We finished camp! Woo Hoo! It was bitter sweet. Its nice to get a chance to sleep again, but sad to have to not be with the people anymore. Elizabeth Glacier Pediatric Foundation, Baylor Clinic, Paul Newman Foundation (Hole In the Wall), Young Heroes (NERCHA), and SNAP (Swaziland National Aids Program...plus US Peace Corps and much more were involved. The kids are now meeting in urban Swaziland for support group meetings. Soon Baylor Pediatric Clinic for HIV/AIDS hope to extended and decentralize the program into a community closer to me. I'm excited because maybe I can still work with kids in my community suffering with HIV and it would be closer to my village. The older teens for the 2nd week of camp were fun. Teenage life is just like I remembered...hours in front of the mirrors, talking about boys, and figuring out who you are. Some of these kids are head of the households though and also suffering with side effects from HIV treatments. I can't imagine what some of them are going through, but I am so thankful they shared their week with me. My favorite part was something very bitter sweet that I talked about earlier. Each day the girls would take their Anti Retro-viral meds. Before breakfast and before bed. Some also had to take ear drops, stomach pills, TB meds, etc. to fight off the other illnesses that were attacking their weak immune systems. I'm into my 2nd year here working daily with people who are positive, but I've never actually saw every aspect. I always return to my hut after working with my support groups in my community and don't actually see the details of living an HIV+ life. At camp, I was with them 24/7. I took them to the toilet when they would get sick. I saw the side effects and results of the virus every day and I stood with them as they took their meds. We would cheer for them once they finished administering all the medications. I can't begin to tell you what it was like to cheer for them. Me and two other women who worked with the girls in my group would clap and chant our team name as they swallowed. It was awesome because the girls would smile, but painful because I thought how everyday when they wake up and when they go to bed they are reminded that they are HIV+ by taking these meds. Some weren't even given a choice. Their parents gave it to them. Others made a mistake once or had no options in their mind because maybe they needed money and offering their bodies to older adults was the answer to get food or security. No matter what though, we dedicated ourselves to letting them be kids for a week. We gave them awards, through them up on on shoulders, taught them games, and let them feel safe and free. They didn't have to hide the fact they were HIV+ because kids from school weren't there or their brothers and sisters. It was an amazing experience watching them get excited and happy. We taught them actions to an R. Kelly song "World's Greatest" and they did actions. Some who were 16 looked like they were 9 because HIV slowed their growth. They had the smartest wittiest things to say, yet it came fro a body that didn't give them credit for their age. At the end of camp, the kids wrote journals. While reading them some said things like, "I was scared to talk before because I'm sick, but camp made me feel safe. I want to talk now." When I read some of the things and pictured the kids who I knew that said that...my heart dropped into my stomach. They really loved camp. The people from Hole In the Wall/Baylor CLinic are amazing. You should look it up online. I feel so blessed to be in Swaziland working with these kids and I really pray that God can use me to help in any way.
I hope you are all well. Please let me know how you are doing! Be blessed this Christmas season! Love you guys!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Hole In the Wall Camp
Time has been flying this month and I'm enjoying every minute! The beginning of this month I moved to Mbabane basically to get this HIV+ youth camp started. We stayed up late nights getting prepared as well as waking up early to arrange everything needed before the caregivers/camp counselors arrived for training. Me and my friend/fellow volunteer (Lisa) worked closely with two people from Hole in the Wall (Paul Newman's organization for children living with terminal illnesses). They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Robin is sweet and gets things done. She is always smiling and has a gentle spirit about her. She is great on the leadership team. Padraig on the other hand is my long lost brother. We have a lot of similarities, BUT he manages to do everything with 20x more energy, smiles, and he has this personality that makes you want to be his friend. We feed off each others randomness and I'm learning a lot from him. He is this Irish guy with crazy brown hair that he pulls back with a headband and somewhat resembles Jack Black. That alone makes you want to be his friend. His energy never fails and kids are magnetically pulled to him. I'm been so blessed to be working with him and Robin and the Hole in the Wall foundation because they really do the work they set out to do and are amazing people. They have the sweetest job, making kids happy and finding games, cheers, chants, awards to boost their self esteems and hope for life. They help the kids not just cope with being HIV+, but learn to not be limited by it. Its so cool and they make these camps all over the world in some of the poorest and sadest conditions. I hope to be as cool as them one day. :)
I finished my first group of campers yesterday. We had training until Sunday and the campers arrived monday morning. The counselor training was awesome. We did it at a farm with 23 of us (6 other Peace Corps Volunteers we invited to participate and all the rest we Swazi professionals working as teachers or for different Non-Governemnt Organizations). I made a lot of new Swazi friends working in the capital and for Baylor Clinic. My goal was to help those Swazi friends empower their own Swazi children. I really didn't want to have it be about me playing with the kids while the Swazis watched. I really wanted to empower the Swazi counselors to empower their own children. It turns out I didn't even need to. I was given 11 girls in my group who range from 10-13 years old from all parts of Swaziland who go to Baylor Clinic in the capital to refill their ARV meds for HIV. I had two other Swazi women who helped my group. I was so nervous how much I would be able to interact with them with language barriers, but it ended up not being a problem at all. The Swazi women didn't even have to translate for me. I spoke SiSwati when I could, but the kids were so smart they could sometimes speak better English than me. We had so much fun playing and singing. Although I spent about 50% of the camp time in the bathroom. Girls are girls. Swazi, Mexican, British...they all go to the bathroom by the dozen and since they needed to be with an adult all the time...that meant me, "Auntie Sihle", had to go with too. :) I love the two ladies I am grouped with. One girl is really sporty and good at basketball. She always gets involved with the girls. The other one is more "Swazi Style" and singing traditional songs with them and teaches them traditional dances. I am so thankful the kids seemed to like me and trust me. The first night they were scared to sleep alone in the dorms, so it was a late night and eary morning. I woke up to four girls in their pjs asking if it was time to get up yet. 5 am and still have asleep, I forced myslef up and showed them how to use the showers. For many of them, they don't have running water let alone a shower or bath tub. They were so excited. I played crazy 8's with them 24/7 and sang/dance to "Single Ladies" more than what should be allowed. Some were little divas, but I didn't even care. I just joined in.
