Annick Shen

friday's at the volunteer house

Fri, 08 Jun 07 04:51:31 +0200

While I was there we started a new tradition during Volunteer House Fridays called bubble bath finishes. After the toddlers got in their brand new swimsuits donated by Lieveke's father's company and splashed about for a few hours in the pool, ate lunch that we had prepared for them, and then we were serenaded by the toddlers; they call got bubble bath. It was generally 3 to a bath. I never seen happier kids splashing about in warm bubble bath water. Water was every where. We believe we were able to scrub them down a bit more than what they normally get. It was nice to see the kids faces clean and clear. We all had so much fun doing it that it continued after that successful first time. I think some of the little ones preferred the bath over the pool. No matter what all of them loved their new bathing suits and had each of their names written inside of their suit. At 1pm,we would get them back to the orphanage for their naps. We would have a two hours to clean up the house before the older kids would come at 3pm to play at the Volunteer House.
It was nice to have the kids over and have some away from the orphanage a bit even though it wasn't far away.

a.

wandlie caught not napping

Wed, 06 Jun 07 18:35:54 +0200

At 1pm everyday, the seven toddlers are put down to nap post the tooth brushing session and foot/hand washing that takes place on the picnic tables. I caught Wandlie not napping during nap time. Wandlie, who's cognitively handicapped, did not attend his special needs school because he need to be home for his vaccination shots.
Wandlie can't speak. He's 4 years old. He often looks out to space, but every so often you hope he connects with you even if it is for a brief second. His only way to express himself is by crying, banging, or biting. He's a lot for the Aunties to handle so he was often locked up in the toddlers room. Several previous volunteers, Gunther, Pamela, and Tessa realized this needed this situation to be fixed. Gunther and Tessa found a specialized school for handicap kids and a handful of volunteers pooled their donations together to put Wandlie in this special school for the year.
From the teachers reports to Gunther and Tessa, Wandlie is doing much better. Agape is a tough place for him to live with 39 other kids because he requires so much attention. But Agape is doing the best they can by having a one of the Auntie's and a volunteer shadow Wandlie at school so they can mimick the school's structure at the orphanage as best as they can. Wandlie can register/ recognize pictures/ symbols but he can't speak. So cards have been made to show him snack, sleep, toilet, etc.
I know we all wish more could be done for him, but he's got a lot of love there at Agape. The other kids - young and old - really look after him a lot.
a.

p.s. added two more photos.

1. wandlie not napping
2. sbonga (center) and a few other nappers
3. nappers
4. another napper caught not sleeping

life at agape

Wed, 06 Jun 07 03:27:12 +0200

1. before the toddlers head to their nap, they all have to have their teeth brushed and hands and feet washed. Here in front row is Andishwa, Sbonga (center), and Unati holding up the rear.
2. two of the older girls hanging out in the front entrance of Agape
3. Peaceful walking toward me. She's put away her school uniform and is ready to join the other two girls.
4. Nasici hams it up w/ Mbali (who's holding the spoon).
5. Mbali - the girl of girls. what a singer! Mbali loves anything that is sparkly and pink.

6. Playground set currently on Agape grounds. It will be replaced once the new buildings are constructed. Two volunteers put their money together to buy this amazing playground set for the kids. It's made out of wood.
7. In the school Agape school bus w/ Babamuchali in order to pick up the older kids from school.
8. Snegugou playing in the room I helped paint w/ Diana and Sandra. Snegugou is really smart and eager to learn.

meet sbonga

Tue, 05 Jun 07 18:39:06 +0200

Well, as you can see I made a 3 year old pal at Agape and I miss her dearly. In my previous posts, I often wrote about my little tour guide through Agape's tomato garden and to the various handfuls of toiletas throughout the greater Durban area. She's a mischevious one and at times incredibly camera shy. She's a little thing, but when ever you carry her she helped as much as you could to hang on tight. She made me laugh every day and made me realize that everyting can be fixed with a "plaster" (band-aid) even if you don't have a visible boo boo.

1. sbonga at the volunteers' house
2. sbonga eating morning porridge w/ mbali
3. sbonga at the beach w/ her new bikini that was donated by a volunteers's father's company
4. sbonga playing mischeviously w/ the green balloon in her hand while having one of the smaller twins observing
5. sbonga walking by the eating area.
6. sbonga during one of her daily naps on my lap
7 - 12. sbonga playing w/ jungle gym annick and got nabushla holding my legs while the two little twins continue to observe from afar
12. sbonga w/ yellow ballon at the park - my second to last day.
13. sbonga's older sister and me.

fist set of photos: agape grounds + the twins

Mon, 04 Jun 07 14:38:17 +0200

Hi everyone,

Sorry it's taken me so long to get photos up. I will be sending more throughout the week.
The first set are of the agape grounds and the twins: unati + andishwa.

