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.