilings – bit of an issue, baton or board first. A disaster first time round as the boards fell down so we decided on the second method – boards then batons. It’s now got miniature beams in each room – a bit like an English cottage! We got both bedrooms done. Meanwhile the local tradesmen started rendering the external walls. We think we did pretty well despite the demoralising rugby result......although the Scottish members of the team had a mysteriously French spring in their step.....

Starting the second part of the roof

First bedroom with ceiling complete

On Sunday part of the team visited the Victoria Market in Durban to purchase crafts and jewellery etc. Some were for gifts but also some readers of the blog will be seeing these items for sale at fundraising events so hope you like them! Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Barry and Mark were up on the roof on a ridiculously hot day. Apparently the tiles were a bit hot so they hopped around ridging the roof to complete it. Once the shoppers returned, we all prepared the inside walls for the local tradesmen to render later in the week. At the end of the day we handed out donated clothes to the children which we’d travelled over with.  These were donated by local schools in the Banbury area which Alan had collected. The kids were delighted and performed a few songs in thanks – a very worthwhile experience.

Barry & Mark laying the ridges on the roof





Monday arrived and we headed over to the site to complete the internal ceilings. The first step up to the building was also laid along with the facia boards and guttering being completed. Meanwhile half of the team completed another chicken coup and also witnessed the attempted mating of rabbits.....not very successful due to dubious sexing of the rabbits earlier in the week. Onwards and upwards! This is for a rabbit breeding program to hopefully produce food security for the Ithembalihle community. To continue the farming theme, we’ve witnessed 10 chicks being hatched this week.   

Guttering up and ready to harvest water for the veg garden

Mother hen with her new babies!

Things are heating up!

Helen: The girl’s first task today was to fence the vegetable garden to stop the cattle from walking all over the newly planted vegetables. One of the local lady’s had already planted cabbage, spinach, tomatoes and onions and they were thriving and looking healthy. Three strands of single wire fastened round existing fixed posts and then the mesh wire attached to the single strands, a few extra posts were required just to give extra strength. A job well done as some hours later a her d of cows came running down the hill.

Later in the day the girls were part of the chain gang helping to complete the second half of the roof batons and moving roof tiles.

Ladies fencing the vegetable garden

Mark: The boys began the day shifting more blocks for the local builders to finish the internal walls.  Access to the other side of the roof proved more challenging than anything Anneka could conjure up!  Once the scaffolding was in place the batons and felt were nailed on ready to tile the roof tomorrow.

Starting the other side of the roof.

Starting to render. One wall is already finished.

Precarious scaffolding ready to finish tiling!

Just call us the 'Chain Gang'

Alan: Well what a day today (Thursday) – the building team, Barry, our specialist builder, & Mark and I (the labour force) were joined by Helen, Liz & Moira (the chain gang).While the boys finished felting and battening one side of the roof the girls moved tiles closer to the “coal face” ready for us to start tiling the roof. While we were doing this the local builders were finishing off the internal walls and started on the gable ends. The chain gang started loading us out and after a bit of instruction from Barry the tiling began – Mark & I couldn’t believe how easy Barry made it look but we soon got the hang of it and by 3 in the afternoon we had laid 500 roof tiles and one side of the roof was complete.

A great step forward today and a really good “team” effort – bring on tomorrow!!!



Day 5: Start (Chain Gang)



Boys on the roof!

Day 5: Evening

Lots to be positive about

Helen: Liz, Moira and Helen accompanied a team from 1000 Hills Clinic to observe and help with an out reach clinic in one of the poorer areas. Around 30 children and adults attended with various complaints from coughs to probable sexually transmitted disease.

The afternoon saw the nurses take off in the ambulance with some of the clinic staff to do some home visits; an elderly man who was off his feet, a young boy with what we thought was cerebral palsy. We also delivered a couple of food parcels.

Still a few hours left and we went on to the build and moved more than a 100 breeze blocks into position for the boys.

Mark: The build team (Alan, Barry and Mark) started the day by developing a cunning strategy to manhandle the roof trusses into place while the local builders worked on the internal walls and doors.  We had cheese rolls for lunch.  The afternoon was spent moving breeze blocks, securing the roof trusses then attaching felt to the aforementioned trusses.  The felt will be completed tomorrow in the warm sunshine that Charlie has promised.