I am exhausted and our next group will be here tomorrow. They will be full of energy and hormones. A dangerous combo! I have 9 in my new group. They are all 15 years old. I remember that age, so this will be interesting. I'm definately learning a lot. Who knows what stage they are at or their home lives. A lot of them just started their ARV meds (it protects their white blood cells from the virus) so the rumor is they maybe tired. Its so interesting to think of kids in America in the camps I've worked at and the ones here. Every cultures' children are related so much, but their are definately circumstances and differences you see. Its been so fun, but I've seen so much too. The girls take their ARVs together before bed and at night. They were shy at first because at home often times some hide their medication so people won't find out they are HIV+. This new group will be different too from this past one. Most of the past group have HIV+ from their parents. They were born with it. This new group is older, so some of them may have gotten it from having being sexually active. Its going to be a whole new camp. All I know is that its been an amazing experience and these girls have been so generous letting me see what their lives are like living with HIV. The medications, side effects (diarreah, headaches and/or vomiting), and they've shared this experience with me. I pray that this next week we continue to give these kids a safe place to be with other girls that are dealing with the same issues and that we can show them love and support and give them hope. No one is certain how long they have on earth and these kids are have taught me so much more about myself and about life than I could ever teach them. It's so cool. And so humbling.
We finish the 22nd of Decemeber and then I will road trip down the coast. Me and three friends are taking a tent and spending Christmas together under the stars. We will eat sandwiches with a side of malaria pills and soak ourselves in bug spray and sunblock. Once I get back it is party time for the school in my village. We hopefully will have enough donations by then to start helping the school fix their issue on teacher's housing shortage. If you want to be a part of it, their is still time. I would love to work on something like this with all of you at home. Something we could leave here or know that we have directly helped people in Swaziland fulfill a need and empower them by teaching them building skills too. Check out the Peace Corps website under my name to read more about it. Love you guys lots. I miss you so much and hope you have a wonderful holiday season. I think of you guys often.
I finished my first group of campers yesterday. We had training until Sunday and the campers arrived monday morning. The counselor training was awesome. We did it at a farm with 23 of us (6 other Peace Corps Volunteers we invited to participate and all the rest we Swazi professionals working as teachers or for different Non-Governemnt Organizations). I made a lot of new Swazi friends working in the capital and for Baylor Clinic. My goal was to help those Swazi friends empower their own Swazi children. I really didn't want to have it be about me playing with the kids while the Swazis watched. I really wanted to empower the Swazi counselors to empower their own children. It turns out I didn't even need to. I was given 11 girls in my group who range from 10-13 years old from all parts of Swaziland who go to Baylor Clinic in the capital to refill their ARV meds for HIV. I had two other Swazi women who helped my group. I was so nervous how much I would be able to interact with them with language barriers, but it ended up not being a problem at all. The Swazi women didn't even have to translate for me. I spoke SiSwati when I could, but the kids were so smart they could sometimes speak better English than me. We had so much fun playing and singing. Although I spent about 50% of the camp time in the bathroom. Girls are girls. Swazi, Mexican, British...they all go to the bathroom by the dozen and since they needed to be with an adult all the time...that meant me, "Auntie Sihle", had to go with too. :) I love the two ladies I am grouped with. One girl is really sporty and good at basketball. She always gets involved with the girls. The other one is more "Swazi Style" and singing traditional songs with them and teaches them traditional dances. I am so thankful the kids seemed to like me and trust me. The first night they were scared to sleep alone in the dorms, so it was a late night and eary morning. I woke up to four girls in their pjs asking if it was time to get up yet. 5 am and still have asleep, I forced myslef up and showed them how to use the showers. For many of them, they don't have running water let alone a shower or bath tub. They were so excited. I played crazy 8's with them 24/7 and sang/dance to "Single Ladies" more than what should be allowed. Some were little divas, but I didn't even care. I just joined in.
I am exhausted and our next group will be here tomorrow. They will be full of energy and hormones. A dangerous combo! I have 9 in my new group. They are all 15 years old. I remember that age, so this will be interesting. I'm definately learning a lot. Who knows what stage they are at or their home lives. A lot of them just started their ARV meds (it protects their white blood cells from the virus) so the rumor is they maybe tired. Its so interesting to think of kids in America in the camps I've worked at and the ones here. Every cultures' children are related so much, but their are definately circumstances and differences you see. Its been so fun, but I've seen so much too. The girls take their ARVs together before bed and at night. They were shy at first because at home often times some hide their medication so people won't find out they are HIV+. This new group will be different too from this past one. Most of the past group have HIV+ from their parents. They were born with it. This new group is older, so some of them may have gotten it from having being sexually active. Its going to be a whole new camp. All I know is that its been an amazing experience and these girls have been so generous letting me see what their lives are like living with HIV. The medications, side effects (diarreah, headaches and/or vomiting), and they've shared this experience with me. I pray that this next week we continue to give these kids a safe place to be with other girls that are dealing with the same issues and that we can show them love and support and give them hope. No one is certain how long they have on earth and these kids are have taught me so much more about myself and about life than I could ever teach them. It's so cool. And so humbling.