1. Unati is the one being held by Diana
2. Andishwa is sticking her tongue out.
3. Agape's outside entrance
4. Agape's poorly constructed new building (white) and the yellow building used to be the old kitchen and the kids bathrooms. the kids still use the bathroom.
5. Another perspective of the grounds: white trailer (foreground) is pamela's house (who runs agape and lives there with her son), the ruins of a new building taken down because it was so badly constructed, yellow building - last stanging building w/ bathrooms to be replaced, new buildings that are being reworked as we speak.
6. the twins walking to the bathroom
7. the grounds
8. the mattresses being aired out in the morning
9. the twins - andishwa in the front
10. old agape building where the bathrooms are located at the moment
11. the temporary housing for the kids...the two steel containers. All 40 kids and 4 aunties live there. the girls 12 and older live in the white containers. the yellow container is larger and houses the boys on one side and the toddlers - 9 year olds on the left side.
12. the twins.

zodwa

Wed, 16 May 07 14:28:18 +0200

Hello everyone!
So much to tell after the last post. I met the founder of Agape, Zodwa. After meeting Zodwa, I really understand what makes Agape such a special place and why the kids are so mindful. Zodwa sat three of us down and explained her philosophy that just giving a child food and clothes does not make them a good person, but her stress that each child is to respect themselves as well as others. That how they ask for love, attention, and food is just as important a step as getting/ finding those things. She really stresses the importance of teaching the children to be sensitive people. It all seems really basic and obvious, but I guess when working with kids in need you are so focused on what things they need that one becomes quick to just give without thinking of the whole process and the affect it has the on children. You can easily loose the bigger picture of what makes great kids, and thankfully Zodwa and her right hand person Pamela is there to make sure the children are truly well-rounded people. That as much as they need to move forward in life such as clothes, food, and education they also need the life skills to be kind, thankful, patient, and sensitive.
Zodwa's vision of Agape is what makes her children different and I am so grateful to be part of the Agape project. After visiting all the other projects, I believe that I choose the right project for me. Agape is hopeful and your interaction with the children are direct and the appreciation can be felt in returns through hugs and laughs. Besides, it freat to really see where the donated money is going. To have that connection, control in the decision making process, and to see actual improvments really makes a difference.
In the afternoon yesterday, we traveled to another project, Blue Roof that's created by Keep A Child Alive. The facilities are only partially done, but really well constructed. Blue Roof acts more like a HIV clinic and a community center. The clinic is currently working as well as their outreach programs going to schools and townships to give polio/ measel vacinations, but the rest is still in the works. It will have a strong impact on the community in the surrounding area. We got to speak to one of the volunteers and she said the outreach programs were the most fascinating and rewarding parts of her job. I still prefer Agape, but it was great to see Keep A Child Alive's presence in Durban. They had a poster w/ Alicia Keys, who heavily contributed to the construction of Blue Roof, and there in the poster picture w/ her were our kids. We had a blast figuring out who was who in the poster. We all felt really proud of them. I have a copy of the poster and will scanit when I am back for you all to see.
Gunter and Tessa also mentioned the documentary on Agape that was shown at the Tribeca fim festival won an award and that the AMCs in England picked up the rights to show the documentary in the theaters there. I have yet to see the documentary but I can't wait to.
Agape had some beyond amazing news yesterday....the facilities that are in complete desrepair and is really frustrating to see - is going to be in reconstruction sooner than what Be More had originally thought. Starting this week, the new architect is going to bring in his crew to begin a complete sweep. Supposedly, they will be replacing all the windows, putting in the ceilings, making new floors, replacing the poorly constructed doors, redoing the tiles on the damaged "new" roof, and putting in electricity. All the things that should have already been done before is finally going to move forward. Thank goodness. The architect thinks by the end of June the main community hall, kitchen, showers, and toilets should be completed. This will all make a huge difference in the children's lives considering they are currently living in such makeshift cramped living quarters. We all got really excited yesterday. I wish I could be here to see the end product.
