A week in the life of Kristal:
Everyday I wake up around 6 or 6:30 am. And it is always before my alarm goes off. My body just naturally wakes up that early. I love it.
Monday - Prayer meeting at 8:00 am. This consists of singing and praying and singing and some dancing and singing and words from God. Then I might have some meetings, maybe I'll hang out with a student, maybe I'll do some photocopying and school preparations. I'll go home around 5 and enjoy a lovely house supper. Every Monday someone from the farm cooks supper for everyone. There are 12 of us living at the farm. I cooked last week. I cooked roast beef and mashed potatoes and gravy and broccoli and cheese sauce and made carrot cake for dessert. It was a bit stressful as we somehow ended up having 18 people for supper. Then on Monday is the day of the week I usually choose to shower, as our cleaning lady Maria is in that day and the shower (shared between 7 people) is at its best! It turns dark around 5 and find myself exhausted and in bed by 9.
Tuesday - I wake up head to women's prayer at 8:00 am. It's in the prayer garden and it is a beautiful time of sharing and praying for one another. After that I head to the community where my classroom is. Class starts at 9. Classes are until 3pm until the After School Program starts. The After School Program is basically a homework/tutor session for orphan students in grades 9-12. They come, receive a meal, have a life skills/ English lesson and then have about an hour or so for homework help. I go home around 4:30.
Wednesday - This morning is supposed to be small group, but for some reason I haven't been to one yet. I think I'll be attending the Masoyi prayer meeting instead. Masoyi is an organization that Hands at Work helped to start. It provides home-based care for people of need in the community. It's focuses are food delivery, orphan care, home visits and care for the sick, young moms program, better choices program, etc. My classroom is on the same property as Masoyi's offices and one of the orphan care centers. It's a happening place and I love every second of being there. After the meeting I have class until 3, then After School until 4:30.
Thursday - No meetings. I go to class at 9 and go home at 4:30.
Friday - No classes. I am usually quite ambitious on this day, as it is the first day of the weekend for me. I either find myself on some sort of mountain climbing adventure, picnic, baking extravaganza, or some equally exciting endeavor. Friday can also be spent planning, grading, and photocopying.
Saturday - Another day of either teacher duties or adventures. Sometimes both.
Sunday - Some form of church. Sometimes I attend really lame banjo-playing churches, sometimes really exciting and overwhelming community church, or just spend some time in fellowship with some incredible people. Today a group of us ladies went on a picnic in a pear orchard just outside a beautiful mining town.
I'd like to spend a bit more time talking about class, the students, the community, and Masoyi Home-Based Care. But alas, I will procrastinate and save it for another day.
Peace out Canadian Scouts.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Stories
I sit here trying to figure out what it is I should say or how I should start sharing with you the last two weeks. It’s honestly been a drag every time I’ve stumbled upon a computer because I know I need to let you all know how I am but feeling so overwhelmed with all I have to say. And the more I put it off, the harder it gets.
So.
First off, Siyaphila (I’m alive).
It’s been quite an experience so far. And some of the things I’ve experienced I’m going to refrain from telling just in case word gets to my mother and she forces me to come home.
But I think right now it’s best to start off by telling the stories of two families that I had the privilege of visiting today.
This is the story of three boys: Simpiwe, Daniel, and Seboneso. Simpiwe and Daniel are brothers. Simpiwe is 17 and Daniel is 12. They have the same mother but different fathers, both of whom are nowhere to be found (something too common in this community). Seboneso is 15. The story begins with Simpiwe and Daniel’s mother taking care of Seboneso’s sick mother. The house consisted of the three boys, two mothers, and a grandmother. Seboneso’s mother passed away and the boy was adopted into the family. Shortly later, the grandmother passed away. Shortly later, Simpiwe and Daniel’s mother became sick and Simpiwe stayed home to care for his mother. She died in 2005, when Simpiwe was 14, Daniel was 9, and Seboneso was 12. The first sad fact is that death is all these kids have ever known - three people dying within a short period of time. How are these kids even supposed to understand death? They must be asking themselves why everyone in their life has died and left them.