We finish the 22nd of Decemeber and then I will road trip down the coast. Me and three friends are taking a tent and spending Christmas together under the stars. We will eat sandwiches with a side of malaria pills and soak ourselves in bug spray and sunblock. Once I get back it is party time for the school in my village. We hopefully will have enough donations by then to start helping the school fix their issue on teacher's housing shortage. If you want to be a part of it, their is still time. I would love to work on something like this with all of you at home. Something we could leave here or know that we have directly helped people in Swaziland fulfill a need and empower them by teaching them building skills too. Check out the Peace Corps website under my name to read more about it. Love you guys lots. I miss you so much and hope you have a wonderful holiday season. I think of you guys often.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
David Copperfield attends Thanksgiving with US Ambassador
I’m trying to pick up new skills while I am in Swaziland. I'm going to ask my host family brother how to plow with the oxen this week (Ivery Oregon Trail. I can carry a baby on my back with a towel and no hands. And now I can knit while I do all of those things at the same time. The scarf is electric blue. I will wear my scarf even in the dead of summer to show the people in my community. They think its amazing that I can take a bath without help, so knitting a scarf I‘d probably get a standing ovation.
I gave my friend (Jen) my rain jacket that I haven’t worn for months when she came to help me judge a debate competition for my school put on by World Vision. We saw a rash developing on Jen’s stomach as we walked back. We were worried (mostly me because I shared my bed with her the night before) that she had scabies or lice. Later as we sat at the shop, we saw that there was a cocoon inside my jacket she was wearing. Apparently the caterpillar hairs were rubbed off of the worm and were sticking into Jen’s skin! It made her stomach get a rash. It was terrible! I felt so bad! Later we found out from the Baylor doctors that those caterpillars carry neurotoxins and she was lucky with just a rash. I search my clothes now before putting them on. I’m glad she found it now instead of waiting. I would have looked like David Copperfield having butterflies fly out of my arm sleeves.
We played softball last week. Peace Corps vs. United States Embassy. Rumor had it we were playing against an ex-marine. Is that supposed to scare me? I bench press ex-marines…for breakfast. I played outfield. There was one play in particular that could have potentially stopped time. The ball was hit out towards me. Popfly. This was my ticket to acceptance. The ump yelled, "foul ball", but I continued with my arms stretched out before me ready to dive. I think it was a change of wind because the ball (as the US Ambassador watched) flipped a different direction at the last second. The ball bashed my nose in. It was a foul ball. People congratulated me on my hustle, but it was a crappy consolation prize to what could have been. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if the US Ambassador saw me catch that ball. A secretarial position at the Oval Office? Director of International Affairs? I’ll never know what “could have been.” It just wasn’t my time I guess. I’ll get my big break soon. He must have been impressed somehow though or felt sorry for us because he invited us for Thanksgiving. It was fun. He has a pool and offered it to us. Unfortunately I gave Carmen Electra my swimming suit for the weekend and she hasn’t brought it back yet so no pool time for me. We played football though and ate. And ate again. Probably the best Thanksgiving meal I’ve ever had (no offense, mom). My stomach hurt, but I was happy. The Ambassador read an Obama speech to us before eating and we wiped our mouth with the US government emblem on our napkins. It ended up being a great Thanksgiving.
US Ambassador (the only one in a tie), US Peace Corps, and US Embassy
I was taken from my site last Saturday. Apparently my hut can flood. The roads were muddy and flooded, so I had no transport and couldn’t walk anywhere because the rain had been down pouring for four days straight. My room quickly became a swimming pool and smells like a gym sock, but the last day of the week the sun came out. My friends, two kids below the age of 7, helped me clean up. Peace Corps heard that I was living in a life jacket, so they came to collect me and evacuate me from the flood.
Me and my friend (Bamaza)
My language teacher, Mrs. Gogosha, had a stroke earlier this month. She was my good friend. She was a lady in her late 70’s and had great English. She was actually supposed to be teaching me SiSwati, but we never got that far. When we would meet, it would turn into an English fest. She would tell me about her husband, her job, family issues, whatever….but it was nice to have her living close. She furnished half of my hut with her stuff. After her stroke on that Friday, her health went down fast. After arriving at the hospital she only lasted a few more days and Monday morning Mrs. Gogosha died. It was sad for my community. She was a very involved strong woman God. She will be missed, but I’m thankful I was able to be apart of her life when I had the chance.
me (Sihle Sibandze) and Gogo Gogosha
I’m getting ready for a camp for the month of December. Basically I’m just going to hang out with them and hopefully teach them some dance moves. Its for teenagers who are HIV+ and we are showing them how to live after being infected. I think I’m going to learn a lot. The Paul Newman Foundation and Baylor Clinic are funding it and putting us in a workshop before it starts. I’m going to learn a lot from these kids. I’m excited to hang out with them. Lastly, the Teacher’s Housing Project in my community is going well. People at home have showed interest. If any of you would like to particiapte just a little. My sisters (Angi Kleinwolterink and Mikki Bobzein) as well as my mom (Judy Schaap) are thinking of ideas. It would be cool to work on this project with my friends and family at home. I’ve already began to make a DVD of the teachers and students who you would be effecting. I want to send one to you guys to show you what it looks like now, pictures and videos of the process, and then show you the roof and building when its completed so you can actually see where your money went. If your interested, please let my sisters, mom or dad know. All the money is going towards the roofing materials and transporting them to the village I am living in. Thanks guys!
The Kingdom of Swaziland government assigned a few more teachers to this school after seeing the need of increased enrollment due to asking the increase of the OVC population in my area (orphans and vulnerable children). Although the government will pay the minimal wages for these teachers, its up to those teachers to figure out a place to sleep when they are far from their families. Before there were 18 full time and part time teachers, now there are 21. This is better, but still leaves a problem on how to keep these teachers around. The roofing project would give them another place to sleep during the week to ensure the students have teachers available the entire school day. This clip is Babe Mamba (Pastor Jerome Mamba), the headmaster of the primary school, greeting you and giving you an idea of who he is and what you're investing in.
