Conclusion
03 Jan 2009 at 11:59
Two thoughts,above all else,will remain with me: how mundane and self-created are the majority of the problems for us in the West;and the amount of work quietly being done by so many people to address the very real problems encountered by the majority of people in this world.
Over the Xmas. period, there were so many ways in which people of all colours were doing something for the needy.One such scheme had a rather unexpected twist. The church where Peter and Daphne,whose house I stayed in, are involved, were organising a meal for the week before Xmas. Parishioners bought the tickets,not for themselves but for down -and- outs off the street. Peter had arranged with a white man living on the street near him that he would pick him up at a certain time and he would bring him back to his street corner after the slap-up meal. When Peter duly arrived,the man got in.Peter explained to him how they would have to take a diversion as he wanted to pick up the housemothers from the...
On a high!
31 Dec 2008 at 16:34
As we inched up the rough,dirt road of the Sani Pass,I asked the driver/guide whether there were taxes in Lesotho.Oh yes,he replied,but they all have to be 4 wheel drive up here! A similar accent-induced misunderstanding occurred later,while in the Basotho (Lesotho) village. Having just photographed a shepherd neaxt to his pile of wood and stacked,dried dung,I enquired whether it was good-quality shit. No speak English,was the reply.Luckily,our guide was fluent in their language,Susutu.Ask him if it is good shit,I said.The answer came back: he does not wear a shirt!
Inside the rondavel hut,the Basuto woman had treated us to a taste of their local home-made beer and bread.In the centre of the hut,a round hearth was set into the floor.There, lay a pan of bread underneath a tray of embers.I have never tasted such delicious bread for decades and I kept it for tomorrow's lunch.
The woman is totally responsible for the interior of the hut.She makes the floor and plasters the wall....
Beached Up
21 Dec 2008 at 11:59
The lifesaver was clearly bemused. He was seated under a canopy, his state-of-the-art jet-skis in readiness alongside him. Right beside him, coincidentally, there was an area of about 12 sq .metres pegged out with umbrellas. In the middle, sat a table with 24 hats. By the table, an Englishman wearing an Australian hat, sat waiting. Curiosity overcame him. ‘’What are you going to do here, man?’’ In answer, the kids started to appear through the sand dunes.
They were not stigmatised as poor orphans by wearing shorts and shirts. In their new swimwear, they were as smart as anyone else. They ran to the water excitedly, picking up wet sand to throw like snowballs , with unerring accuracy- I know,I got two full in the face in rapid succession!
For the younger ones, this would be their first experience of the beach. They all had a marvellous day. When they crowded into the minibus at about 5 pm., they had no energy left!
This week has seen a lot happen. Half the children...
Highs and Lows
12 Dec 2008 at 08:49
Last Saturday,we set our pitch outside Florence’s to sell the donated clothing and shoes.We had sorted the items into 3 price categories,R5,R10 and R20 (R15=1pound=1.15 euros).Soon we had to reduce everthing to between R1-R5.One very old lady picked up a pair of old,but warm,slippers;she said pointedly-but without looking me in the eye,as if she was ashamed of herself-I have no money!It kind of pulls the rug from underneath you when you are looking for a good haggle!A young teenager,having just paid R5 for a quality worsted jacket,was parading around,clearly feeling ``the man’’.But it must have been 3 sizes too big for him!A good number of people went away with clothing at prices they could just afford,others had fun trying clothes on.Two thirds of our wares were sold.We took R520.This,to you ,will sound pathetic.In terms of the work we all put in,it was.Nevertheless,Tia was happy.Cash is hard to come by,and she is in desperate need.It is more than the child support grants...
Diary
06 Dec 2008 at 06:38
Monday
We have 2 new volunteers this week;Hilda has worked for 22 years in a kindergarden and has been out here to an orphanage before (Agape).Tamara is a professional photographer.For 2 weeks ,she will be building up portfolios of each child for a charity called Photos for Orphans.Back in Holland,schoolchildren will assemble the photos into albums.Each orphan will then receive their individual album of shots of themselves.Without any personal mementoes at all,these are treasured and help to give back some of the self-esteem that has been drained out of them by their traumas.
Tuesday.
H.andT. joined us to go to Julia’s.Firstly,there were the usual hugs and twirls,and some football.Then each child settled down to make a card for Tia’s birthday,all except Nxolisi (12).The informal atmosphere allows ourselves and the kids to intermingle and move around loosely.This leads to many interesting situations.Sinazo,who last week looked on whileYonela (7) and his sister,Ntanbizanele...
Breakthrough and breakdown.
02 Dec 2008 at 08:05
On Friday morning,we had our weekly meeting with Tia.She was sporting a relaxed smile.But she wouldn't spill the beans till we had made her a coffee.Then she told us of an incredible breakthrough:the previous night she had attended a meeting called by the government department.Nothing was expected out of it,but you never know.It turned out that there was money left in the annual budget of the department,that was available till the end of the financial year;any family in need could collect vouchers for a total of 3 separate food parcels (before March next year)and money for school clothes.Imagine what this will mean for many people without a certainty of food!
So we shall be running a taxi service for people to pick up their vouchers!Also,some of them wil need ferrying to the shop for school clothes.This applies,not only to the 87 families ''on the books'',but to whoever else in the township who needs help.Tia can hardly beleive it,it is unprecedented.At least over Xmas....
Name: Eric Olverson
Age: 60
Volunteered at Thamsanqa from 03 November 2008 to 27 December 2008.
About me:
I am a retired farmer.My passion is sport,principally football (passive),cycling (very active) and walking.
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