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It’s stinking hot. We have hardly had any rain (January 2014). The gorgeous lush veld we enjoyed in December has been burnt to a crisp. It’s dusty and the air is buzzing.
On the way to Sovane, across the Nkuzane River, one wonders how these communities survive in this excessive heat. There is no piped water. This precious commodity has to be carried great distances, to be used sparingly.
We have been so blessed with kindness:
· Thanks to Christiane Firnges, and her friends in Switzerland, for a generous cash donation in December.
· Baletha Foundation continues to be our rock, and without them this project would battle to continue.
· Nicola Wicks from The Bay Stationers in Richard’s Bay has given generously and proven to be a great supporter.
· Thanks to The Junk Shop in Pongola for keeping their grocery prices really low!!
· And of course, thanks to Rob Stock for supporting me/ us in more ways than one. For being such a great driver and unravelling things that get totally tangled up in translation!
Our first stop for Term 1 was Sizane Creche in Sovane. Carol Houghting, a trustee, suggested individual stationery boxes for the older children. Nicola Wicks took the time and effort to pack over 35 boxes with crayons, paints, brushes, pencil, sharpener, scissors and glue. Nicola was also the saint who supplied us with Santa Shoe Boxes. Day by day her halo is getting shinier! We quickly identified the older children and marked their boxes with their names. To have ownership of their own stationery is such a thrill, matching the joy and delight of the Santa Shoe Box day!
There are 36 children registered for this term. Infants pay R50 per month and 3+ years a mere R35. On average only half the parents pay fees. Fees are used to pay the teachers/ helpers.
Graminah Khumalo, Nompilo Buthelezi, Monica Thabede
all help out at Sizane Creche.
At the end of last year I left the crèche in KwaDla-Kuse muttering. Village politics are crippling and it is frustrating trying to get the crèche community motivated. Mojozi has left and has been replaced by a young lass called Fikelaphi Majozi (no doubt related). She seems bright and pleasant enough, but speaks no English and has no teacher training. All our TREE books are in English and are useless. Reluctant to dismiss this crèche, we donated the food, holding onto the precious stationery – knowing it will not be used productively.
There are 21 children. The fees are R30 per month.
When we arrived the kids were sitting under a tree that has stubbornly hung on for 10 years, despite the harsh conditions. A tree that was donated as a sapling by trustee Colette Tracy!
Between Sovane and KwaDla-Kuse is a community called Maphambeni. We used to employ staff from there for Milimani. Rob and I decided to visit the Zihlakaniphele Creche. It was done with some reluctance as we cannot afford to embrace a third organisation. However, we were pleasantly surprised with Kholiwe Dlamini and her volunteers. There are 30 registered children. All the food and stationery is purchased by the school. Kholiwe is TREE trained to Level 1. Fees are R30 per month, again not all parents pay.
We were so impressed by with the crèche. All the kids were in uniform. The place was spotless.
We donated the balance of the stationery boxes much to their delight.
However, our entrance was not greeted with big smiles and jumps of joy – but wails and sobbing!!! Most of these children have never seen a white person before and our presence was unexpected and quite frightening for them.
Perhaps they will get used to us!!?
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