Day 8- Project Day in Newcastle
Although the weather was still cold and rainy we left in good spirits to the Madadeni Noah (Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity) Ark site. The Rotaract Club of Johannesburg has been greatly involved with Noah sites in Gauteng province and it was exciting for us to visit a KwaZulu Natal site. Not really sure what to expect we arrived in Madadeni, a large township outside of Newcastle, with Morne the President of the Majuba (Newcastle) Rotary Club, as well as Phumzile, the Ark Development Officer for the Newcastle/Dundee/Ladysmith region. We were greeted by all of the Ark staff and volunteers, and were told about the community, the things they are doing, especially with regards to home visits for the children, and the challenges they face. Noah sites are not institutions, and the children come afterschool to get a meal, help with their homework, counseling, and to participate in other activities ranging from singing and dancing to working in their food garden. The children said that they wanted to sing for us, and so for the next half hour we actually all ended up singing and dancing together, especially Ernest and Bongane who both showed off their Zulu dancing. After the dancing had concluded the guy hikers, joined by Morne, played a game of cricket with the boys from the Ark while Desiree cheered and spoke with the girls on the side. By mid-day one of the older children suggested that we have a large discussion to talk about issues of HIV/AIDS as well as other major linking concerns for the community. It was a bit unexpected, and while some of the hikers were a bit nervous at first, we all agreed that since the teenagers from the Ark wanted to talk that were should let them. This turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences of our hike thus far. For almost two hour we all sat together speaking on issues from condoms to sex, to violence against girls and women to hopes and opportunities for the future. Many of the hikers have come from communities just like Madadeni, and it was extremely important for both sides to share their thoughts and stories. By the end the children and older teenagers agreed that they wanted to try and organise a discussion group once a month with the Ark. We all went away feeling refreshed. It will be the moments like these that we will tell our own children about. Also wonderful, and part of our hike is that we were able to foster new ties between the Rotarians and Rotaractors of Newcastle and the Madadeni Noah Ark. Morne pledged to involve the Rotary and Rotaract clubs, and we are eager to see what things will come from this newly formed relationship.
-That night we were once again treated to Rotary hospitality as the local Rotarians invited us to their annual Christmas party.
Although the weather was still cold and rainy we left in good spirits to the Madadeni Noah (Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity) Ark site. The Rotaract Club of Johannesburg has been greatly involved with Noah sites in Gauteng province and it was exciting for us to visit a KwaZulu Natal site. Not really sure what to expect we arrived in Madadeni, a large township outside of Newcastle, with Morne the President of the Majuba (Newcastle) Rotary Club, as well as Phumzile, the Ark Development Officer for the Newcastle/Dundee/Ladysmith region. We were greeted by all of the Ark staff and volunteers, and were told about the community, the things they are doing, especially with regards to home visits for the children, and the challenges they face. Noah sites are not institutions, and the children come afterschool to get a meal, help with their homework, counseling, and to participate in other activities ranging from singing and dancing to working in their food garden. The children said that they wanted to sing for us, and so for the next half hour we actually all ended up singing and dancing together, especially Ernest and Bongane who both showed off their Zulu dancing. After the dancing had concluded the guy hikers, joined by Morne, played a game of cricket with the boys from the Ark while Desiree cheered and spoke with the girls on the side. By mid-day one of the older children suggested that we have a large discussion to talk about issues of HIV/AIDS as well as other major linking concerns for the community. It was a bit unexpected, and while some of the hikers were a bit nervous at first, we all agreed that since the teenagers from the Ark wanted to talk that were should let them. This turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences of our hike thus far. For almost two hour we all sat together speaking on issues from condoms to sex, to violence against girls and women to hopes and opportunities for the future. Many of the hikers have come from communities just like Madadeni, and it was extremely important for both sides to share their thoughts and stories. By the end the children and older teenagers agreed that they wanted to try and organise a discussion group once a month with the Ark. We all went away feeling refreshed. It will be the moments like these that we will tell our own children about. Also wonderful, and part of our hike is that we were able to foster new ties between the Rotarians and Rotaractors of Newcastle and the Madadeni Noah Ark. Morne pledged to involve the Rotary and Rotaract clubs, and we are eager to see what things will come from this newly formed relationship.
-That night we were once again treated to Rotary hospitality as the local Rotarians invited us to their annual Christmas party.
No comments:
Post a Comment