I gave my friend (Jen) my rain jacket that I haven’t worn for months when she came to help me judge a debate competition for my school put on by World Vision. We saw a rash developing on Jen’s stomach as we walked back. We were worried (mostly me because I shared my bed with her the night before) that she had scabies or lice. Later as we sat at the shop, we saw that there was a cocoon inside my jacket she was wearing. Apparently the caterpillar hairs were rubbed off of the worm and were sticking into Jen’s skin! It made her stomach get a rash. It was terrible! I felt so bad! Later we found out from the Baylor doctors that those caterpillars carry neurotoxins and she was lucky with just a rash. I search my clothes now before putting them on. I’m glad she found it now instead of waiting. I would have looked like David Copperfield having butterflies fly out of my arm sleeves.
We played softball last week. Peace Corps vs. United States Embassy. Rumor had it we were playing against an ex-marine. Is that supposed to scare me? I bench press ex-marines…for breakfast. I played outfield. There was one play in particular that could have potentially stopped time. The ball was hit out towards me. Popfly. This was my ticket to acceptance. The ump yelled, "foul ball", but I continued with my arms stretched out before me ready to dive. I think it was a change of wind because the ball (as the US Ambassador watched) flipped a different direction at the last second. The ball bashed my nose in. It was a foul ball. People congratulated me on my hustle, but it was a crappy consolation prize to what could have been. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if the US Ambassador saw me catch that ball. A secretarial position at the Oval Office? Director of International Affairs? I’ll never know what “could have been.” It just wasn’t my time I guess. I’ll get my big break soon. He must have been impressed somehow though or felt sorry for us because he invited us for Thanksgiving. It was fun. He has a pool and offered it to us. Unfortunately I gave Carmen Electra my swimming suit for the weekend and she hasn’t brought it back yet so no pool time for me. We played football though and ate. And ate again. Probably the best Thanksgiving meal I’ve ever had (no offense, mom). My stomach hurt, but I was happy. The Ambassador read an Obama speech to us before eating and we wiped our mouth with the US government emblem on our napkins. It ended up being a great Thanksgiving.
US Ambassador (the only one in a tie), US Peace Corps, and US Embassy I was taken from my site last Saturday. Apparently my hut can flood. The roads were muddy and flooded, so I had no transport and couldn’t walk anywhere because the rain had been down pouring for four days straight. My room quickly became a swimming pool and smells like a gym sock, but the last day of the week the sun came out. My friends, two kids below the age of 7, helped me clean up. Peace Corps heard that I was living in a life jacket, so they came to collect me and evacuate me from the flood.
Me and my friend (Bamaza)
My language teacher, Mrs. Gogosha, had a stroke earlier this month. She was my good friend. She was a lady in her late 70’s and had great English. She was actually supposed to be teaching me SiSwati, but we never got that far. When we would meet, it would turn into an English fest. She would tell me about her husband, her job, family issues, whatever….but it was nice to have her living close. She furnished half of my hut with her stuff. After her stroke on that Friday, her health went down fast. After arriving at the hospital she only lasted a few more days and Monday morning Mrs. Gogosha died. It was sad for my community. She was a very involved strong woman God. She will be missed, but I’m thankful I was able to be apart of her life when I had the chance.
me (Sihle Sibandze) and Gogo Gogosha I’m getting ready for a camp for the month of December. Basically I’m just going to hang out with them and hopefully teach them some dance moves. Its for teenagers who are HIV+ and we are showing them how to live after being infected. I think I’m going to learn a lot. The Paul Newman Foundation and Baylor Clinic are funding it and putting us in a workshop before it starts. I’m going to learn a lot from these kids. I’m excited to hang out with them. Lastly, the Teacher’s Housing Project in my community is going well. People at home have showed interest. If any of you would like to particiapte just a little. My sisters (Angi Kleinwolterink and Mikki Bobzein) as well as my mom (Judy Schaap) are thinking of ideas. It would be cool to work on this project with my friends and family at home. I’ve already began to make a DVD of the teachers and students who you would be effecting. I want to send one to you guys to show you what it looks like now, pictures and videos of the process, and then show you the roof and building when its completed so you can actually see where your money went. If your interested, please let my sisters, mom or dad know. All the money is going towards the roofing materials and transporting them to the village I am living in. Thanks guys!
The Kingdom of Swaziland government assigned a few more teachers to this school after seeing the need of increased enrollment due to asking the increase of the OVC population in my area (orphans and vulnerable children). Although the government will pay the minimal wages for these teachers, its up to those teachers to figure out a place to sleep when they are far from their families. Before there were 18 full time and part time teachers, now there are 21. This is better, but still leaves a problem on how to keep these teachers around. The roofing project would give them another place to sleep during the week to ensure the students have teachers available the entire school day. This clip is Babe Mamba (Pastor Jerome Mamba), the headmaster of the primary school, greeting you and giving you an idea of who he is and what you're investing in.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Velebantfu Primary School Teachers
Hey guys! It’s your old friend Jaci down south of the equator. I've been here a year under the HIV/AIDS health educator sector. Even after all that time, I still feel like I’m figuring out what that job title means! What I do know though, is that it’s opened up a lot of doors to do really cool things in my community. I will be coming home in less than a year now. It’s unbelievable and yet I feel like there is still a lot of work to be done. It’s been great and I’ve learned a lot about the people and circumstances of the area I’m living in. Since you guys know me and are my friends and family at home, I want to share my new life with you the concerns of the Velebantfu community and the challenges we are sharing right now.
Quickly, Swaziland is a small, landlocked country inside of South Africa and also partially bordered by Mozambique. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland is struggling to provide a steady income for the families living within the country. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS. Swaziland is leading the world is HIV/AIDS prevalence.
39.4% of the total population is 14 years old and under. That means a lot of the work is in the primary schools all over Swaziland. Affects of poverty begin at an early age here. The life expectancy of the total population is 31.88 years old. Meaning a little less than half of their life was spent in school. This is a sad reality, but good to acknowledge when trying to be affective. Teachers sometimes need to fulfill the needs of children who don’t have parents or adequate caregivers.