We had a late meeting last night to decide where we are going to put our donations to use. With the money you have all given, what the kids really need is some outdoor lighting to be able to walk around the orphanage at night. The lighting will also provide more security for the kids and all the aunties on the grounds. At the moment, they are in the pitch dark walking to and from the toilets/ showers. Tomorrow in our 8am meeting, I will confirm with Tessa that my donation money can cover the complete costs. I personally hate walking in the dark so the idea of these kids not having light to walk to and from the toilet really upsets me. Any additional security is also a good thing for everyone there.
At the moment, the kids have a bucket in their room to go to the bathroom at night because it's not safe for them to walk to the toilets. The toilets are about 400 feet from their rooms. Little things like lighting really make a difference.
The only sad news, which isn't sad if they are happy and well, is that we haven't had the birthday party for the twins yet. It turned out that they went home for the weekend. But, Unati and Andishwa just haven't returned. They were suppose to come back on Monday, but it's now Wednesday and there has been no word or sight of them. I really hope they are good and that they do come back before I leave. But I am certain on their return they'll be really heartbroken for their father. At any age, let alone 5 years old - it never feels good to leave your parents. Selfishly, I would like to see them and say good-bye to them.
This leads into the hardest part that I've been struggling with...my time here is coming to an end. The time has been too short and there is so much more I wish I could do. At the same time, I am so grateful for even the short time I've been here. I am certain that the kids here have made more of an impact on me than I on them. They have to be used to volunteers coming in and out of their life. But upon my coming departure, it does feel really good to know that the hard work that we've all put into the kids and the orphanage is going to be picked up seamlessly by the next bunch of volunteers. This seamless transition is due in a large part to Tessa and Gunter, the Be More coordinators here in Durban. Their love and care for the kids and all of the other projects is the most geniune concern and attention. It's been really wonderful to work with them and get their insights/ suggestions on how to go about things here properly or just to understand why certain things occur.
I've been thinking a lot about the effects the kids/ agape have made on me and I just think they've made my heart bigger. It sounds so simple and maybe a little sacrine. But that's the only way I can really break it down for myself to understand. I will miss them greatly and it bothers me a lot when dealing with the reality that it is impossible to keep in touch w/ a 3 year old, who barely speaks Zulu let alone English. Saying thank you and giving them a hug seems so little compared to what they've given us all.
Since my time is really short and there will be several other good-byes in the next coming weeks - Sandra (ending her 4 weeks) and Diana (ending her 3 months) - I've decided my time spent with them will be having our Friday bubble bath extravaganza w/ the toddlers in the morning and then making some beaded bracelets. I discovered that making beaded jewerly is a big south african traditon so while I was in Capetown I found a bead store and proceed to buy a lot of beads. I thought it might be a nice little token for them to make and have. When I first left the bead store, I was really excited about the project idea and then I envisioned the mass choas occuring when the beads are placed out on the table. But with the help of the other volunteers, we have a "plan" in place...We'll see if the plan works. But no matter what it should be pretty fun and a little wild. The beads are small enough that if they eat them I am not that worried about it. A bead going up a nose might be another problem...but we'll cross this bridge when it and if it happens.
After the toddlers, the second round of older kids will come to the volunteer house on Friday to hang out, eat snacks, watch a movie, and if they want to make bracelets. I am sure we'll be pooped after the 40 kids, but we'll head out to dinner to hang out. My experience here has been as much with Agape as well as meeting these 4 really wonderful Dutch women. They have been really inclusive and it's been great to laugh w/ them when things happen.
Such as, Mbali - who's 4 and a true girl girl. In every sense of the word, she's a girl - it's truly genetic for her to be fancy and pretty. Today in class she cut out all of these pretty women pictures from the magazines and glued them down. When Sandra pointed to her pictures, Mbali proceeded to say, "It's me. It's me." If you could only see this little one sing and dance while swaying in her dress you'd laugh so hard. Anything with a sparkle catches her immediate attention.
I am not sure I'll be able to post again, but I will try. I think I am going to miss my tours that Sbonga gives me around the grounds. She likes to take me around to the tomato plants they are growing. I have absolutely no clue what she's chattering about, but it always ends with a laugh and a smile.
Thank you again for all your support. I'll see you all soon.
xo,
a

