In December I was at Place in Safety in town, and have since moved to the village of Manamani where I am volunteering a Muthamaro Secondary School. There are about 300 students from grade 8 to 12, and there are 12 teachers. My first week was rather confusing as everyone has about 3 jobs since they are very understaffed- so I just tried to help where I could from typing letters to chasing chickens out to classes. The students arrived on the Wednesday each one dressed in their school uniform of a powder dress shirt with gray pants and black schools. Since school started I have been helping in English, History, Geography and Economics class- some of the classes are very large with about 78 students but the grade 12 class only has 12 students as it is difficult for them to pass.
Many of these students are very DETERMINED to pass and are eager to work hard- it is very encouraging to hear them speak of their future goals and desire to attend university and college. Last year 60% of the graduating students (only 15 of them) are now enrolled in either college or university- this is a huge accomplishment for this school as they struggle with a high failure rate.
As I am getting to know the students and learning their stories I hope to share them here as the resilience and determination is what is giving me hope that these students will achieve and break the cycle of poverty that they are living in.
Sending everyone warm and sunny greetings!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Things to share about life in the village...
I have settled into life in the village of Manamani (manAmanEE) quite well and am becoming accustom to many things such as:
a) Walking down the road and being swarmed by children that just come from no where, smiling and yelling "How are you, How are you?" They are very cute and have tons of energy! I try to pronounce each one of their names, and they yell in a chorus "Catherine!!". Thus after being there for 2 weeks I hear my name very often- and other volunteers in the village are now being called Catherine...
b) A taxi CAN fit 22 people, 4 babies, 3 chickens and about 5 suitcases ..... don't ask about the comfort and when there is only 16 people it feels like a Limo! [ Note: the Taxi's here are mini- vans like the VW vans with 4 benches made for 16 people]. But the saving grave is the good music!
c) In the village everyone is your Brother! Or your sister! It seems that now my 'family' has grown drastically and I have 4 Mothers...... I have lost track of how many siblings but I'm sure they will tell me. They have made me feel welcome and I have learned to not try to figure out all the family dynamics- everyone has an open door policy- if you're at the house and it's dinner time you come for dinner!
d) Cows rule the road..... just stand back and let them pass....
These are just a few of the things, but I am enjoying the laid back feeling and am getting used to African time..... things happen when they happen!
a) Walking down the road and being swarmed by children that just come from no where, smiling and yelling "How are you, How are you?" They are very cute and have tons of energy! I try to pronounce each one of their names, and they yell in a chorus "Catherine!!". Thus after being there for 2 weeks I hear my name very often- and other volunteers in the village are now being called Catherine...
b) A taxi CAN fit 22 people, 4 babies, 3 chickens and about 5 suitcases ..... don't ask about the comfort and when there is only 16 people it feels like a Limo! [ Note: the Taxi's here are mini- vans like the VW vans with 4 benches made for 16 people]. But the saving grave is the good music!
c) In the village everyone is your Brother! Or your sister! It seems that now my 'family' has grown drastically and I have 4 Mothers...... I have lost track of how many siblings but I'm sure they will tell me. They have made me feel welcome and I have learned to not try to figure out all the family dynamics- everyone has an open door policy- if you're at the house and it's dinner time you come for dinner!
d) Cows rule the road..... just stand back and let them pass....
These are just a few of the things, but I am enjoying the laid back feeling and am getting used to African time..... things happen when they happen!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Hopeful for 2009
(My New Years resolution is to write more on my blog!!)
I spent Christmas eve dancing with the kids and having a Braai (BBQ) until the rain came- we had hoped it would stop as it had already been raining for 4 days but our party didn't get washed out! We moved inside. On Christmas morning Jenn (the other volunteer) and I gave each of the kids mini Christmas stockings filled with candy...... they were still bouncing at 4pm! We then attended Church and made scones in the afternoon. I kept looking in the sky for snow but there was only rain....
My month with the kids in "PEast" has come to an end and I am heading to live with a host family in the village. I must admit I am feeling sad to leave them, each morning more of them are saying "Good morning!" and I am working on saying "Matchroni" (good morning in Venda), they are speaking more to me in sentences and I am also getting better at playing their games! These kids have their whole life ahead of them but they need support and encouragement otherwise I fear they will get lost again. They are now living in a safe place, free from violence, poverty and hunger but all of these things are still at their doorstep.
There are many volunteers here that are helping to keep these kids going; they get food donated daily from the local grocery store, on Thursday they get fresh vegetables from the market, they get bread donated daily from the bakery, and women come to help the kids with clothes washing. And now they are having volunteers like myself that come from overseas to help with English and Maths- but it still feels like we should do more! I have gone through feeling hopeless as I see how much these kids need; to feeling very hopeful that they will grow up and be independent. But the fact is that everyday work needs to be done and they need commitment from many people. The South African government has done nothing to help these kids and despite requests they will not provide support- so it is the community that is raising these kids.
I spent Christmas eve dancing with the kids and having a Braai (BBQ) until the rain came- we had hoped it would stop as it had already been raining for 4 days but our party didn't get washed out! We moved inside. On Christmas morning Jenn (the other volunteer) and I gave each of the kids mini Christmas stockings filled with candy...... they were still bouncing at 4pm! We then attended Church and made scones in the afternoon. I kept looking in the sky for snow but there was only rain....
My month with the kids in "PEast" has come to an end and I am heading to live with a host family in the village. I must admit I am feeling sad to leave them, each morning more of them are saying "Good morning!" and I am working on saying "Matchroni" (good morning in Venda), they are speaking more to me in sentences and I am also getting better at playing their games! These kids have their whole life ahead of them but they need support and encouragement otherwise I fear they will get lost again. They are now living in a safe place, free from violence, poverty and hunger but all of these things are still at their doorstep.
There are many volunteers here that are helping to keep these kids going; they get food donated daily from the local grocery store, on Thursday they get fresh vegetables from the market, they get bread donated daily from the bakery, and women come to help the kids with clothes washing. And now they are having volunteers like myself that come from overseas to help with English and Maths- but it still feels like we should do more! I have gone through feeling hopeless as I see how much these kids need; to feeling very hopeful that they will grow up and be independent. But the fact is that everyday work needs to be done and they need commitment from many people. The South African government has done nothing to help these kids and despite requests they will not provide support- so it is the community that is raising these kids.
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