The headmaster at my local primary school, Mr. Mamba, is one of the pastors I taught at a two day HIV/AIDS Outreach Workshop I just hosted in September. We’ve talked and expressed our concerns within the community and school children and have had many great conversations. His primary school has established an EFA program (Education for All) to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the area are coming to school without the stresses of finding money for school fees. The government is helping pay for these children. This particular group of children makes up almost half of the schools attendees at my local school. Although minimal school fees are paid by the government for these students, the school depends on the parents, teachers, and community members to provide for their school uniforms, food, hygiene products and other special needs they come with like reading glasses and school materials. It’s not uncommon to find Mr. Mamba and the teachers using their own paycheck to purchase these things for their students after watching their conditions each day. Mr. Mamba has tried his best to cater to the growing needs of the children and teachers under him. They’ve built one teacher’s house to help a few of the teachers financially, constructed a kitchen to provide a meal for the kids (food provided by the World Food Program), and are borrowing an empty church to serve as an extra classroom for the time being. This was all implemented and built by community members, teachers, and parents. With growing attendance of the OVC population, more teachers are needed. The community began to build a four bedroom teacher’s home before the kitchen and classroom projects were presented. Due to the rapidly growing number of primary students, the teacher’s home was put on hold until they could satisfy the other needs of the school first. The teachers now commute back and forth to school every day from all over the area on a very meager salary. Thankfully the kitchen and classroom was completed. Sadly though, the community’s funds have now been exhausted on those projects. The teacher’s home is left incomplete. In order to finish they will need materials for a roof, windows and door frames. As you may know that this is some of the most expensive parts of the structure and since the location is not near a city, these materials are going to be transported into the mountain area where I live. This has been taken into the consideration and we have tried to make the cheapest routes we could without endangering the quality of the structure. The total amount includes all the materials and the transport to get it into southern Swaziland.
I’m really excited because I can see the potential this roofing project could do if funded. I know the people you would be investing in and I would be here for the entire construction period. I also would help them build unless that scares you…I can just watch. :) I can keep you updated on the process and give you pictures of where the money is going if interested. The community members will be doing all the constructing, using their own tools, and also adding what materials they have left.
Once they heard that I was going to try help them and they began clapping their hands with happiness! Up until now, the community and teaching staff have struggled to get what they have with limited outside help. They are excited to think there are people who may care about this project as much as they do. I know they would appreciate any help with this project we’ve developed. With a little less than 70% under the poverty line, you can see where the stress is for the community when trying to make improvements. Its amazing the work they’ve done to the school while their own families are fighting to get by. On the Peace Corps website www.peacecorps.gov/contribute you can find my project. The project number is 645-075. I know it is around Christmas time and it’s a difficult time to find extra cash, but even if you have an idea of how we could fundraise or who may want to partner in this project, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much! This project will benefit a lot of Swazis. I'm excited to think how much hope we could install in the people here or the great ways we can invest in this project that could will affect hundreds of students, community members, and teachers here in the Velebantfu area.
Quickly, Swaziland is a small, landlocked country inside of South Africa and also partially bordered by Mozambique. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland is struggling to provide a steady income for the families living within the country. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS. Swaziland is leading the world is HIV/AIDS prevalence.
39.4% of the total population is 14 years old and under. That means a lot of the work is in the primary schools all over Swaziland. Affects of poverty begin at an early age here. The life expectancy of the total population is 31.88 years old. Meaning a little less than half of their life was spent in school. This is a sad reality, but good to acknowledge when trying to be affective. Teachers sometimes need to fulfill the needs of children who don’t have parents or adequate caregivers.
The headmaster at my local primary school, Mr. Mamba, is one of the pastors I taught at a two day HIV/AIDS Outreach Workshop I just hosted in September. We’ve talked and expressed our concerns within the community and school children and have had many great conversations. His primary school has established an EFA program (Education for All) to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the area are coming to school without the stresses of finding money for school fees. The government is helping pay for these children. This particular group of children makes up almost half of the schools attendees at my local school. Although minimal school fees are paid by the government for these students, the school depends on the parents, teachers, and community members to provide for their school uniforms, food, hygiene products and other special needs they come with like reading glasses and school materials. It’s not uncommon to find Mr. Mamba and the teachers using their own paycheck to purchase these things for their students after watching their conditions each day. Mr. Mamba has tried his best to cater to the growing needs of the children and teachers under him. They’ve built one teacher’s house to help a few of the teachers financially, constructed a kitchen to provide a meal for the kids (food provided by the World Food Program), and are borrowing an empty church to serve as an extra classroom for the time being. This was all implemented and built by community members, teachers, and parents. With growing attendance of the OVC population, more teachers are needed. The community began to build a four bedroom teacher’s home before the kitchen and classroom projects were presented. Due to the rapidly growing number of primary students, the teacher’s home was put on hold until they could satisfy the other needs of the school first. The teachers now commute back and forth to school every day from all over the area on a very meager salary. Thankfully the kitchen and classroom was completed. Sadly though, the community’s funds have now been exhausted on those projects. The teacher’s home is left incomplete. In order to finish they will need materials for a roof, windows and door frames. As you may know that this is some of the most expensive parts of the structure and since the location is not near a city, these materials are going to be transported into the mountain area where I live. This has been taken into the consideration and we have tried to make the cheapest routes we could without endangering the quality of the structure. The total amount includes all the materials and the transport to get it into southern Swaziland.
I’m really excited because I can see the potential this roofing project could do if funded. I know the people you would be investing in and I would be here for the entire construction period. I also would help them build unless that scares you…I can just watch. :) I can keep you updated on the process and give you pictures of where the money is going if interested. The community members will be doing all the constructing, using their own tools, and also adding what materials they have left.
