GSGC Travel Series: Pictures From Cape Town
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 26, 2009
View of Table Mt. and typical living conditions
Jikeleza Dancers
Hiking to see the views over the city
GSGC Travel Series: Cape Town, South Africa
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
Correspondent Britt
Believe it or not, tonight is our last night in Africa. We’re here at the Welgelegen guest house in Cape Town, South Africa, finishing up a special cheesecake dessert, our little thank you present for Priscilla! What a trip it has been! Monday morning, we met up with James Fernie, who runs Uthando, a non-profit which funds community organizations empowering people of the townships to help lift them out of poverty and provides eye-opening tours for visitors who want to see the “other” side of Cape Town. He took us through the townships of Guguletu and Khayelitsha introducing us to 3 inspiring projects and their leaders. We first saw Place of Hope, a shelter for prostitutes and victims of domestic abuse, followed by a visit to an Abalimi organic farm project in which women from the township grew vegetables both for their family’s consumption and for commercial profit. On the surface we could see that the crops were healthy and varied, but the real accomplishment in my eyes was that the Khayelitsha women had really become strong, skilled breadwinners through this program – and in such sandy barren ground!!
Our final project visit that day was to the Volcano Arts Project, a theater and dance program for the youth of the townships which performs social awareness pieces on various topics to schools and now prisons in the community. Volcano, the man who started the program and teaches the young performers all he knows, was vibrant and fun – such a treat to see his group dance and act!!
View from Table MT.
After our township tour, we took the cable car up to the top of table mountain and hiked around for about 2 hours taking in the gorgeous panoramic views all around Cape Town, False bay and Table Bay. We finished the day with dinner with the leadership of Jikeleza, one of the organizations that the Giving Circle supports which empowers children by teaching them to dance and putting them through leadership workshops. We saw SO much enthusiasm in Edmund (the founder) and the indispensible, multitasking women working by his side, Renée and Marilyn. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
GSGC Travel Series: Community Bake Sale & Victoria Falls
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 22, 2009
Today we were treated to a Zig Zag community bake sale. The proceeds of the sale are given to charity.
Market Stall in Dambwa
Sam picked us up in the bus at 10:30 and took us to a market in Dambwa, a township in Livingstone. We visited the recipients of the micro loans. They sell sour milk, dried fish, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes and other various local produce. It is inspiring to see these individuals working hard and making a very meager living. Walking around the market gave us an inside look into daily life. 
Next we visited the Livingstone Museum (We were tourists for the moment) and the local market to buy souvenirs. We defiantly did not enjoy bargaining back and forth with the locals.
The highlight of the day was the surprise trip Priscilla planned for us to Livingstone Island in the middle of the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls. WOW! A motor boat picked us up at the Royal Livingstone hotel. We rode for 5 minutes and got up close and personal to the falls. When we disembarked we were given a local drink made of mashed corn flavored with strawberries. After a toast we headed to the gathering place of a tent beautifully set for tea. The guide led us to the edge of the falls, one by one. He held on tight as we looked over the edge! Another WOW! Breathtaking to stand in such a place where the forces of nature overwhelmed all our senses! Some crazy people even go swimming above the falls! After we walked a bit we headed back for high tea with quiches, mini sandwiches and pastries. We ate while enjoying the view of the falls. Priscilla even used the ”loo with a view!” To finish off the evening we sat at the hotel with sun downers on the edge of the Zambezi River watching the sunset. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
- Anne & Paige
Megan makes it back to safety
GSGC Travel Series: Pediatric Hospital & Home Health Care Program
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 21, 2009
08/21/09
Correspondent Anne
On Friday afternoon we visited the new pediatric hospital. The sign out front says it was built by the American People. Nurse Rose gave us the tour. There are isolation wards for children with TB and meningitis. The other wards were for malaria and non contagious diseases. We gave a bag full of comfort dolls for these children to cuddle as they receive treatment.
Later Diane and I went with Ernest and Arisius to visit 2 of the sick clients they visit as part of the home health care program. Both of these women suffered from recurring TB. One also has had meningitis and malaria over the past 4 years, making her bedridden. Therapy for strengthening her legs is free, but it costs $6.00 for the transport each way and she does not have the money for that. Seeing this left me emotionally spent. We are helping in a small way with our donation of stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs. What more can we do, should we do? There is so much need everywhere. It is truly overwhelming.
But… the spirit of the children that we accompanied to Victoria Falls today was uplifting and inspiring. For children who have so little, they gave us so much.
- Anne
GSGC Travel Series: Field Trip to Victoria Falls
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
08/21/09
This morning was the adventure of accompanying the children from Tusa Munyandi to Victoria Falls. What a welcome we received when we arrived at Tusa Munyandi! All the kids were dressed in their finest clothes – some even in suits and dresses. Ages ranged from 3-14. Of the 37 kids that went on the fieldtrip, some had been to the Falls before, but most hadn’t. A lot of the kids were pretty shy to begin with, but warmed up after some time.
Two buses took us to the Falls and one of the bus drivers acted as tour guide for the kids. We walked through the park and viewed the Falls from above, then hiked down to the bottom of the Falls to Boiling Point. What a trek! The water at the bottom acted as a great coolant for the kids. After getting the kids back to Tusa Munyandi, they were each given a lunch of two biscuits, a bottle of orange juice and a bottle of water.
The two things that stand out most for me from this experience were: 1.) (knowing this was a special occasion) how well groomed and healthy looking these kids looked compared to the other kids from the surrounding neighborhood that milled around, and 2.) how attentive and caring the older kids were toward the younger children. They were certainly proof of the difference Tusa Munyandi is making in the lives of these kids.