Finding food is a struggle for them. All the boys are in grade 7 (School is a very difficult obstacle for these kids to overcome. Failure and repetition is very common.) and so can not hold a job in order to buy food. We praise them for remaining in school. First of all, there are no jobs in Masoyi and second of all the future of these boys lies in education. If they expect to make anything of themselves, education is the only way. Masoyi Home-Based Care checks on these boys often, making sure all their basic needs are met. They supply them with blankets, food, school uniforms, and other things they need. But they can only do and give so much. The food given to these boys only lasts about two weeks, and then they need to find food. They have an aunt that helps them out, but even she has 5 of her own children to care for so it’s a stretch to help another three.
What shook me up the most was their home. Most of the homes in Masoyi are small cement shacks, but this one was far beyond what I have seen. It was a small shack with wood slabs for walls and a detached tin roof. There were large spaces between the wood panels and blankets stuffed in between the roof and the walls to absorb water. The floor is the ground. The boys live in the worst possible area in Masoyi – they live down hill and they live on the very edge of the community, near bush. Being near bush and having many holes in their walls gives plenty opportunity for snakes and rats to enter and dwell within their house. Further, because they live downhill, during rainy seasons, the water runs down their hill and along their floor (the ground). I can’t imagine what happens on a rainy day. The kids are sitting on their beds, trying to escape the water running at their feet and wrapping themselves in damp blankets, trying to escape the water dripping from the roof and leaking through the walls.
Usually orphans can apply and receive government funding. In order to receive this funding, they have to have the death certificates of both their parents and prove their orphan status. Daniel receives government funding, but unfortunately for the boys whose fathers are still alive, they cannot get funding. They aren’t technically “orphans”. They live on their own, have no idea who their father is, yet they cannot receive money.
These boys are a success story. They continue to go to school. They have no one encouraging them to go. They have no one telling them to do their homework. The oldest boy comes home from school, cooks supper, cares for the basic needs of his brothers, and tries to do some homework. And what’s the reality? Is there even a point to these boys finishing school? It’s their only hope and for them to still be holding on to that hope, that is the success story.
The second story is of two 17 year old twin girls: Uni and Unise. They were orphaned when they were 3 months old. Their sister Mavis, who was 10 when their mother passed away, was left to care for Uni, Unise, and their brother who was 4 at the time. Imagine being 10 and caring for two newborns and a 4 year old boy! Mavis just passed away this past January, leaving behind her 7 year old son. Now Uni and Unise are living alone with their nephew. The brother is a bright student and received a bursary to attend university. The girls are currently in grade 8. They lived in a house similar to Simpiwe’s but last year received government housing. They too are receiving support from Masoyi Home-Based Care, but Masoyi can only do so much. They also run out of food early and need to somehow find food.
Another sad story I heard was about a girl and her younger sister living alone. They became desperate for food so the older sister had to get a boyfriend. He’s 32. Basically she sleeps with this man for food. Their house is one room. There are two beds close together. Even if the man does nothing with the younger sister, she is still there all the time. She’s in the same room. She’s growing up thinking that this is life. There will come a point when she will feel it’s her turn to fulfill her role. And I haven’t even brought AIDS into this story.
We can’t even imagine the cycle these children are born into. Can’t even imagine.
So.
First off, Siyaphila (I’m alive).
It’s been quite an experience so far. And some of the things I’ve experienced I’m going to refrain from telling just in case word gets to my mother and she forces me to come home.
But I think right now it’s best to start off by telling the stories of two families that I had the privilege of visiting today.
This is the story of three boys: Simpiwe, Daniel, and Seboneso. Simpiwe and Daniel are brothers. Simpiwe is 17 and Daniel is 12. They have the same mother but different fathers, both of whom are nowhere to be found (something too common in this community). Seboneso is 15. The story begins with Simpiwe and Daniel’s mother taking care of Seboneso’s sick mother. The house consisted of the three boys, two mothers, and a grandmother. Seboneso’s mother passed away and the boy was adopted into the family. Shortly later, the grandmother passed away. Shortly later, Simpiwe and Daniel’s mother became sick and Simpiwe stayed home to care for his mother. She died in 2005, when Simpiwe was 14, Daniel was 9, and Seboneso was 12. The first sad fact is that death is all these kids have ever known - three people dying within a short period of time. How are these kids even supposed to understand death? They must be asking themselves why everyone in their life has died and left them.