Once they heard that I was going to try help them and they began clapping their hands with happiness! Up until now, the community and teaching staff have struggled to get what they have with limited outside help. They are excited to think there are people who may care about this project as much as they do. I know they would appreciate any help with this project we’ve developed. With a little less than 70% under the poverty line, you can see where the stress is for the community when trying to make improvements. Its amazing the work they’ve done to the school while their own families are fighting to get by. On the Peace Corps website www.peacecorps.gov/contribute you can find my project. The project number is 645-075. I know it is around Christmas time and it’s a difficult time to find extra cash, but even if you have an idea of how we could fundraise or who may want to partner in this project, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much! This project will benefit a lot of Swazis. I'm excited to think how much hope we could install in the people here or the great ways we can invest in this project that could will affect hundreds of students, community members, and teachers here in the Velebantfu area.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The King of Pop
I did it! I ran it! My first half marathon is over! Woo hoo! I was fast enough to get a medal (part of the registration fee if you finish before a certain time haha) and slow enough that I was trailing an 80 year old man with terrific legs the whole time. It was so great. We ran up the hills towards Table Mountain at the end which almost killed me, but once we climbed to the top we had an amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean. The bay we overlooked as we came down to the finish line was full of humpback whales and so my friend and I silently ran watching them float in the water. So cool! The next day we brought our two other friends who weren't running that joined us in Cape Town to the same spot to show them the whales. We saw one and photographed him in the same position for about 25 minutes only to find that it was indeed not a whale...but a boulder. Which explains a lot actually. "I never claimed to be a Marine Biologist." I said to my defense after the laughter died and we realized we had wasted precious vacation time. "So...sue me." (Michael from the Office)
We went to vineyards and wine tasted 5 glasses each. I always wanted to be a wine drinker to feel sophisticated and like a woman, but it was difficult to choke down. I guess my calling in life has never been to be an alcoholic. Such a shame when I had all that wine to my disposal. We still toured the farm and walked through the vineyards. None of us knew anything about wine, so we tried to play cool at first and finally swallowed our pride and asked someone to explain. I felt like a fake. Everyone at this fancy wine tasting room seemed to know the best wines and could taste the different ingredients in each wine glass. I thought they all tasted the same...like someone rubbed deodorant all over my tongue and made me ate a tangy grape. My taste buds are not classy. I desperately wanted a Fanta.
It was great to have a car. We rented one and went EVERYWHERE! We drove up and down the coast, past the waterfront, and through the mountains. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. A lot of people speak Afrikaans there (a variation of Dutch) and they look like people from Orange City, Iowa. They would come up to me in the group I was with to speak Afrikaans/Dutch. It was so strange. I didn't know my Dutch ancestry was so obvious in the way I look. I just thought I looked...white. Haha Dutch, German, Norwegian, South Africa, British...they all look the same to me sadly. I guess to these people though, I look Dutch. The Schaap/Kleinhesselink elders would have been proud.
I am currently getting ready for a camp with Baylor University and the Paul Newman Foundation called Hole in the Wall. Peace Corps was asked to be involved with this year's camp. My friend Lisa (who was one of the volunteers who went to Cape Town with me) is also on the planning board. We've been working hard trying to find donors for food, underwear, and crafts for the kids. 100 kids are attending during the Christmas break. All of them are HIV+ and are taking their Anti-retroviral medication. We want to do a camp where they can be with kids like them so that they don't have to be scared of people knowing they are sick, but have the activities and lessons based on life skills and things for the future. Also we will play lots of games and sports. I want to throw a concert together for them too. I was thinking this cool new up and coming Christian rapper called Sieffstyle would be great, but his European Tour may not be over yet... I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Other than that, life is going well. I've been working in the garden and becoming a true Swazi wife. I tie my aunt’s baby on my back when I walk down to the river and race my little brothers down the red dirt road bare foot. It makes me feel good to beat a small child at games I just taught them. My 13 year old brother, Samkeliso, is doing really well. He stopped seizuring and is back to chopping firewood and chasing cows. As much as I have a special place for the girls on my homestead since I myself have only had sisters my whole life, I have really invested in the boys on my homestead. It’s been really great. My teenage brothers talk to me about girlfriends and high school stuff. My older brothers talk to me about work and life's struggles. My little brothers watch soccer with me on T.V. at night and we play Go Fish and build stilts. Either I was supposed to have a brother...or I am secretly a man. Haha I hope it’s the first...but the second may explain some things. Just kidding. I'm thankful my family feels comfortable with me now and they see me as their big or little sister. A lot of learning opportunities have evolved from these relationships and I think God is using them in a bigger plan than I realize.
Miss you all. Braden Bradfield, props to you for the Michael Jackson t-shirt. A single tear trinkled down as the King of Pop himself was lifted from the care package. I've enjoyed all the letters from you guys over the past year. As Michael would say, "You Rock My World". One might say that it’s been quite a "Thriller" to have each of you in my life. I'm sorry. Haha I know, I gotta stop. It’s hard though because my motto has always been, "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough." I can't help it with the cheesy jokes to express my admiration towards you guys at home. It’s just the "Way You Make Me Feel."
We went to vineyards and wine tasted 5 glasses each. I always wanted to be a wine drinker to feel sophisticated and like a woman, but it was difficult to choke down. I guess my calling in life has never been to be an alcoholic. Such a shame when I had all that wine to my disposal. We still toured the farm and walked through the vineyards. None of us knew anything about wine, so we tried to play cool at first and finally swallowed our pride and asked someone to explain. I felt like a fake. Everyone at this fancy wine tasting room seemed to know the best wines and could taste the different ingredients in each wine glass. I thought they all tasted the same...like someone rubbed deodorant all over my tongue and made me ate a tangy grape. My taste buds are not classy. I desperately wanted a Fanta.