Bobbi Bear, Tree Clinic + Dream Center

Thu, 10 May 07 11:54:32 +0200

Yesterday, Tessa, our volunteer coordinator (who's Dutch and Indonesian) took 4 of us to visit the other projects in the Durban area. We first drove an hour and 1/2 to Bobbi Bear + the Tree Clinic. Both were started by a fireball of a white Zimbabwean woman named Jackie Branfield. She's a tornado and a true inspiration. She certainly does not lack any courage and will tell you exactly how it is.
As you can see, Jackie really made an impact on us all. Bobbi Bear is a rescue center for sexually abused children - generally from the ages of 4-6 years old. 80% of the children coming to Bobbi Bear are HIV postive. The rescue center is situated in a hidden location amongst the largest sugarcane fields in the Durban region. So it's beatufiul.
Unofficially, Jackie started her crusade in the late 80's and brought along her housekeeper named Sweetie, who to this day is Jackie's right hand. Both of them marched & rioted for women's rights and children's safety; and as a result were often jailed. Within South Africa, these two women have been changing the laws in the Durban courts in protection of women and children.
Jackie's background is a street kid from Zimbabwe. She is now married and has 4 children - 3 of them are in their 30's and her youngest is 13 years old and adopted. Her father died when she was 10 years old leaving her mother to take care of her and her two younger brothers. Basically, her mother worked 12 hour days while Jackie raised her borthers, which often meant she stole for them their school uniforms and whatever food they needed. Ironically, Jackie met her husband - who's a former Zimbabwe police officer - when he arrested her one day. He's a quiet but huge supporter of Jackie. That should give you a bit of an idea of Jackie. Overtly passionate and with only good intentions.
I believe her life on the streets has helped her connect with the women in the destitue townships.The tree clinic started when one day Jackie sat under this huge tree just outside of a township. Slowly women came up to speak to her asking advice about everything - mostly medical advisement and abuse within their home life. After many months of sitting under the tree every Wednesday, she had a group of women meeting under the tree where she gave clothes for the babies, food to the women, and general medical attention. The chief of the township declared the tree as a safety point for the women and provides every Wednesday three men to watch as the tree clinic operates from 10am-12pm. Two of the women on her staff now are women who came from the Tree clinic.
Only women and very young children can attend the clinic and they must be dressed in good condition clothes out of respect to the clinic. Men are not allowed and only young boys can attend if they are sick and need medical attention.
We arrived at Bobbi Bear - a few miles down the road - loaded the truck up with food, clothes, toys, blankets, and anything else you can imagine. Drove up to the tree. It's a huge beautiful tree and at first there were 10 women and many had little babies. Th average mother is about 15 years old. The women were a bit blown away to learn I was 32 and childless. Hopefully, they were more blown by my youthfulness...HA! Thank goodness we had Sandra there, who's 42 an with 3 of her own kids. She got huge applause.
By the end of the clinic, there were about 30 women. Each clinic starts out with a bible reading and then Jackie gave a sermon. She was really heated for this one because recently she saw a friend - a member of the township, who's helped their township a lot, starving. I forgot the name of the woman but she is an open HIV activist and is also HIV positive. She's helped people get help and over the stimga of AIDSS by talking openly about it, but due to the stigma of HIV no one watches out for her within her community. Jackie hadn't seen her at the tree for a bit so went to check on her and found her starving, alone, and in her very last stages of HIV.
During Jackie's talk, she really gave it to the women and said how could you not help a woman who's helped you over the years. How can women be strong if you can't help your fellow woman. Generally, her talk was about women empowerment, education, and belief in oneself. Tessa said this was a far more passionate talk because of the situation of Jackie's friend.
After the speech, there was a lot of singing, handing out of the donations, combing the women/ children's hair, and one boy had very ripped pants and no shoes so they quickly tried to find clothes and get his story of why he was not in school and why he's clothes are in such poor condition. Bobbi Bear volunteer interviews a child in need, makes a record, and follows it through during their stay. The record is then passed onto a new volunteer.
We then went to Bobbi Bear where Jackie showed us around the facilities. The facilities were impressive. Better than Agape, which was upsetting to see. Except for the past couple of years, Bobbie Bear was mostly funded by Jackie's husband's insurance company he now has.
In short - hard to do - when a child comes to bobbi bear - the cousenlors immediately interview the child to see if there has been an sexual penetration. They use the bear to help get this information out. If so, the child is rushed to the hospital - given a medical examine - and usually PAP afterwards. Pap is the drug that can prevent HIV from establishing it self in the body. This has to be done w/in 24 hrs. The drug companies say 72 but out of Jackie's experience she said 24hr. Once that happens - which is hard to do - they then go to the police w/ one of the bobbi bear counselors to mediate between the child and the police.
Jackie is trying to get special video equipment set up so that the children can explain what happens in the security of Bobbi Bear so that the child doesn't have to be brought in front of the courts where currently they stand next to their perpetrator. This is kind of video system is used in England's child protection unit. South Africa doens't have a child protection unit anymore. This video system just prevents the child from more traumitization.
There is so much to tell but in general Bobbi Bear has been able to get the government to pay for PAP if a child has been raped - it's medicine that needs to be taken 28 days at the same time every day; get the perpetrator to be locked up until proven guilty so the child isn't the one taken away from their home but the accused parent or adult; and been able to get cases pushed through the system within a 3 year time frame instead of the usual 5 -6 years.
Jackie is now currently taking on internet porn as well. As you can tell, she's a real thorn in the Durban police department, but her work has helped so many children. It's all been grass roots and by an informally educated woman with a ton of energy and gusto.
After Bobbi Bear and Tree clinic, we went to the Dream Center. The Dream Center is in Pinetown (closer to Waterfall) and a private hospital where people in their final stages of AIDS - 5th stage come. 80% die there and 20% learn to take their ARV drugs, get better, and leave the center. It was hard to see because for the most part everyone in there was 20-25 years old. There was also one 13 year old girl. The conditions are not the best - things are clean and the rooms / hallways are dark. Many of the patients don't have the strength to do much more than just lie in their beds. They are rail thin and gaunt in the face.Going outside and doing activities are not really something they can do. It's hard on the 5 Dutch volunteers there but they are all interning here to be accredited nurses.
I feel so lucky to be working at Agape and be around a bunch of lively kids. Walking into the Dream Center and visiting with the people for a day was doable, but I couldn't imagine doing that every day for 4 months. I give those 5 Dutch volunteers and all people in the medical world a huge hats off to because the intensity of the situation was more than what I could bare to see every day. Even Bobbi Bear had so much more hope and good energy than the Dream center.
We got home around 4pm after a very early start. I haven't been sleeping well at night. The mattresses in our bunk are rock hard and I had an early flight out to Capetown for the weekend. Hopefully, I will see one of my photographers - Per-Anders Pettersson - who I work with at my real job - Getty Images. He lives in Capetown and since I was so close we thought we would try to meet up but currently he's on assignment in Soweto.
Something I have been pleased to see is that in Durban every bathroom in the airport and most public restrooms have free condoms. It's not in every public toilet because as you all know very well...I have visited many toilets in Durban. Just a little info - the kids call the toilet - "toileta".
Thank you for all your supprot and super kind posts. I can't wait to be back with the children especially after yesterday.
xo,
a