Finding food is a struggle for them. All the boys are in grade 7 (School is a very difficult obstacle for these kids to overcome. Failure and repetition is very common.) and so can not hold a job in order to buy food. We praise them for remaining in school. First of all, there are no jobs in Masoyi and second of all the future of these boys lies in education. If they expect to make anything of themselves, education is the only way. Masoyi Home-Based Care checks on these boys often, making sure all their basic needs are met. They supply them with blankets, food, school uniforms, and other things they need. But they can only do and give so much. The food given to these boys only lasts about two weeks, and then they need to find food. They have an aunt that helps them out, but even she has 5 of her own children to care for so it’s a stretch to help another three.
What shook me up the most was their home. Most of the homes in Masoyi are small cement shacks, but this one was far beyond what I have seen. It was a small shack with wood slabs for walls and a detached tin roof. There were large spaces between the wood panels and blankets stuffed in between the roof and the walls to absorb water. The floor is the ground. The boys live in the worst possible area in Masoyi – they live down hill and they live on the very edge of the community, near bush. Being near bush and having many holes in their walls gives plenty opportunity for snakes and rats to enter and dwell within their house. Further, because they live downhill, during rainy seasons, the water runs down their hill and along their floor (the ground). I can’t imagine what happens on a rainy day. The kids are sitting on their beds, trying to escape the water running at their feet and wrapping themselves in damp blankets, trying to escape the water dripping from the roof and leaking through the walls.
Usually orphans can apply and receive government funding. In order to receive this funding, they have to have the death certificates of both their parents and prove their orphan status. Daniel receives government funding, but unfortunately for the boys whose fathers are still alive, they cannot get funding. They aren’t technically “orphans”. They live on their own, have no idea who their father is, yet they cannot receive money.
These boys are a success story. They continue to go to school. They have no one encouraging them to go. They have no one telling them to do their homework. The oldest boy comes home from school, cooks supper, cares for the basic needs of his brothers, and tries to do some homework. And what’s the reality? Is there even a point to these boys finishing school? It’s their only hope and for them to still be holding on to that hope, that is the success story.
The second story is of two 17 year old twin girls: Uni and Unise. They were orphaned when they were 3 months old. Their sister Mavis, who was 10 when their mother passed away, was left to care for Uni, Unise, and their brother who was 4 at the time. Imagine being 10 and caring for two newborns and a 4 year old boy! Mavis just passed away this past January, leaving behind her 7 year old son. Now Uni and Unise are living alone with their nephew. The brother is a bright student and received a bursary to attend university. The girls are currently in grade 8. They lived in a house similar to Simpiwe’s but last year received government housing. They too are receiving support from Masoyi Home-Based Care, but Masoyi can only do so much. They also run out of food early and need to somehow find food.
Another sad story I heard was about a girl and her younger sister living alone. They became desperate for food so the older sister had to get a boyfriend. He’s 32. Basically she sleeps with this man for food. Their house is one room. There are two beds close together. Even if the man does nothing with the younger sister, she is still there all the time. She’s in the same room. She’s growing up thinking that this is life. There will come a point when she will feel it’s her turn to fulfill her role. And I haven’t even brought AIDS into this story.
We can’t even imagine the cycle these children are born into. Can’t even imagine.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Oh London, London I hope it's not raining where you are
I am in London.
No, I lied. I am in Heathrow Airport, which is close to London, but not close enough. It's too far to explore.
I haven't really slept much yet.
They are playing Spice Girls
Goodbye my friend (I know you're gone, you said you're gone,
but I can still feel you here)
It's not the end (gotta keep it strong before the pain
turns into fear)
I have a song stuck in my head.
How come everytime you come around,
My London, London bridge, wanna go down like,
London, London, London, wanna go down like,
London, London, London, we goin’ down like…
Monday, May 26, 2008
Left and Leaving -- ish?
Last night I hung out with some great friends to really embrace my last night in Canada. Took in some McDonald's, went to church, and was sure to shower (hygiene is not usually of importance to me, but since I hadn't showered for a week, I figured it would put me over the top to add two full days of air travel grease). I didn't get to bed until about 3:30 am and was up at 4:30 am. My departure was 7:45 am and was meeting at the airport early with my Dad and Dean. Alissa drove me to the airport and as we drove I glanced at my ticket.
