Conclusion

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 orphanage in the township. The man refused to go into the township,he was too frightened! Rather than do that, he got out and never got his free meal. (It is a an unfortunate reality that non-blacks are scared stiff of going in there!)
I want to say how grateful I am to Be-More for giving me the opportunity to fulfill a long-held wish. I received every assistance,both before and during my stay, that I could have hoped for. The charity works on a tightly-run basis, but gives help to many needy projects.
Staying with Peter and Daphne was a revelation. I cannot think of any other couple who so selflessly arrange their working lives around supporting those less well off. I have learnt a tremendous amount from them, through our discussions and their example. They are inspirational. T
The dedication of my fellow volunters led to achieving many good things,working with imagination and courage.
The heroine of it all, with her daughter Louise working tirelessly in the background, is of course Tia Wessels. I will never forget the day when we trudged round the township all day to arrange documents for the worst-off. With only bread and butter for lunch,her feet swollen, fighting the sleep that tried to engulf her, she still had fire in her belly at the end of the day to fight the cause of the blind lady! As it rained, I noticed how the rust had worn holes in her car in the roof above her head. As long as people like her are around, others will be drawn in to help.
For myself,these 2 months have asked me a lot of questions, to which, as yet, I do not know the answers. I hope I have been able, in a small way, to give an insight into an unfolding tragedy, where people are working with their backs against the wall.
There were times, in the first month, when I found it quite difficult. Not being able to communicate well with the kids in a common language, not knowing how scarred the kids were, what they thought of us coming to their home or what the housemothers really thought about it, how best to help them...some of these issues arose from the fact that we were the first volunteers at the project. Future volunteers will benefit immensely from the work now being done. To begin with, my postive side had to drag screaming to the orphanage, the other side of me that was way  out of it's comfort zone. I am p[leased that I was able to deal with that. The rewards are magnificent. To feel a young child opening up to you,clinging to you for comfort, whether the child has Aids,tubercolosis or whatever, is a wonderful feeling.
Knowing you were reading my blogs has been hugely encouraging; those of you who wrote reactions and emails of support have helped me more than you know.
Thamsanqa will continue to go from strength to strength. Anyone reading my blog that has sometimes thought of spending time at such a project,my advice would be: if you have the opportunity,do it.
Thank you again!
Best wishes,
Eric.

Photos,something concrete achieved!
1 Almost there.
2 Ready to plant.

Add reaction

Name *:
E-mail *:	(will not be visible)
Content *:
Anti spam *:	Type the code on the left in the box below