It was great to have a car. We rented one and went EVERYWHERE! We drove up and down the coast, past the waterfront, and through the mountains. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. A lot of people speak Afrikaans there (a variation of Dutch) and they look like people from Orange City, Iowa. They would come up to me in the group I was with to speak Afrikaans/Dutch. It was so strange. I didn't know my Dutch ancestry was so obvious in the way I look. I just thought I looked...white. Haha Dutch, German, Norwegian, South Africa, British...they all look the same to me sadly. I guess to these people though, I look Dutch. The Schaap/Kleinhesselink elders would have been proud.
I am currently getting ready for a camp with Baylor University and the Paul Newman Foundation called Hole in the Wall. Peace Corps was asked to be involved with this year's camp. My friend Lisa (who was one of the volunteers who went to Cape Town with me) is also on the planning board. We've been working hard trying to find donors for food, underwear, and crafts for the kids. 100 kids are attending during the Christmas break. All of them are HIV+ and are taking their Anti-retroviral medication. We want to do a camp where they can be with kids like them so that they don't have to be scared of people knowing they are sick, but have the activities and lessons based on life skills and things for the future. Also we will play lots of games and sports. I want to throw a concert together for them too. I was thinking this cool new up and coming Christian rapper called Sieffstyle would be great, but his European Tour may not be over yet... I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Other than that, life is going well. I've been working in the garden and becoming a true Swazi wife. I tie my aunt’s baby on my back when I walk down to the river and race my little brothers down the red dirt road bare foot. It makes me feel good to beat a small child at games I just taught them. My 13 year old brother, Samkeliso, is doing really well. He stopped seizuring and is back to chopping firewood and chasing cows. As much as I have a special place for the girls on my homestead since I myself have only had sisters my whole life, I have really invested in the boys on my homestead. It’s been really great. My teenage brothers talk to me about girlfriends and high school stuff. My older brothers talk to me about work and life's struggles. My little brothers watch soccer with me on T.V. at night and we play Go Fish and build stilts. Either I was supposed to have a brother...or I am secretly a man. Haha I hope it’s the first...but the second may explain some things. Just kidding. I'm thankful my family feels comfortable with me now and they see me as their big or little sister. A lot of learning opportunities have evolved from these relationships and I think God is using them in a bigger plan than I realize.
Miss you all. Braden Bradfield, props to you for the Michael Jackson t-shirt. A single tear trinkled down as the King of Pop himself was lifted from the care package. I've enjoyed all the letters from you guys over the past year. As Michael would say, "You Rock My World". One might say that it’s been quite a "Thriller" to have each of you in my life. I'm sorry. Haha I know, I gotta stop. It’s hard though because my motto has always been, "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough." I can't help it with the cheesy jokes to express my admiration towards you guys at home. It’s just the "Way You Make Me Feel."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fresh Fish
Its been such a crazy month! I've been so busy. Which is a term never used by Peace Corps Volunteers. I don't know how it happened, but everyone wants a piece of "The Jackster" all at once. haha I've been working on a lot of projects in my community with different groups of people, so I've been making friends. They haven't replaced you guys at home, but they are a good addition to my social life. Or lack of one. I'll take any friend I can get. I'm suprised actually I am making Swazi friends with the way I've been dressing lately. Yesterday I came to the city dressed in a bold colorful striped robe, skinny brown jeans (haven't been shrunk t fit my body in a dryer for a year, so they looked like hammer pants, and some black muddy chuck taylors. My hair was in braids...it was sad. I left my hut to get to the bus without even second guessing my wardrobe. That is sad. It looked like Bob Marley and Willy Wonka had a baby and that baby was now walking the streets of Northern Swaziland.
I'm going to Cape Town, South Africa this weekend. It supposed to be like the "New York City of Africa". I'm so excited. I'll be running...no, sorry, I'll be limping through the finishing line of a 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning along the ocean coastline. Pray for a miracle that I don't go into cardiac arrest. The rest of the trip we've planned to just enjoy the coast, go to vineyards, look at penguins, and enjoy indoor plumbing. I can't wait.
The United States Peace Corps Swearing In Ceremony happens once a year with the new volunteers. The “fresh fish” as Jantina would call them. Last year, mine was hosted at the house of the US Ambassador, Maurice Parker. This year it was at a Swanky Hotel in the capital. We were expecting budget cuts with the food since the US economy is strained, but the US government had mercy on us. They probably realized it’s the first time a lot of us have worn make up, worn a tie and suit jacket, and showered all in the same day within the past year. We ate lobster and shrimp. I was satisfied just looking at it. As we waited for the director of NERCHA and some other VIP guests to begin the ceremony, people quietly sat in the big white tent and made aquantances with some of the esteemed guests. Me, on the other hand, decided to go with my friends Connor and Jason to take “senior pictures” by the pool to kill some time before it started. As I open the Swaziland Times last week, I didn’t not see one familiar photo…but three familiar photos of me laying next to the pool and holding my friend Connor in my arms like he was “Bernie” from the infamous movie “Weekend at Bernies”. The Peace Corps Office didn’t reprimand me for it either after seeing it in the paper the following week. They actually ended up encouraging it as they laminated the paper and hung it at the main Peace Corps Office in Mbabane. The embarrassing part is, this is not the first time. Last year at the same annual event I was caught by the press and also printed in the Swaziland Times horrific photos of me leaping through the air in traditional attire (wrapped like a toga), barefoot, pretending to “spear” my friend mid-air in the Ambassadors backyard. It was titlted, “Volunteers at Play.” I’m serving our country well.
I held a workshop a few weeks ago. I found funding to teach support group living with HIV/AIDS in my area how to make shoes. A percentage of the money they will keep for themselves as an income generating project, but a portion of each profit made by the pairs of shoes sold are going towards buying seedlings for gardens we are starting. The gardens are for the orphans and vulnerable children in the area, so they have a garenteed food supply and also promotes healthy eating for the ones who are taking medication for TB and HIV/AIDS. The workshop went well and we have already sold many pairs of shoes to local members in my village.
