From Alison's Point of View

It's always great to hear back from people who have visited the projects GAGA UK supports. I'm proud to support the projects, and so are the GAGA trustees, but it's always useful to hear other peoples' views and we wanted to share these with you. 

Here is a piece of writing kindly sent in by Alison...

It was a great privilege to be able to join the group of volunteers who went to KZN in March this year. It was my first time in SA and also my first time volunteering in this way. All of the projects we visited which GAGA support were amazing each in their own way. First Step Right School manages incredibly well considering what they haven’t got. Gael is totally dedicated and has the interest of the children at heart in all she does. She has a clear idea of what is still needed and is excellent at delegating practical jobs to volunteers. She and her staff work in difficult circumstances – for example they all arrive and leave in the same taxis as the children, so never have any time in school without the children present to have meetings, do preparation or put up displays. Some of the teachers have had no training. Those who have or are in the process of following a course are grateful and put into practise the theory and methods they learn.

One thing which struck me was how several of the projects, such as HOLAH, Hillcrest Aids Centre and the 1000 Hills Community project were started up by one or two individuals with a vision and desire to improve the lives of those in their community, and how these projects have grown into something so great and are making such a difference. This may be by means of improving the health and wellbeing of those who come through their doors, or by providing employment to people in the community. This employment might be directly on site or more indirectly by empowering local people to start their own business, even on a small scale. For example at Hillcrest local women are able to buy beads from Woza Moya, then make their produce in order to sell it back for ultimate sale to the public.

LETCEE in Greytown is another project that has mushroomed from smaller beginnings and is having a direct positive impact on improving the health, development and well being of the Early Years children it reaches out to. The feeding of 2000 children 365 days a year has meant a decrease in malnutrition, and the reaching out to and inclusion of children with special needs in remote areas of the community transforms the lives of those children. They are also bringing about attitudinal changes by helping to dispel myths and the prejudices of others through education about the medical reasons for certain conditions commonly suffered.

One of the things that I found so rewarding was being able to visit each project and hear from those there what they needed. It was so great to then go off to buy items and deliver them back to the projects  - so much more satisfying than putting money in a bucket in the street and never knowing what impact that donation has.

Everyone we met at every project we visited was so grateful for the things we took out with us, the jobs we did and for the ongoing support of GAGA.

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We also had some feedback from volunteer Doreen...

For nearly twenty years i have managed and raised funds for my own small charity developing education in KZN  When i closed it two years ago  I was very happy to fund raise for GAGA.  As a retired primary head teacher my interest has always been mainly in education and I asked that money I raised would be used for First Step Right school in Cato Ridge.  This year i was delighted to join a volunteer group that Sarah led.  Thanks to her excellent organisational skills and her boundless energy she was able to introduce the first timers to all the excellent projects that GAGA supports whilst leaving me to work in FSR school.As always i was impressed at how Sarah directed us to the various support tasks.  This year i was able to provide and introduce a graduated reading scheme (written and produced in South Africa by South African teachers)  The school now has reading books at every level of development.  We were also able to supply basic materials and a CD player.  As a group we painted the school sign on the outside wall and Hana and Kyle had the unenviable job of painting the toilet area. 

When we left Cato Ridge for Greytown i was asked to go to Thulini, a district forty kilometres out side Greytown, to work with Thuba. Again Sarah drove and dropped us at various points before she visited  one of the toy libraries .  Thuba is sixteen years old and has cerebral palsy  because of the attitude in South Africa and lack of facilities for people who are born different Thuba has never been to school.   He lives with his brother  and is supported by his gogo (grandmother) A happier boy you could not wish to meet.  He can not walk and his movements are uncoordinated  but with support from LETCE he has learned his letter sounds and numbers. This day filled me with joy and sadness and longing to do more to help and support Thuba.  It brought home the difference between the provision we have in England and the desperate need in the rural areas of KZN.  Today was a day like no other.