Leaving Refilwe.

Our time in South Africa and, more importantly, Refilwe is coming to an end. Tomorrow we will say our goodbyes and head to the airport to begin our journey home. It is certainly a bittersweet time for us; we are so excited to be heading home after almost 20 months away, but we are sad to be leaving the place and people of Refilwe.

Working for Refilwe this year has been at once challenging and rewarding. We have both learned a lot this year about many different things:

We’ve learned that South Africa is a beautiful country that is well worth spending time in. We realised quickly not to listen too carefully to the horror stories people felt it necessary to share with us about its evils and discover for ourselves that its many beauties and wonderful people outweighed any potential risks.

We’ve learned that human beings, in their desire for power, are capable of horrendous acts. We have seen first-hand many of the effects of designing a social structure that systematically excluded and oppressed entire people groups in the name of power. We saw poverty, families in disrepair; we heard stories of abuse, neglect and crime. We felt what it was like to be judged by the colour of our skin and saw what decades of it could do to a person’s soul.

We’ve learned that rebuilding and reconciliation takes time. We have seen that people do not easily change unless they are personally motivated to do so. We have learned that there are no tricks or easy answers to the question of how to help people become personally motivated.

We’ve learned that people can accomplish extraordinary things when they take charge of their lives. We have seen people grow, businesses flourish, students improve and friends take on challenges that have changed their lives. We have been amazed at what individuals are able to overcome when they free themselves from the restrictions and labels of their past.

We’ve learned that community development is a complex endeavour that requires self-reflection, patience and flexibility. We have seen ideas come and go, some that have been incredibly successful and some that have not. We have learned that development is far less about our ideas and goals as it is about listening to and understanding the goals of others.

We’ve learned that relationships are important above all else. We’ve seen that, regardless of the situation, listening to others and valuing what they say is one of the most meaningful things you can do. Theories and programs and structures are useless without it. We have been blessed to see relationships grow and change in the community around us.

We're ready to be home and see what the things we've learned mean for the next part of our life together. 

 

 

Wrapping Up

Our time at Refilwe is very quickly coming to an end! This week is the last week of the school year, as well as our last official week of work. Refilwe is starting to slow down as different programs close and take a break over the holiday period.

There are still many things to keep us busy this week; the students at school have finished writing their exams, so this week is filled with different activities to keep them busy. One of these activities is a much-anticipated talent show on Thursday evening. The students have been busy rehearsing for weeks! This entire year I have worked one-on-one with a 15 year old girl who, at the beginning of the year, could not recognise her entire alphabet, let alone read. On Thursday she is going to read a story (on her own!) as her 'act' in the Talent Show! I am so proud!

The most exciting thing that is happening for us this week is the arrival of our sister Miriam and dear friend Jolane. We are so looking forward to them being here and being able to see and experience some of the things that have been so much a part of our life this year.

The photos today are from a Braai we had with our students on Friday afternoon to celebrate the end of their exams. It was fun to just sit and relax and let the students do all the work cooking and setting up (and of course eating!). They sure are a photogenic bunch!

Cliff and I have started reflecting on our experiences here at Refilwe and all of the things we have learned during our time here. I'm not going to go into it today, but you can expect a post soon about it! We can't believe that we really are in our last weeks, and that in just over 2 weeks' time, we'll be back home! It's going to be very bittersweet to leave.

The Main Event... coming soon...ish

Today marks 200 days until the 2010 Soccer World Cup kicks off. We know this because every single possible media outlet in South Africa has told us so. In fact, since we arrived back in February, it has been possible for us to know the exact number of days until this event, thanks to a national countdown that is displayed on the news each night. 

In a way, we have been able to use this countdown to measure our time at Refilwe; when we first arrived there was something like 470 days to go. In July, 365. We know that we were in Cape Town 56 days ago, because I took a photo of this sign while we were there:

Now there is 200 days to go. That means that we have been in South Africa for something like 270! And for almost every one of those 270 Days, we have heard something about the World Cup. 

We have seen the face of Johannesburg change. The city is full of high rises that were abandoned during the most violent periods of The Struggle against apartheid; mainly used now as homes for squatters, these buildings have been cleared out and covered up. With what? You might ask? Well, with billboards that are the exact height and length of the buildings (called building wraps) . In an instant, the city went from looking rundown and dirty to looking like a modern, advertise-centric metropolis.

The World Cup means many things for South Africa, not least the fact that it signals an indication of a Bright New Future of economic and political prosperity. In terms of industry, business development, tourism and all around good feelings, The World Cup has allowed for growth and/or the promise of growth at a time that South Africa really needed it. With the prospect of millions of people visiting this country next year, everyone is geared up and ready to make some bucks. Everything and anything is branded "2010"... look again at the picture at the top- it's of a hat that a woman wore to a wedding we went to!

There is, of course, the darker side to all of this. Entire settlements of people that have been moved because of their unsightly communities, billions and billions of Rand being spent on the development of roads, railways (which aren't even being used because the Taxi Drivers have flat out refused to accept the train and have blocked as much of its development as they could) and building stadiums. Rand that have not been spent on social infrastructure or education or health care. 