Lastly, my host family brother was very sick last weekend. He had a bad fever and was going into convulsions every couple of hours. It was scary because my family associated it to demons, which sadly so many illnesses here are (HIV/AIDS) or to being”witched” by someone. For days I watched my brother get sicker and sicker and I tried helping him with my med kit and doing what I could, but he needed a doctor. Finally, after an emotional weekend, I had a meeting with the elders to get permission to take him to a doctor and I would pay for the hospital bill and hire a car to get him to the hospital. Reluctantly they let me Sunday night. He had seizures in the back of the pick up as we drove carefully but quickly to the hospital. My missionary friends from South Africa live down the mountain and they offered their pick up. He stayed for tests at the hospital for 4 days. He’s 13 years old and this was his first time there. The beds next to him were filled with patients suffering with TB and drugged up on morphine. Poor kid. I sat with him everyday because he doesn’t have immediate family. He is an orphan that lives on my homestead. Me and the kids I live with would make cards for him and I would take them everyday when I went to sit at the hospital so he had something to read. I think although it was a terrible and scary thing he went through, I pray God showed him that there are people who care about him even if he feels alone. He’s been discharged and comes to my room every morning to get his medication. He almost has all his strength back and now we’re even closer than before. He’s a little bit more protective of me with the other kids. Its funny and so cute.
I miss getting letters, so if you ever get time please send one. My family used to send letters bulks at a time, but now phone cards ruined that idea. Haha Who am I kidding, I enjoy an communication from you guys at home so if its not by letter, I do accept phone calls, email, Facebook messages, smoke signals…I just miss being able to talk to you at my disposal. Take Care! Love you guys.
I'm going to Cape Town, South Africa this weekend. It supposed to be like the "New York City of Africa". I'm so excited. I'll be running...no, sorry, I'll be limping through the finishing line of a 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning along the ocean coastline. Pray for a miracle that I don't go into cardiac arrest. The rest of the trip we've planned to just enjoy the coast, go to vineyards, look at penguins, and enjoy indoor plumbing. I can't wait.
The United States Peace Corps Swearing In Ceremony happens once a year with the new volunteers. The “fresh fish” as Jantina would call them. Last year, mine was hosted at the house of the US Ambassador, Maurice Parker. This year it was at a Swanky Hotel in the capital. We were expecting budget cuts with the food since the US economy is strained, but the US government had mercy on us. They probably realized it’s the first time a lot of us have worn make up, worn a tie and suit jacket, and showered all in the same day within the past year. We ate lobster and shrimp. I was satisfied just looking at it. As we waited for the director of NERCHA and some other VIP guests to begin the ceremony, people quietly sat in the big white tent and made aquantances with some of the esteemed guests. Me, on the other hand, decided to go with my friends Connor and Jason to take “senior pictures” by the pool to kill some time before it started. As I open the Swaziland Times last week, I didn’t not see one familiar photo…but three familiar photos of me laying next to the pool and holding my friend Connor in my arms like he was “Bernie” from the infamous movie “Weekend at Bernies”. The Peace Corps Office didn’t reprimand me for it either after seeing it in the paper the following week. They actually ended up encouraging it as they laminated the paper and hung it at the main Peace Corps Office in Mbabane. The embarrassing part is, this is not the first time. Last year at the same annual event I was caught by the press and also printed in the Swaziland Times horrific photos of me leaping through the air in traditional attire (wrapped like a toga), barefoot, pretending to “spear” my friend mid-air in the Ambassadors backyard. It was titlted, “Volunteers at Play.” I’m serving our country well.
I held a workshop a few weeks ago. I found funding to teach support group living with HIV/AIDS in my area how to make shoes. A percentage of the money they will keep for themselves as an income generating project, but a portion of each profit made by the pairs of shoes sold are going towards buying seedlings for gardens we are starting. The gardens are for the orphans and vulnerable children in the area, so they have a garenteed food supply and also promotes healthy eating for the ones who are taking medication for TB and HIV/AIDS. The workshop went well and we have already sold many pairs of shoes to local members in my village.
Lastly, my host family brother was very sick last weekend. He had a bad fever and was going into convulsions every couple of hours. It was scary because my family associated it to demons, which sadly so many illnesses here are (HIV/AIDS) or to being”witched” by someone. For days I watched my brother get sicker and sicker and I tried helping him with my med kit and doing what I could, but he needed a doctor. Finally, after an emotional weekend, I had a meeting with the elders to get permission to take him to a doctor and I would pay for the hospital bill and hire a car to get him to the hospital. Reluctantly they let me Sunday night. He had seizures in the back of the pick up as we drove carefully but quickly to the hospital. My missionary friends from South Africa live down the mountain and they offered their pick up. He stayed for tests at the hospital for 4 days. He’s 13 years old and this was his first time there. The beds next to him were filled with patients suffering with TB and drugged up on morphine. Poor kid. I sat with him everyday because he doesn’t have immediate family. He is an orphan that lives on my homestead. Me and the kids I live with would make cards for him and I would take them everyday when I went to sit at the hospital so he had something to read. I think although it was a terrible and scary thing he went through, I pray God showed him that there are people who care about him even if he feels alone. He’s been discharged and comes to my room every morning to get his medication. He almost has all his strength back and now we’re even closer than before. He’s a little bit more protective of me with the other kids. Its funny and so cute.
I miss getting letters, so if you ever get time please send one. My family used to send letters bulks at a time, but now phone cards ruined that idea. Haha Who am I kidding, I enjoy an communication from you guys at home so if its not by letter, I do accept phone calls, email, Facebook messages, smoke signals…I just miss being able to talk to you at my disposal. Take Care! Love you guys.
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