I don't really ever talk about this but in reality it is all around me, luckily, touch wood, it has not touched my family, touch touch touch more wood, but it has effected the families all around me. This reality is the HIV/AIDS epidemic which is plaguing the country of South Africa. According to the latest statistics South Africa currently has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world with 18.1% of it's population now infected with the HIV virus and an estimated 71% of all deaths being traced back to this illness. One in every 5 adults in South Africa have HIV/AIDS and 59% of women over the age of 15 are now infected.
HIV is a very silent epidemic, you do not always notice it, but what you do notice is the absurd amount of funerals that happen all the time. This weekend, just in my small area of Zone 4 there were 4 HIV related funerals. All of the now dead were young people in their 30's. One of these people was my neighbour living just 5 houses down. In one house there were 4 people with this disease, now there are three.
So although this is a sad post I hope that you can take a moment and reflect on your own life and realize just how blessed you and I are, we live in a place with food, social support systems, low crime and low disease rates. For many people around the world this sadly is not the case.
Catherine
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Realities of Thembalethu
One of my good friends and neighbours in Thembalethu is a wonderful woman that I will call Mrs. Hope. Mrs. Hope is a social worker and helps children as best as she can within the often backwards South African social services structure, limited resources, and a gigantic work load. Through Mrs. Hope I have seen a very real side of Thembalethu in which I would like to share with you.
Twenty minutes away from Thembalethu is the lovely city of George, George is a small city with lush gardens, fancy houses and clean streets. Like all places, some people struggle in George but it is easy to see that many people are also thriving. Many areas boast mansions, security guards and luxury cars. There are electric fences and tall security gates. Somehow with all this wealth just twenty minutes away the reality is very different for many people.
Today Mrs. Hope called me and in her voice I could hear deep sadness and a sense of desperation. "Sandise, I need your help, you are the first person I have called because I am not sure who else can help us". Mrs. Hope does not ask for much so I knew that it must be serious. Today a family arrived at her office doorstep, three young boys, age 15, 8 and six. These boys have just become orphans, they have lost both their mother and now their father, it was not discussed how but being that one in three black women in South Africa now have HIV and one in five men, it is most likely that their parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Now this small family of three is left with no family members and the household will be headed by this shy 15 year old boy who now stands before me. Mrs. Hope brought them to my house today, all three were shy and looked scared, but also I could see a sense of relief on their faces. They have no money, and no food, which is why Mrs. Hope brought them to me.
This little family left my house with a gigantic bag of mealie meal, rice, sugar, beans, lentils and oranges due to your generosity. As many people know, I personally do not have very much money, but through the donations that have come to me by way of The Themba Development Project I have been able to give emergency relief to some of Thembalethu most vulnerable members. Your donations have given this small family hope, or Themba in the Xhosa language. Although my charity is small we have given a huge amount of hope to this community and united we shall stand because in times of emergency the community knows that you and I are here to get them through these difficult days.
Thank you to everyone who made this miracle possible,
Catherine Robar
Founding Director
The Themba Development Project
http://www.thembaproject.org/
Donate using canadahelps.org type "Themba" to find our charity.
Twenty minutes away from Thembalethu is the lovely city of George, George is a small city with lush gardens, fancy houses and clean streets. Like all places, some people struggle in George but it is easy to see that many people are also thriving. Many areas boast mansions, security guards and luxury cars. There are electric fences and tall security gates. Somehow with all this wealth just twenty minutes away the reality is very different for many people.
Today Mrs. Hope called me and in her voice I could hear deep sadness and a sense of desperation. "Sandise, I need your help, you are the first person I have called because I am not sure who else can help us". Mrs. Hope does not ask for much so I knew that it must be serious. Today a family arrived at her office doorstep, three young boys, age 15, 8 and six. These boys have just become orphans, they have lost both their mother and now their father, it was not discussed how but being that one in three black women in South Africa now have HIV and one in five men, it is most likely that their parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Now this small family of three is left with no family members and the household will be headed by this shy 15 year old boy who now stands before me. Mrs. Hope brought them to my house today, all three were shy and looked scared, but also I could see a sense of relief on their faces. They have no money, and no food, which is why Mrs. Hope brought them to me.