Naledy

Thu, 10 May 07 10:49:30 +0200

One of the 10 year old girls had a rough day. Her name is Naledy. Usually, Naledy is full of spunk, bright faced, and very mindful of others, but her mood yesterday was really off. She wouldn't speak to anyone. Finally some of the older girls told us that a gift from Naledy's mother had suddenly disappeared. It was a beautiful bottle of perfume that one of the Aunties had stored away so Naledy wouldn't lose it.
Naledy's story is pretty sad. At a very young age, her father ran away and left her mother and her. Her mother brought her to Agape because she is HIV positive and in the final stages of AIDS. There is no other family for Naledy to go to. Naledy has only been at the orphanage for a year, and for each holiday she visits her mother at the public hospital. On her last trip, Naledy cut her time short because her mother's condition had severly worsened.
It's not often I see the children sad, but when it happens it is so hard not to notice. Their courage of taking on life with such zest and vigor is inspirational and courageous. Naledy's mood slowly melted away through the day or at least she gave us that impression. I found her smiling and playing. I hope one of the Auntie's find her gift from her mother and that it was just misplaced and not stolen.
_______________________________________________________________
A little update on the twins: Andishwa and Unati's mother died soon after their birth. Their father could not afford raising the children and living in Waterfall. He found a job in Joburg where he lives and barely pays rent. During the long holidays, the twins, who are 4 and soon to turn 5, visit him there or he comes down to see them.
Birthdays aren't big Zulu holidays so he won't be here for their 5th birthday on Sunday. We'll be toasting their birthday on Monday.

Andishwa + Unati - the twins

Mon, 07 May 07 16:15:46 +0200

Andishwa and Unati - the 4 year old twins - are not identical and very sweet. They alternate in crying and I can never figure out why one is crying. All of sudden one of them bursts out in huge crocdile tears. The other shortly follows.
Andishwa is the little girl in the photo w/ me. The only successful photo post that I've had so far. I had a really sweet photo of them holding hands and going to the toilet together.
I am amazed how they both really look after each other. They move at their speed and you certainly can't make them move any faster. Andishwa has these huge brown eyes and fuller cheeks. I can only tell them apart by their cheeks and the shape of their eyes. Unati is quieter and doesn't require as much attention. She's more reserved unlike her twin, who giggles easily. However, Unati blossomed with mini - golf. She understood the concept of getting the ball to mov forward by the use of the club. Ulike many of the other little ones who picked up the balll and ran to the hole to drop it in. Unati patiently moved her ball to the hole w/ her club and was very satisfied w/ herself when the ball went in after all the hardwork.
Both girls have a little s shaped body: little legs, tummies, and little bums that stick out. They are really adorable. This Sunday they turn 5 so everyone has been practicing singing happy birthday in English and Dutch. Granted it's a week ahead, but you can see the excitment of a possible birthday party on the horizon brewing.
That was suppose to be a photo of the two girls...damn.
Sorry about that. I wish you could all see the photos and connect the names with their faces.
Thank you again.
Hello from South Africa!
a.

It was a super great weekend! apologies for long post.