Departure 745PM
PM!!
PM!!
So we turned around and headed back to Alissa's. So much anticipation -- destroyed. What a great way to start off my trip.
I hung out with my Dad and Dean for the time leading up to my ACTUAL departure. We shopped. We were done shopping and got to the airport to check in.
Lynn (the director of Forward Education) told me I could collect all my paperwork and bring it with me to South Africa to obtain a visa. That's exactly what I did. Apparently, that wasn't good enough. They wouldn't let me in. The airline lady said that South Africa is extremely hard to get into. She told the story of an executive doctor man who flew to South Africa without a visa. As soon as he arrived, they imprisoned him for 2 days, charged $10 000 and flew him back right away after.
This was serious business.
We tried to figure out my options. What made my options difficult was the ticket that I had purchased. I received it through a travel agency and it was called an IT (International Tariff). Apparently this is a super highly discounted ticket and the airline has NOTHING to do with it. There are major restrictions that have to do with it, and the airline cannot change it.
Shoot.
BUT somehow, the lady worked her magic and they changed my flight so that I would come back August 21 (3 months is the longest stay allowed without a visa). So I'm coming home August 21.
But not actually.
As soon as I get to South Africa, I need to try and change my ticket. The airline lady couldn't tell me if this would even be possible. She said, "You'll just have to deal with it there."
So welcome to my first day.
I shouldn't have eaten buffalo chicken fingers for supper.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Two Days.
Well, it is exactly two days, fourty-eight hours, before I leave. I woke up early and can't seem to move from this spot. There are so many feelings stirring and brewing inside of me.
scared
anxious
excited
lonely
stressed
overwhelmed
uncertain
Saying good-bye to everyone in the last month has only brought me to tears once. That was yesterday, saying bye to Grandma Gadsby. But perhaps that sample is biased as the whole day was just awful.
Uncle Jim died. Hardest funeral of my life.
And it is that reason too, that I wish I could be here. For Jillian.
I've known for 5 months that this is what I am supposed to do. But as I get closer, the feelings of sureness are slowly slipping and becoming consumed by feelings of fear. That is to be expected, I guess. On a wedding day, getting cold feed is common.
I'm marrying South Africa.
scared
anxious
excited
lonely
stressed
overwhelmed
uncertain
Saying good-bye to everyone in the last month has only brought me to tears once. That was yesterday, saying bye to Grandma Gadsby. But perhaps that sample is biased as the whole day was just awful.
Uncle Jim died. Hardest funeral of my life.
And it is that reason too, that I wish I could be here. For Jillian.
I've known for 5 months that this is what I am supposed to do. But as I get closer, the feelings of sureness are slowly slipping and becoming consumed by feelings of fear. That is to be expected, I guess. On a wedding day, getting cold feed is common.
I'm marrying South Africa.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Darryl
Darryl is my teaching parter who has already gotten started in Masoyi. This entry is bits and pieces of one of his blog entries. He talks a bit about the students and the program.
"There are seven students in the bridging program, all orphans who were selected based on leadership potential and their dedication to community involvement. It is remarkable to think that many of these students are actually the heads of their households—some even have younger siblings in their care in addition to their studies and community work.
Their level of dedication is impressive. Contrasted with the attitude of the average Canadian student, it is all the more striking; they want to be here and they want to succeed. They recognize what most of us as students in Canada do not, that education is a blessing and should not be taken for granted. They are well-disciplined, hard-working, and respectful. Yet for all of them, English is their second language, or “first additional language” as it is called in the South African education system. Their native language is SiSwati; learning in English is a constant struggle for them and unfortunately it's an uphill swim. The South African education system is certainly not geared towards empowerment. The solution for the poorer performance of impoverished black South Africans has been to constantly lower the passing grade (it now stands at 30%). This, I gather, is easier than improving the quality of teaching in order to actually provide students with the means to succeed.