Day 4: Start

Day 4: Afternoon

Day 4: Evening

Charlie: I can’t report lots of manual labour, or major achievements but contrary to the rest of the teams jibing I have been working. This morning I visited Sithembakuye and was happily impressed with the progress this project is making. They have started a crafting project using recycled materials and in a partnership with a local business woman. I will be visiting Sithembakuye again next week and hope to report some further exciting developments.

I then visited the valley with some old contacts and I enjoyed going back and seeing some old friends. The situation is still very poor in the surrounding valley’s and families consist of only young children, HIV and TB are still rife and inadequate services and education continue to compound all the issues.

I then visited Theresa a retired nurse who decided to open a care home for children in her community.  Even though government offices promised support they still have not even met the most basic needs. However they continue to send children which need shelter. Its a very difficult situation and Theresa really has a big heart as she could easily turn the children away.

Still so many exciting projects to visit, so many people to meet, and so much to learn. I need another month rather than two weeks. Still it’s been an all round positive day and the building continues to beat their estimations. With the ladie's help tomorrow the house will be well on its way!

Just a quick update

Yesterday the building team worked flat out to get the building ready for the roof. The ladies also had a full packed day with the baby’s clinic, at 1000 HCH. Everyone was very tired last night. Here are some pictures of the progress and tonight we will give a more detailed blog. 

Start: Day 3

End: Day 3

End: Day 3

A silver lining even in the KwaZulu Natal clouds

Charlie: Only on our third day and already a lot has been achieved. Considering today is the first day when it was expected all would commence, the building team are ahead of even their estimations. However, the weather today is awful, cold and wet (heavy rain showers) still think it will take more than that to dampen Barry, Alan and Mark's spirits. The three ladies have gone off to 1000 Hills Community Helpers and hopefully all being well they will be spending the week there. Both the building team and ladies will update us later on their day.

I met with Walter Frey and Thokozani Mabuya this morning to discuss ‘First step Right’ pre-school. It was a great meeting and they have intentions of working with us initially and making the pre-school their community project as part of their company’s social responsibility. They currently are in the process of buying the land that the pre-school is on which is part of a deal to buy the associated business. More on this as we go through the weeks!

I also met with Phindi and Kevin today. Phindi is a radio presenter and a very involved in charity projects. She has been running exercise classes at a clinic in Umlazi and she has plans to extend her charitable work. I will update the blog more on this as we have some further meetings with Phindi and Kevin.

Liz: Today I had a fantastic day at the 1000 Hills Community Centre. Having been given a tour of the complex which included a clinic, kitchens that feeds up to 1500 people a day, a gift shop selling crafts made by locals and a laundry service, I spent time in the school facility. This included a crèche for up to 6 month olds, an older crèche for 1 to 2 year olds, a larger room for the 2 and 3 year olds and finally a pre-school. The 2 and 3 year olds looked like they could help me so I stepped into their world. Approximately 12 of them (it’s usually double this – its holiday time) were sat having breakfast on mini chairs. They stared then eventually thawed and said ‘hello lady’ repeatedly. Then they were put to bed, packed in blankets, all facing the same way so as not to wake each other for 2 hours. Once the children awoke, it was lunch then play which consisted of them pointing to parts of their body and telling me what it was in English. My role was to learn the Zulu. I won’t write it here as I’ve no idea of the spelling but I can honestly tell you I know most of the parts of my body in Zulu including a short seminar from a 2 year old Zulu girl who corrected me when I thought the translation was ‘back’. She said, “no, it’s your spinal cord”. Enough said.

An amazing place! Inspirational! Well organised and clearly life-changing for so many people of the immediate and far-reaching community. Tomorrow, I’m in the pre-school although have promised to go back to the crèche to prove I’ve remembered my Zulu lessons.

Mark: The building team put snickersgate behind them and headed to Ithembalihle to build on (excuse the pun) the previous day’s progress.  Unfortunately the weather had other ideas with typical British rain setting in for the day.  We did take delivery of the window and door frames, which will allow us to crack on tomorrow with the hope of better weather.  Bring on some African sun!!