Mon, 07 May 07 16:01:28 +0200

Well, we all survived our 12 hour adventure on Saturday with just 30 kids and no aunties. There was no sharks at the beach, no one got swung in the head w/ a mini golf club, we survived our first time experience with encountering escalators, and successfully gorged ourselves on KFC. It was an all around blissful day but I can easily say that us - the volunteers - were wiped out. Possibly the kids as well.
At 6am we woke up and made 80 sandwhiches and 5 litters of diluted orange drink for the kids. By 8am we rolled into Agape, piled the 30 kids and us - 6 volunteers - into the agape bus. The bus's legal maximum holds 22 people, but that didn't stop us. We then drove for an hour to Durban, which was the first time I saw it.
The Aunties dressed the kids in their finest clothes and I have to say they all looked spectacular! I especially loved Sbonga (3years old), Unati, one of the twins (age 4 turning 5 this Sunday n Mother's day), and Boy's outfit. Yes, there is a little 4 year old boy named Boy. He is the only guy out of the 7 toddlers...so he's got a super harim with him and he acts the part w/ a super low voice and struts/ waddles his way to the beach.
I walked w/ each twin and they are the slowest moving humans in the face of the earth. It's like having an anchor tied to you. They really don't believe in time and just wander their way as they see fit. I have really learned to slow down.
The youngest ones of the group was Sbonga (3) and then the oldest was Phalani (18). We got to the beach about 10amish. It took us awhile to get everyone aboard the bus because we had swimsuit changing going on and then we had to make sure the little ones had gone to the toilet before they sat in the bus for an hour.
Durban's beach was beautiful. Once again, the Indian ocean reminded me a lot of the Pacific w/ the piers jutting out and the big expanse of water and nice waves. All 36 of us were at the beach from 10 - 3pm and it was hot, but the water was perfect. 3 volunteers would stay up on the beach and the other three took willing groups to the ocean. I realize their is many toilet comments, but the little ones broke the record in visiting the toilets. I can easily say I have never visited the toilet so often. I think the idea of having a toilet nearby and so clean was such a great novelty to the little ones - that they went often. They thought it was good fun.
By 1pm, the twins - Unati and Andishwa, Sbonga, and Boy decided they were done...so they dressed themselves, sat on their towels, and waited for another 2 hours. For being 3/ 4 years old, I was amazed at their indepence and patience. It was boiling hot out there. Not crying.
The only little one who had troubles was Wandlie, who's autistic and when he gets angry he bites - which is no fun. He ran every where so there had to be one volunteer dedicated to him. He must of eaten a at least a pound of sand, but it was great to see him love the water. He had a lot of fits and when he can't express himself - it is really tough and trying. Besides him biting, he just sreams. We had to alternate every 30 mins because it was so tough for each volunteer to watch him for longer than that. At the end of the day, we were glad he came but it would have been significantly easier to not have him come along.
After the beach, we took the kids to put put golf and I have to say most of of them had never been to a mall nor seen escalators. Durban is a large sophisticated city...so there are malls and so forth. Our small group of 36 made a HUGE bottleneck at the escalators because the kids were so scared of the moving steps. People at the mall got really upset with us and couldn't understand, but when we told them they had never been on an escalator - you could tell they felt really bad for yelling at us. This was a bit stressful, but it all worked out.
I think the escalator could of been the best thing ever for them, but after we got the group down the first set of escalators the kids were easily distracted by all the shops of the mall. We quickly moved onto the mini golf.
My group was Sbonga (3), Unati (3 and possibly the next world class South African golfer), and Tando (5). Clubs were swinging and they all became deeply attached to their colored balls. Nothing was better for them than having their colored ball disappear into a dark hole only to pop out somewhere else. It was AMAZING! The laughter and frenzy it created was out of this world. Luckily, I didn't get hit with a club either...I thought it could of been a flop, but far from it.
It was about 5pm, when we shuffled & piggy backed the kids back to the bus. Bob asked everyone if they had fun and they all shouted "Agape". I think they were tired and wanted to go home, which must mean we were successful in entertaining them, right?
But we hadn't hit the big wonder of it all, KFC. Note, I will not be visting KFC for the rest of my life. In a small KFC, we took over the WHOLE seating area with everyone sharing a seat. I have never seen more fried chicken in my whole life, chips, coleslaw, and bread rolls. Tessa, our volunteer coordinator, had preordered 10 big family bucks with our left over money. In addition, someone in line waiting to get food donated another 2 huge buckets...not that the kids looked like there were short for food by then...so we brought 3 buckets of chicken back to the Agape at the end of the evening. There were no seats left for us - the volunteers - so we stood ate, managed food coming/ going, toilet runs, napkins, and all general choas that comes with 30 kids and crazy excitment. The KFC pitched in ice cream ontop of that as a gift and little plastic toys, which was really sweet. The kids sugar level was sky rocketing.
The most notable thing at KFC was to see the kids hide food from us even though they were stuffed. It just showed their uncertainty of when they would get their next food and if they would be full from their next meal. This just broke all of our hearts. It was especially disheartening to see the kids w/ tummy aches from eating so much and so fast, had their pockets of food hidden. Nothing went to waste.
Sbonga, the slowest eater, and the other little ones would alternate between chicken and ice cream. But in the end every scrap was gone.
Somehow, the place didn't look destroyed when we left and we had the kids say thank you in unison to the whole KFC crew which was sweet and very boisterous. The kids returned home to Agape and we came home to washing swimsuits, putting things away, towel washing, and general fatigue from a really good day. We were also all severally burnt and we all glowed a wonderful bright pink color.
The next morning was ours to do as we wish. We all thought about sleeping in late but we got a call at 8am to be up and ready by 9am to go "jumping".
I got a very unique view of South Africa yesterday from 9,000 feet up. I went skydiving and it was MAGNICIFENT! So pretty and I loved the free fall! That kind of woke me up. 4 of us spent the whole day doing that. We came home by 6pm and then headed to a dinner out because we couldn't imagine cooking. Too much effort.
Today, we shopped for groceries for school. We buy fruit everyday for the kids to have in the afternoon when the older ones come back from school and the young ones wake up from their nap. At school, Sandra and I finished painting the classroom we were working on, we then cleaned the floor, and put on our first coat of "stoep" (cement) enamel. I felt like we accomplished a lot and walked over to the internet. Today will be long - we have to go to the airport to pick up the kids coming back from NYC at 8pm in Durban. 9 kids were in NYC to be part of the choir for Alicia Keys and Bono's fundraiser song that will go along w/ the documentary about Agape orphanage, Keep a Child Alive, and the other projects like Bobbi Bear and Dream Center. The connection is Keep A Child Alive from Leigh Blake, who started Red Hot with Bono in the early 90's and also the campaign that used celebrities like Gwenythn Paltrow that said "I am African too." I am sure you all have seen this campaign that was in the 90's that caused a bit of stir.
That should be fun to see and meet these 9 kids. I am sure it will give them all an incredibly distorted view of American life to have met two celebrities and be in NYC. Oh well.
Tomorrow, two kids will come over the volunteer house to cook dinner w/ us after the normal school day. Hopefully, the second coat of paint will be placed on the floor and be drying. On Wednesday, we are visting Bobbie Bear - the center for sexually abused kids, and the Dream Center - where they help the people in the last stages of AIDS to pass away peacefully. It should be eye opening and a huge learning curve.
I am really enjoying my colleagues and we have had some great talks about AIDS and culture and just the problems of Agape and the South African government. Unfortunately, there is much we can really do more than what we are doing. I am also learning more and more Dutch.
I am going to try to give you profiles of each kid I have learned of so far. I know the 7 little ones now. Since I don't see the school kids as much it is harder, but it's coming. So I end this post to add another. Sorry no pics.
Thank you again for all your wonderful support!
cheers,
a