- Megan
GSGC Travel Series: To Paige’s Students & the Sewing Circle
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
8/21/09
Correspondent Paige
Hi Alex, Aliza, Felix, Giancarlo, Ian, Jonah, Kira, Lydia, Natalie, Olivia, Orr, Peter, Sarah and Tal,
I wish you could be here with me to experience all the great sights and to be with all these wonderful children receiving your gifts! Today we went to a pediatric ward and gave about 20 dolls to very sick children and we left your photo with all of you holding the dolls. Thanks to my Auntie Barb and all of the sewers for making them possible and all of my kids for sending them with love. We also took 40 children to Victoria Falls to experience this amazing sight for the first time! What a field trip! I am thinking of all of you and your wonderful families. I miss all of you!
Later,
Paige
GSGC Travel Series: Livingstone
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
Water Transport
Correspondent Megan
We visited a cooperative farm yesterday supporting HIV-positive people. This is a project Ray of Hope supports. It was pretty fascinating to watch the ladies transport water from the river to the garden via bucket-brigade. -Megan
Correspondent Anne
They are currently growing tomatoes and onions. The biggest problem is the elephants. We saw their footprints in the tomato patch where they had squashed and eaten the plants. One of their ideas is to mix chilies and elephant dung to repel the elephants. – Anne
Correspondent Britt
Yesterday morning, our first visit was to Ray of Hope’s new library. We were amazed to see the amount of high school and adult education textbooks they had amassed, but they told us they still needed many more children’s books. SO, of course Dorothy, Daniel, and Phineas (the librarian) were delighted when we brought out our stacks of children’s books to add to their collection. It was so fun to see Dorothy kiss the first books that came out of the bag and squeal with happiness. Definitely a joyful memory of the trip! – Britt
GSGC Travel Series: Susiku & the Children
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
Anne & the Kids
8/20/09: Livingstone, Zambia
The time has finally come when we get to visit Susiku and the children she has taken under her wing. Both Anne and I are bringing generous donations from our classes. Our children have made games and donated much needed underwear and art supplies for the children. We were very excited to visit and see for ourselves what conditions they were experiencing. We arrived and right away so many children came out to greet us with handshakes and “How are you?” Lots of touching and the children were all pushing each other out of the way to get their picture taken.
Paige & the Kids
The children play in a small enclosed dirt compound. She has constructed one small room (about 6×6) and has managed to find old tires and a narrow board for swings. She has a small outhouse for all the children to share. We could not find any toys and only a few learning materials. Many of the children should be in school but the families cannot afford to send them. Susiko found many of these children wandering in the nearby garbage dump and took them in.
We jumped right in with our version of ‘duck duck goose’ and while the children participated they were somewhat reserved. Immediately it was clear that many of the children were sick and many seemed to constantly cough. We went inside to a very small room with the 14 oldest children to share the games that we brought for them. They caught on immediately to the shape matching made by Anne’s class and the class photo matching game from Paige’s class.
It is amazing how this woman out of the goodness of her heart has taken on the responsibility for caring for these 71 children during the day.
Matching Game
Diane
We sang Hokey Pokey and Head and Shoulders… and we loved hearing the kids sing for us. This was such a special visit and Susiku was very moved by our gifts from our students and families so far away!
GSGC Travel Series: Chobe River
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 20, 2009
08/19/09
Correspondent Paige
Two days on a house boat floating down the Chobe river is a sight to behold! The land drives for viewing animals is great in that you can see up close and you are more focused. The river experience gives you a good overview of life along the river and an overview of the terrain. The river boat accommodates eight people and is very comfortable. It has three levels for viewing and relaxing and a gathering place for eating and sitting. We would go up the river and view animals and we were able to go out in small speed boats for a closer look!
time for a drink
The first night we were so fortunate to see many elephants coming down to drink and while we were focused on the elephants, someone looked up into the trees and bushes and spotted a female lion resting and sunning! So we parked ourselves there and waited for the lion to move etc..After a long wait, the lion began to move and show signs that it was dinner time. We observed it with great anticipation as it looked like it had spotted something interesting for dinner. It turned out to be a poor little Wart hog that it was after. The lion got into position ready to pounce on that little Wart hog and all of a sudden the squeals started and that Warthog dodged into a bush and into a waiting hole to escape the lion. Such is life on the Chobe river. We left the watering hole and headed back to the boat for ‘sundowners’ and dinner. Dinners are something to look forward to as they always make delicious three course meals.
The two nights on the boat passed too quickly and it soon was time to ‘push forward’ and make our way back to Livingstone where our real work begins. We have scheduled meetings, visitations, field trips with children, clinic visits, organic farm visits, orphaned children visits and loan recipient visits. I am excited about our time in Livingstone and I look forward to all the work ahead. I am very excited about our donations and any help we can offer. I am so fortunate to have this unique opportunity and know that I have had great support and donations from wonderful families.
Cheers,
Paige
GSGC Travel Series: Safari Update Pt.4
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
08/16/09
Correspondent Peter
The skies were dark blue and mirrored the shimmering Chobe River as we scanned the horizon full of multiple herds of majestic elephants. I’ve seen elephant many times before, but this was different. They seemed to own the horizon and belong there as much as that setting sun. I guess I really don’t have the words to describe what I felt and saw, so suffice that I am thankful for having the opportunity to witness them all. I then pulled my gaze from the horizon and to the elephants in my foreground. Here they took on the human trait of love and protection as a family of three crossed the croc’ infested river. The bull in front, the tiny calf in the middle and the mother right behind – the three of them walking in the protection of one another, safely, across the river.
As I write this blog, the day is coming to an end, the warm wind is blowing the scent of the crackling fire over me and I’m being serenaded by the bull frogs in the valley below as our crew is reminiscing over the day’s adventures.
- Peter