Helen: After a quick look round the 1000 Hills clinic the two nurses were left with Sister Margaret. It was the Elderly Clinic day. Around 50 people were already seated outside on the veranda, our heart sank!! After sitting in on a few consultations with Sister Margaret she left the consulting room and it was down to us. We had a translator to help us out as we have not quite mastered Zulu. Drugs were limited but hopefully we gave good advice and treatment. We also had a house call, the clinic ambulance took us to a house where a young boy was quite unwell, he had a high temperature, sweating profusely and difficulty with his breathing, the family had phoned for a government ambulance some four hours earlier and it had still not arrived!!! Not quite as bad as the NHS. Hopefully the young boy received the medical attention he so badly required but I will try and find out and update the blog.

Up, dull and early

Charlie: Today we were all up before the cockerel's call. Mainly because Barry’s I-phone forgot which time zone it was in - or did he!! Still it’s not such a bad thing. Everyone is eager to begin and today will hopefully be the first full day of building. Sundays are pretty quiet days in South Africa and today the whole group will be helping with the build. Starting tomorrow Helen and Moira, our two practicing nurses will go to 1000 Hills Community Helpers where all their knowledge and skills will be put to good use. Liz, who will be putting her skills and knowledge to use later in the week, will also be helping at 1000 HCH.  The schools are on holidays at the moment until the 10^th October and 1000HCH will be a hive of activity for the next week as they run activities for the children.

Alan, Barry and Mark will be working on the building along with a local tradesmen and his labourers. Estimations are high and as long as the weather is on our side, they will be calling back the rest of the group to help paint and tile if all goes well.

I will be visiting and meeting projects tomorrow, I have some important meetings where I hope to make some real headway - fingers crossed and more on that tomorrow.

Today however the plan is for half the group to build a strong chicken pen which will prevent the dogs killing sitting chickens. The rest will be working on the house. Today the first block will be laid and we will have the pictures to follow.

More later...and it’s later now

Alan:  Well what a great day, apart from a couple of showers where we lost some time, BUT what progress we have all made both the “chicken run” gang and the building team led very ably by Barry, despite the lack of chocolate!! We were joined by a local builder, 2 labourers and quite a few of the older boys from the orphanage who helped us move about 700 blocks. We, and that’s the “Royal we” laid approx 350 blocks and made a really great start ready for the first official day of building tomorrow.

Start: Day 1

End: Day 1

Helen: It was hoped to start a programme of rabbit breeding, unfortunately two of the four rabbits died and neither of the two remaining rabbits have produced any off spring, on examination by the two medical personnel it was decided they were both female!!!!

The new chicken coop was completed, the hens now have a lovely nest to lay their eggs and the run will keep the dogs away from the chicks.

Chicken nesting boxes

One disappointment for the team was sending Alan to the builder’s yard for material; he came back with some building items and one snickers bar!!!!

Settling in – Base camp

Charlie: Well it took 24 hours to get to South Africa; Birmingham via Dubai then onto Durban. Having left the UK, which had temperatures of 27 Degrees and arriving in Dubai at 7am in the morning having 32 degrees, we were all slightly disappointed, to arrive in South Africa to temperatures of 20 degrees, low lying mist and rain! However today (Saturday 1^st October) we have all awoken to brilliant sunshine, so all is forgiven. We are staying in new accommodation, which Debbie (GAGA’s SA liaison) has built under her house. It’s basic but far from uncomfortable. It’s a brilliant place to base our operations for the next few weeks. Barry and Alan are chomping at the bit to get building and in a little while we will have breakfast with Debbie’s father to discuss the building. He has been instrumental in the planning of this project. After breakfast we plan to head over to Ithemablihle and make preparations in haste, to start building as soon as possible.

More later...

Moira: Brilliant sunshine – woohoo!  Had a look around the area to get our bearings and see where we will be working over the next two weeks.  Met Thandiwe and the children at Ithemablihle and got started moving the blocks into position ready for the guys to start building tomorrow. Very hot and dirty work but very satisfying.   Feels like we have really done something useful!  There are lots of practical issues to be sorted out and lots of different tasks for us to do – something to suit everybody.

Whose the builder?

Have seen some wildlife-no, not Alan-some birds and monkeys.   Also had a quick trip over to the beach at Durban, which was lovely.  Raining a bit tonight but it doesn’t matter – mission accomplished for today!