Hi everyone!!
So, second day in and all is going great so far here in SA! It always feels like returning home; hearing people chatting away in Zulu at the airport, the heat, the smiles, the laughs and the singing... its feels great to be back.
Yesterday we all headed over to First Step Right. It was a great chance for everyone to meet everyone!!
Grandma and Karen have both been to First Step Right before and so for them it was saying hi to old friends. Kyle, Hana and Alison had a great day getting to know everyone from teachers to children.
Kyle kicked the ball around with a lot of the kids at school. Alison tried some yoga with the older children and Hana and I got planting in the veggie garden!
Karen and Kyle also started some painting work in the toilets to brighten them up a little!
We went in to Pietermaritzburg to pick up some books which Grandma Doreen has ordered for First Step Right. There's a full reading scheme of over 120 books which will be heading to the school over the next few days and which she'll be working through with the teachers. They look great!
We also had the chance for a coffee and to meet up with Mary, wonder woman from LETCEE. She shared some stories of their work including a particularly inspiring story of a man in one of the communities where they work. LETCEE work with young children and families in a number of rural communities. They were working with one family who had lost all hope. The grandmother didn't speak or leave home, and her son was unemployed and unable to bring money home. With LETCEE's support, he has started a thriving block business and has just flown off to Cape Town (leaving KZN for the first time in his life!), to collect an entrepreneurial award. His mother has been supported and is now not only talking but thriving - she is the garden motivator, meaning she manages one of the community gardens and talks to others in the community to motivate them to get out and about and involved. Her life and those in her family, has been completely turned around! Amazing!
Wednesday...
Today, we headed down to Durban to see all the lovely babies and staff at HOLAH. Every time I visit I am amazed and impressed by everyone's dedication and passion. The children are clearly so happy and loved and the staff too. It is an inspiring place to be and we spent a lovely morning cuddling and playing and hearing all about HOLAH's story.
Kim told us some of the stories of the babies, and their successes with adoption. They are currently looking after 8 children (they're only registered to care for 6 but there's such a long waiting list). They are beginning to develop plans on how they can grow, looking to purchase their own property so they can have more space for the babies they currently care for and take more in too.
So, second day in and all is going great so far here in SA! It always feels like returning home; hearing people chatting away in Zulu at the airport, the heat, the smiles, the laughs and the singing... its feels great to be back.
Yesterday we all headed over to First Step Right. It was a great chance for everyone to meet everyone!!
Grandma and Karen have both been to First Step Right before and so for them it was saying hi to old friends. Kyle, Hana and Alison had a great day getting to know everyone from teachers to children.
Kyle kicked the ball around with a lot of the kids at school. Alison tried some yoga with the older children and Hana and I got planting in the veggie garden!
Karen and Kyle also started some painting work in the toilets to brighten them up a little!
We went in to Pietermaritzburg to pick up some books which Grandma Doreen has ordered for First Step Right. There's a full reading scheme of over 120 books which will be heading to the school over the next few days and which she'll be working through with the teachers. They look great!
We also had the chance for a coffee and to meet up with Mary, wonder woman from LETCEE. She shared some stories of their work including a particularly inspiring story of a man in one of the communities where they work. LETCEE work with young children and families in a number of rural communities. They were working with one family who had lost all hope. The grandmother didn't speak or leave home, and her son was unemployed and unable to bring money home. With LETCEE's support, he has started a thriving block business and has just flown off to Cape Town (leaving KZN for the first time in his life!), to collect an entrepreneurial award. His mother has been supported and is now not only talking but thriving - she is the garden motivator, meaning she manages one of the community gardens and talks to others in the community to motivate them to get out and about and involved. Her life and those in her family, has been completely turned around! Amazing!
Wednesday...
Today, we headed down to Durban to see all the lovely babies and staff at HOLAH. Every time I visit I am amazed and impressed by everyone's dedication and passion. The children are clearly so happy and loved and the staff too. It is an inspiring place to be and we spent a lovely morning cuddling and playing and hearing all about HOLAH's story.
Kim told us some of the stories of the babies, and their successes with adoption. They are currently looking after 8 children (they're only registered to care for 6 but there's such a long waiting list). They are beginning to develop plans on how they can grow, looking to purchase their own property so they can have more space for the babies they currently care for and take more in too.
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