photos failed

Fri, 04 May 07 15:02:47 +0200

sorry guys the photo part of this blog is not going to happen. obviously the images didn't come up whole.
have a great day! miss you all.
love,
a

Attempting this once again before the weekend

Fri, 04 May 07 14:59:38 +0200

My apologies for my ramblings yesterday. There is so much to tell and I feel like I am racing against the clock here at the Internet cafe to get my blog posted along with the photos. I have failed numerous times with the photos...so you might not see another photo until I get home. Sorry about that.
We had a great day today so far. The 7 little ones from age 3-7 came to our volunteer house where they jumped in the small pool in the backyard. One of volunteer's father works at a swimsuit place and so he kindly donated small suits for the 6 little girls and 1 boy named boy. All of them were excited to be in their suits which we had to label with their names. After much water and jumping around in a freezing pool (it ws my first time as well in the pool), we took them to the bath in a group of 2. I think they enjoyed the bath and the bubbles far more than the pool. After a lot more water plus bubbles - that went every where in the house, we got all of the littles dressed, had snacks, and they sang songs for us before they headed back to Agape for their nap. It was nice to see them all clean and fully satisfied.
Since beds and space are a rare at Agape, 4 little ones per bed. It's a pretty tight squeeze for all of them but they make do with no complaints. In each room, one Auntie sleeps with the children.Litterally, the Aunties share a bed w/ the a few children. The beds are no larger than standard twin size beds. For the little ones, often the mattresses need to be aired out the next day because the mattress are old and their are nightly accidents.
Tomorrow we have a day with them that we've arranged- we are taking 38 kids from 3 - 15 to the beach and put put golf. There are 6 adults so it should be a wild day that ends at KFC as their special dinner. The kids prefer chicken over beef so KFC is a big treat.
I am sure there is more to tell...but I need to try putting photos up. If I am successful, the photos of the facilities of Agape and then two from today at the volunteer's house during the swim/ bubble bath. If this doesn't work, I think I am going to call it quits for the photo part of this blog. Again, thank you for your support.
cheers,
annick

