Newsletter: April 2008

Feeding Program Pietermartizburg

What an exquisite privilege you provided me with on Friday; the first instalment of the monthly food supplement program for child-headed households in the Pietermaritzburg township of Slangspruit.

It all started with Joel Goldsmith, one of my Victoria friends, who enquired after an opportunity to sponsor/support an underprivileged African. I was instantly plugged in because I knew mom, who has been offering micro loans to her staff before they became the “in thing” to do, had loaned Poulos, her gardener, money to register his daughter at college. She successfully completed grade 12 last year. She has embarked on a 2 year program in Tourism and wishes to continue in Public Relations. This was really a dream because her father, on a gardener’s wage, would not be able to afford much and certainly not all of this. He is educating his other daughter at high school as well. Their mother is dead. He is one of the rare responsible fathers, this is a most unusual story let me assure you!

Joel is educating Nonjabula and Poulos has not stopped smiling at me! Thanks Joel!

Nonjabula is ecstatic and can now really dream!

I had told my friend Mags, who some of you will know, what Joel had offered to do. Without a second breath she also wanted in, offering monthly funds for me to identify a granny or family needing support.

With this in mind I asked Elizabeth if she could identify children who could do with a hand. She came to me with a list of seven child headed households, the list I sent on to you. How could I say: pick one!? Hence my “on the bum” letter!

Given your responses, I went ahead and withdrew R1, 000 ($143). Thank you! I was so excited!

I picked up Elizabeth in town and we went shopping for six families; first to Fruit and Veg. City. We bought cabbage, tomatoes, onions, pears, carrots, butternut and potatoes; that all cost R306.85. We then headed for Makro (like Costco) and bought 2 kg. bags of frozen chicken portions, 5 kg. bags of maize meal, 2.5 kg. bags of sugar, sunflower cooking oil, cans of pilchards (fish) in tomato, peanut butter, and 1 kg. bags of dried sugar beans.

We had a fine load and I’d overspent the budget by R39! My grand total was about $148.42.

Off to Slangspruit to deliver; not far away. We went from house to house so that I could meet them all in their homes and also take pictures. Elizabeth had already given them a heads up so they could be home. Some were at school so I missed them.

What a deeply touching and heart-warming experience! In every instance the eldest has sacrificed, often school too, to look after the family. The homes were spotless and the washing lines were full of laundry freshly done. I think Friday was wash day; as you may know, this is all done by hand. Water has to be collected from the taps and carried home.

Electricity is available in the townships here now and they buy loaded cards for their monthly supply. Elizabeth pays R200 a month at this stage. This is due to go up by a whopping 53%; that’s a whole other story!

The children and young adults were so humble and thrilled and touched and the theme throughout was sadness; sadness was so tangible and visceral. I continue to be amazed by the human spirit, how hope is kept alive and people get up every day and make the most of what they have despite, despite, despite……..

They were also taken aback and I think a little stunned that a white person was in the township, interested and caring and bringing them food. I sensed some confusion too; this just doesn’t happen in this area.

Some faces were as incredibly sad as you’ll see in the pictures. Moms and grannies dead, fathers gone mostly with other women and show no interest in their kids despite knowing what they are enduring.

The strength and endurance and integrity of women is totally amazing and awe-inspiring, one cannot help wanting to support them heart and soul!

Elizabeth tells me that the women of the community and church watch over the children mentor them and try to keep them on the straight and narrow. They share with them whatever they may have to spare which can’t be much because everyone is struggling.

I heard plenty of well spoken English which is very encouraging as youngsters love education and work hard at it. And here’s the knife in the heart; all too frequently school fees are not paid and so students are not able to get their paperwork and school certificates therefore have no proof of their education. Can you believe it! I met with one young man who is so articulate, Elizabeth told me “he went to a white school”, who can’t continue because his father has not paid his fees and he has no confirmation of what he has achieved. His father took another woman who took a dislike to the youngster and so he had to leave; he is now with his cousins in the child headed house hold. Imagine trying to have a sense of self whilst experiencing such rejection to say nothing of the role modelling……. He told me:”my father is doing what men do” with a certain amount of cynicism.

I think I found my daughter! Nomathemba, along with Elizabeth’s daughter Zama came with us in the car. She was quiet and reserved, watching. On an occasion when Elizabeth was out of the car, I turned around to chat with her and found much to my surprise that she speaks exquisite English. She loves school and loves speaking English she told me and had been doing so since she was about 4 years old! She said I could use her nickname if I liked, Mantombi. She is 12 and smart, bright, alive, beautiful and has such presence. I am very taken by her, and I think it’s mutual. I told Elizabeth today when she came to work and she was quite touched! I said I want to watch her which is exactly what I’ll do. Mantombi is going to go far and I am going to make sure of that…….

Elizabeth said that a few of the elders in the community came over to her house to say how glad they were that the white woman came to bring the children food. She said one of them was crying. They are so touched that we care and are doing something for them and not just living our own lives. I think this is the plain basic grass roots stuff that can heal the past and bring us together; white people caring and sharing. We have to reach out; it’s for us to bridge the gap.

This will be a monthly event, supplementing these families with nourishment. Small amounts add up and go a long way. A10 kg. bag of maize meal costs R45 ($7) and will last a month. I’m pleased to see that vitamins are added to this refined carbohydrate that fills the tummies of many! And so a commitment to a small amount from many will have a large impact here in Slangspruit!