12 June 2015
Two weeks have shot by, and the time has come to leave the wonderful village of Mwandi.
Since Will and Becca arrived, we’ve been at a new stage on the house building- throwing!
So we can get the walls of the house from this:
To this:
So, that’s what I did up until yesterday, but I used the today to get my bags backed ready to head off to Botswana tomorrow!
Monday 8 June
This morning, I had the genuine pleasure of going to Mwandi’s pre-school, to help the teachers and provide a climbing frame for the kids.
Once again, I was amazed how an area that’s so poverty stricken can continue to be so resourceful, and teach important lessons to these kids.
My first duty was to help the teachers prepare the exercise books.
Saturday 30th May
Today was great, not least because I managed to recruit some assistance for my morning of mudding!
But also because, after lunch, I decided to venture out to the Big Tree and try one of these Mwandi fish everyone’s so excited about!
Thursday 28 May
Today was… Dark.
It began as something quite routine, with the next stage of the house I’ve been working on- a stage called mudding! A clay like cement is formed from a mixture of water and busted up termite mounds.
From this, you make balls and stack them up to fill the cavities that were created from yesterday’s stick tying.
Wednesday 27 May
Those bloody roosters don’t have a clue! Joined the dogs in a shouting match from about 1:00am! Good thing I went to bed so early, or I’d be exhausted!
Funny thing though, since I’ve started taking these Malarone Malaria prevention tablets, I’ve got an incurable hunger and all I want to do is sleep! Thank goodness I’m here volunteering in manual labour… This should prevent me from becoming the size of a cow.
Today was my first day house building, working alongside two local guys who work for the charity; Gabbi and Martin. It’s hard work, but has taught me so much already! Skills I hope to use again, perhaps to build a tree house or something for my kids some day.
The main structure of the house was already there when I arrived, I assume part of the work of volunteers who were here before me, so the job today was to securely tie branches to the outside and inside, creating walls that will later be filled with mud clay for setting. Mission very much accomplished, and I have the blisters to show for it!
Tuesday 26 May
Well, day one has felt much like an African adventure already!
Paula collected me from the Jolly Boy’s hostel about 12:30 and we got on the road to Mwandi Village, about a 2 hour drive away. En route, Paula told me a little more about the charity Homes for AIDs Orphans, which was founded by herself and her husband Dan (who was actually born and raised in Mwandi himself) in 2005, with very meagre beginnings! While they started off sharing land with Christian Missionary groups, in 2007 the Village Chief gave them their own land from which the charity could work. Then, with Paula being part of Rotary International, Rotarian volunteers got involved, who by 2009 had set up running water and by 2010 installed electricity. Although they’re still a small charity and with basic living, it’s very impressive to me that they’ve already come so far with so little.
Monday 25 May 2015
Having had a tremendously exhausting weekend and only 4 hours sleep, this has to be the sleepiest I have ever been at the start of travelling. I don’t even remember checking in!
I do remember Gary, the lovely helpful taxi driver, walking into the airport with me without prompt and showing me exactly where I needed to go for what, and even recommending I go upstairs to the Whimpey’s for breakfast before going through security where I can watch the planes on the runway from the window. A fine idea, which I absolutely went along with!
I treated myself to a little Cappuccino Muffin and a Chocolate Milk here, only to have the common sense click that the airport had only just opened when I arrived, and my flight would be the first to leave. Therefore, there was nothing of interest happening on the runway at this time.
Once crossing through security, I immediately regretted my decision to go to Whimpey’s for seeing a Mugg and Bean café here in departures! Oh, Mugg and Bean! This might just be my last time to have you, and I’ve wasted it!
23 April 2015
Today was nice and easy, which was absolutely welcome after yesterday’s fascinating and exhausting hike.
We moved our Module Reading Session to the early morning, so we students could join the volunteers in visiting the local school. Apparently, volunteers from Kwantu go by every Thursday to bring lunch to all the children there. Which is very nice indeed!
Monday 23 March
And she lit up like a star for it!
This really is a fascinating volunteer project. Our classroom consists only of a small little hut on the beach. There’s no electric, so no fan, no air conditioning which in 32c heat makes things VERY challenging!
But I feel both my work and my presence are welcome here, and I do feel I’m helping these kids. I just wish I could stay here helping for longer! 4 days seems a bit rubbish!
The classroom hut is surrounded by the homes of the families, which are very small and built from driftwood and dead tree branches.
After class, one family invited us to their home, where we had a conversation via a translator. What an incredible story they had! They both had relocated to Goa recently from slums elsewhere, to try and create a better income and better life for their children, by selling fish caught by the father. They said they still weren’t happy in their life, and who could blame them, but every day they will keeping thinking and thinking, thinking of new ways to improve their life. Their dream, they said, is that their son, who is now four, will be able to go to school when he turns six, and get a good job in the future.
I really do hope for them.
On another note, today also had a celebration attached to it.
Diana turned 22!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANA!
I hope you’re muito muito feliz!
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