First two days

Thu, 03 May 07 16:34:55 +0200

Hello Everyone,
I have arrived safely and been immediately at work at the orphanage. I thought I would have more availability to the internet but that's not the case. I will probably post twice a week.
Anyway, it's beauitful here and I can't begin to tell you how the climate and the landscape reminds me of California. It is absolutely gorgeous. The volunteer house is about a 10 minute bus ride and a 25 minute walk, but there is a huge division of where we live as volunteers and where the kids are located. The socioeconomic gap is huge and as I have driven through the area I have gone through pockets of really nice manicured green lawns (white) to more crowded not so "nice" (black) areas. But all seems to be really safe. I walked home last night with one of the volunteers and it was so quiet and peaceful. Thankfully, we had a huge full moon to light our way - the sun dropped faster than we anticipated. It's becoming winter so the days are hot and then by 4pm it cools down a bit...but it is nothing like NYC.
I live with 4 Dutch women: Sandra, Diana, Verona, and the last one I can't spell off the top of my head. They are all really wonderful. Except for Sandra, who arrived the same day as I did, they have all been here a lot longer. I spend 90% of my day with them and cook our evening meals together. In the past two days, I've learned some Dutch so that's been a bonus.
As for the kids - the real juice of this story...they are truly magnificent.
I have never been hugged more and been warmly accepted by so many little ones. Tessa, our coordinator, doesn't tell us which kids are actually HIV positive because they don't want us to discriminate against the kids. If the kids get cut badly, the 4 "Aunties" take care of the child. The kids are really resilent and run around barefooted with broken glass every where.
The most shocking thing is the children's living conditions. The conditions are deplorable. I didn't expect the orphanage to be in such a poor condition. For over a year and a half, the structural conditions are worse than usual due to the fire. There are 3 metal containers that have been created as the childrens' homes. The little ones - 1- 7 live there with one "Auntie", the boys from the ages of 8-15 live in another, and the girls from 8-15 live in the third. The windows to the containers are mostly broken off their hinges or then the actual glass is shattered.
There were new building built, but the job was given to a bad contractor and so most of the new building are inhabitable. Recently, the architect who designed the new world cup stadium for 2010 has donated his time to redraw plans and has offered a more reliable constructor. Hopefully, by Christmas, the kids will be living in the new cottages. They have been incredible troopers.
My first day, I was just overwhelmed by everything at the Agape Center and some considerable jet lag. Thanks to some Ambien given to me...I have been back on my legs. The biggest challenge I am coming across is remembering and being able to pronounce all the kids names. They are really difficult. For once, I have come across more difficult names than my own. The kids taunt me that I don't know theirs and they know mine. I am against a tough smart crowd of kids.
Yesterday, my day started out with a little one promply sitting on my lap, and as we sang some songs this little one proceeded to wet her "nappy" (diaper) and me all in one go. That was a great welcome. With Diana, we spent the rest of the day deciding how to restructure/ repaint one of the new classrooms the children can safely use. We headed to a hardware store in the nearby town and on the way we picked up the 15 children from school - ages ranging from 6-15.
"Bob" - there always seems to be a "Bob" somewhere - said I was worth 50,000 cows...Not exactly priceless but I thought it wasn't too bad considering he said each cow goes for about 5,000. Later, I learned that 5,000 was in Rand and so I am much further away from priceless. In general, girls' doweries go for 11,000 cows. Asked about being considered priceless and Bob just laughed so I think that's a no. So on my second day I was peed on within 10 minutes of getting to the Agape center and then by the end of the day was bartered for 50,000 cows...not bad huh? All good work done in one day.
I could keep on going...but I should post some pics for you all to meet a few of the kids. I wish I knew their names, but I probably won't know them until I leave. I got 3 down right now. Remember this is my first posting so not sure how this will all turn out.
Miss you all and thank you for your support.
Cheers,
a

p.s. only could post one photo

Just about to leave - not finished packing - no surprise

Sun, 29 Apr 07 13:48:51 +0200

Good morning everyone,

I am getting ready to leave today and I still have a lot to get together. Hopefully, that will all happen soon. That would be ideal. Well, I want to thank you all for your unwavering support and love. I will keep you posted on my adventure as often as I can.

Enjoy May and I will see you all very soon!

cheers,
a

Hello everyone!

Mon, 19 Mar 07 02:07:23 +0100

It's my first post and I am officially starting my count down to Agape project in Waterfall, South Africa. I am extremely excited to meet the children and return to Africa.
Thank you for making your donations and helping the children at Agape in South Africa! I hope when you have a chance to check in and read my posts while I am there.
cheers,
a.