This little family left my house with a gigantic bag of mealie meal, rice, sugar, beans, lentils and oranges due to your generosity. As many people know, I personally do not have very much money, but through the donations that have come to me by way of The Themba Development Project I have been able to give emergency relief to some of Thembalethu most vulnerable members. Your donations have given this small family hope, or Themba in the Xhosa language. Although my charity is small we have given a huge amount of hope to this community and united we shall stand because in times of emergency the community knows that you and I are here to get them through these difficult days.
Thank you to everyone who made this miracle possible,
Catherine Robar
Founding Director
The Themba Development Project
http://www.thembaproject.org/
Donate using canadahelps.org type "Themba" to find our charity.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The World Cup from the inside!
I have decided that there is nothing more exhilarating in life than watching a World Cup game live. Last night Gcinisizwe and I had the opportunity to watch the France vs Uruguay match and let me tell you, it was AMAZING! The Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is beautiful and the place was packed full to the brim! Everyone was in wonderful spirits and the staff were organized, patient and friendly.
Ok, so we are just a tad excited! At least 6 times we looked at each other and yelled "WE ARE AT THE WORLD CUP!!!!!" Ha ha ha, what a dream come true.
The France and Uruguay flags being presented to the crowd.
The opening kick!
"We want peace in the World"
Even at a France-Uruguay match people are flying South Africa flags ha ha, there is a HUGE amount of national pride here.
The crappiest job at the World Cup, security on the field. Can you imagine being 10 feet from the field at the World Cup and having to sit there with your back to the field the entire time, eek!!
Now let me tell you, during my visit to the Green Point Stadium I was mugged, the robber did not have a gun or knife, but instead held me hostage until I forked over my hard earned money in exchange for a crappy AMERICAN beer. Please do not judge me but yes, I paid R30 for ONE beer!!!! Normally beer is R10!!!! And I would also like to know why South Africa has such fabulous local beers and I am sitting here drinking crappy watery Ammerican beer, come on people!!!
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Videos from the World Cup
_________________________________________
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOogJaN3BKY A view from the top of Green Point Stadium!
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkR_9whM-uo Watch a gigantic wave of people, ha ha, so fun!
Friday, June 11, 2010
World Cup Fever in South Africa
Sorry I have been absent, no internet, but I will fill you in shortly! Until then.....
Since my arrival back in December 2009 South Africa has been on fire with World Cup fever, however this weekend it has elevated until a new level. Schools have gone into winter break early to accomodate the games, vuvuzela's blare in the streets, even at 6am.....
Since my arrival back in December 2009 South Africa has been on fire with World Cup fever, however this weekend it has elevated until a new level. Schools have gone into winter break early to accomodate the games, vuvuzela's blare in the streets, even at 6am.....
Gcinisizwe and I arrived in Cape Town thursday night and never have I seen this city, or any city for that matter in such a state! People are singing and dancing in the streets, there are fireworks, vuvuzela's are honking everywhere (FIFA plastic horns) and the most amazing thing, people are becoming united! We were lucky enough to stay at a friend's flat our first night, while waiting to be picked up from the local petrol station a lady walked up to us and asked if we needed a ride anywhere! Very nice considering that we are in a big city and normally people do not offer such things! People greet you on the street, everyone has an extra hop in their step.
My beautiful children of Thembalethu celebrating in typical children style, painting their faces with craft paint ha ha ha. Fabulous South African flag boys and girls!!
Gcinisizwe and I scream in excitement as we hold our very own World Cup tickets to the June 11th France vs Uruguay match!!
Gcinisizwe standing in front of his new car....ok, well it's not really his but wow, I think it would hold half the people in Zone 4!!
The beautiful city of Cape Town as seen from the balcony of my friend's flat. Cape Town (and Mo!) I love you!!!
It's been a really long time since I had access to a "proper" kitchen! Look everyone, an oven and four burners!!! (Behind my bum!)
Thankfully the people of Cape Town are much more friendly then their homes would suggest. Take a look at the double spiked fence complete with electric fencing!! If everyone spent their security money on food security and poverty reduction there would be no need for fences.
One of the many houses COVERED in World Cup decorations! What an exciting time to be here!
The beautiful Green Point Stadium of Cape Town as seen from our guest house balcony. Sadly even in such exciting times extreme poverty is not far away as an elderly man limps past, the vibe lost on him as he struggles to get by.
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