The goal of the Forward Education Program is to improve the student’s education and teach them the skills needed to succeed and gain entry to universities or other institutions of higher learning. This will empower the students, rather than simply push them through the system, and will enable them to return to their communities as stronger and better-equipped leaders. Strengthening a community from within is really the only way to build it up in the long run. By investing in these youth we hope to see a lasting improvement in their lives, the lives of their families, and the community as a whole. It is by small, yet crucial, steps that this can be accomplished. As I would learn later in the week, the Forward Education Program is only one small component of the comprehensive development network known as Masoyi Home-Based Care.
Yesterday was my first day with the students. I have a tough enough time remembering English names—strange-sounding SiSwati names like Mduduzi, Mxolisi, and Nokuzola don’t make it any easier. They even have a funny clicking sound in their language that I don’t have the faintest idea how to emulate.
They’ve purposely waited to formally incorporate me into the Forward Program so that I have a chance to learn first-hand about the broader work of the organization. Central to the Hands at Work care network is the Masoyi Home-Based Care Program. There are about fifteen branches to the program as a whole, including Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), Young Moms, Better Choices, youth programs, food programs, and afterschool education assistance, among others.
The major focus, however, is on the home visits made by the care workers of Masoyi Home-Based Care. The program is completely run by community members and all of the care workers are locals as well. Hands at Work helped to set up the program and provides ongoing support, but the goal is to empower local members of the community to run all of the day-to-day operations. Patients are referred to us by clinics, family, friends, neighbours, or simply by word of mouth. Today I'll be sent out with some of the care workers to get a first-hand sense of the work that they do on day-in and day-out basis. To be perfectly honest, I don't really know what to expect. Maybe having no preconceptions is a good thing."
-Darryl
"There are seven students in the bridging program, all orphans who were selected based on leadership potential and their dedication to community involvement. It is remarkable to think that many of these students are actually the heads of their households—some even have younger siblings in their care in addition to their studies and community work.
Their level of dedication is impressive. Contrasted with the attitude of the average Canadian student, it is all the more striking; they want to be here and they want to succeed. They recognize what most of us as students in Canada do not, that education is a blessing and should not be taken for granted. They are well-disciplined, hard-working, and respectful. Yet for all of them, English is their second language, or “first additional language” as it is called in the South African education system. Their native language is SiSwati; learning in English is a constant struggle for them and unfortunately it's an uphill swim. The South African education system is certainly not geared towards empowerment. The solution for the poorer performance of impoverished black South Africans has been to constantly lower the passing grade (it now stands at 30%). This, I gather, is easier than improving the quality of teaching in order to actually provide students with the means to succeed.
The goal of the Forward Education Program is to improve the student’s education and teach them the skills needed to succeed and gain entry to universities or other institutions of higher learning. This will empower the students, rather than simply push them through the system, and will enable them to return to their communities as stronger and better-equipped leaders. Strengthening a community from within is really the only way to build it up in the long run. By investing in these youth we hope to see a lasting improvement in their lives, the lives of their families, and the community as a whole. It is by small, yet crucial, steps that this can be accomplished. As I would learn later in the week, the Forward Education Program is only one small component of the comprehensive development network known as Masoyi Home-Based Care.
Yesterday was my first day with the students. I have a tough enough time remembering English names—strange-sounding SiSwati names like Mduduzi, Mxolisi, and Nokuzola don’t make it any easier. They even have a funny clicking sound in their language that I don’t have the faintest idea how to emulate.
They’ve purposely waited to formally incorporate me into the Forward Program so that I have a chance to learn first-hand about the broader work of the organization. Central to the Hands at Work care network is the Masoyi Home-Based Care Program. There are about fifteen branches to the program as a whole, including Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), Young Moms, Better Choices, youth programs, food programs, and afterschool education assistance, among others.
The major focus, however, is on the home visits made by the care workers of Masoyi Home-Based Care. The program is completely run by community members and all of the care workers are locals as well. Hands at Work helped to set up the program and provides ongoing support, but the goal is to empower local members of the community to run all of the day-to-day operations. Patients are referred to us by clinics, family, friends, neighbours, or simply by word of mouth. Today I'll be sent out with some of the care workers to get a first-hand sense of the work that they do on day-in and day-out basis. To be perfectly honest, I don't really know what to expect. Maybe having no preconceptions is a good thing."
-Darryl
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