One of the biggest concerns that many organisations such as Refilwe who work closely with children is the fact that all schools are closing for the 6 weeks of the Event. This means there will be millions of children with nothing to do, most of them not being able to actually afford to go to any games. Because of the importance of the Event, most of the police force will be allocated to working it, rather than doing their normal work. This potentially means that the crime against already vulnerable children will increase, placing pressure on organisations to ensure these kids can be kept occupied and safe during 2010. Refilwe is certainly considering how it can best look out for the kids in our local communities. 

The end results of 2010's World Cup obviously remain to be seen. And not just who wins the title, but also how South Africa emerges on the other side; a better, stronger and more united nation? Or a country that compromised the safety of children and communities for the sake of its 15 minutes of fame?

Refilwe Enterprises

For Non-Government Development Organisations (known in the international development field as "NGDOs") the acquisition of resources is unfortunately a central part of operations. Without consistent access to resources, NGDOs face uncertainties that can jeopardise whole programs. And in community development, jeopardising programs means jeopardising opportunities for reaching people. NGDOs therefore try to maintain consistency and predictability when it comes to their resources.

I have explained before that Refilwe receives resources from many avenues; corporate, church and other individual donations as well as many non-financial resources such as volunteers (some like us, some who come for a day or a week or a day once a week), internet, space, machinery and food. The problem with a reliance on donations is that you become dependent on external forces for resources (like my poem?). This can put an NGDO in the position of having to pander to donors, or to acquiesce to demands and requests about when, where and how resources can be used.

For the most part, Refilwe has great relationships with its donors, but as the poem goes, reliance on outside forces for resources can be problematic. So Refilwe has sought to eradicate some of these problems by establishing its own income-generating enterprises:

The Indigenous Tree Nursery pictured above is one such enterprise. You may remember on our first weekend here, we helped construct the frame that is now the nursery. Inside now grows a few thousand saplings that will be sold to individuals, companies or more commercial nurseries. As with many places these days, indigenous plants are all the rage in South Africa. At the front there (obviously not trees) are worm houses... which we'll get to soon!

The Organic Orchard is another branch of Refilwe's Enterprises (ha ha, I'm on fire today). Inside grows various fruit trees, vegetable and herb plants that are all grown very organically and usually sold to make various jams and canned goods. We bought an artichoke the other day and ate it. It tasted very healthy.
Lastly, but most significantly, we have the worms. Setting up a worm farm and its associated products has been a focus of Refilwe Enterprises since we arrived. We have seen the enterprise grow from an idea, to housing millions of worms in kilos of dirt, to being branded and marketed. Refilwe is not in the worm-selling business, though. What they do is house and feed the worms, then collect the various products created by the worms to sell. The main product is compost, with a pinch of worm cast. MMmm. There is an intricate process to extracting the cast from the worms, which somehow involves the large silver machine below. I haven't actually seen it in action yet, but I have seen the end result, so it must work!

The result of establishing these enterprises should hopefully mean a more autonomous approach to resources for Refilwe. Of course, relationships with donors will always remain central for Refilwe to run successfully, but there is certainly an element of relief that comes with knowing you will always be able to pay the bills!

Busy Bees

Hands of Hope School has been a busy place over the past couple of weeks. Refilwe often has groups from different organisations wanting to become involved or provide some sort of resource for the children here. The experiences the students get out of it range from exciting to interesting to sometimes a bit strange (one time these people brought some pens, paper and peanut butter sandwiches... and that was it.)

Last week we were visited by a group from a university in Finland. One of them was a doctorate student who is studying something technical about teaching robotics and using computer systems to help teachers teach robotics. Not necessarily relevant to our small school, but interesting all the same. While some of the Finnish visitors entertained most of the students with Physics and Lego, Erlik the Doctorate Student conducted a 'study' using 6 students at a time, some robotic cars and us teachers. It was a very unique experience...

On Saturday we had a visit from a professional make-up artist and a photographer who brought all their fancy gear and had "Makeover Day" with the girls. A couple of months ago, the boys all went to a South African Army artillery display, so this day was somethings special just for the girls (not that I think the boys minded much to be left out...). They all seemed to have a lot of fun and of course looked gorgeous!


This week we've had a team from YWAM's School of Music and Missions here running workshops with the students every day after school. Considering it has rained every afternoon at almost exactly 3.30pm, it's been a timely change from our usual sporting activities! Most of our students love making music and they seem to be enjoying this experience.

Some Thoughts about Water

The rainy season has just begun here in Johannesburg. Our days begin warm, get hotter and then usually end with thunderstorms and pouring rain. Almost within a week, the landscape has changed from the dusty brownness of winter to the lush greenness of the rainy season. 

Water is often a topic of conversation in the places we come from. In Melbourne, the past 10 years have seen us grow accustomed to water restrictions and make efforts to conserve water habitual. In Lancaster... well, it tends to rain a lot during the summer time, often disrupting well-laid outdoor activities. But in South Africa (and indeed many places in Africa) the conversations about water follow a different path.

Over 10% of South Africans still live without access to clean water. It doesn't sound like much, but in a country of 48 Million, that's over 4.8 Million people. Most of them live in rural areas where their water is tainted by run-off created by mining. But many of them also live in informal settlements, places that are 'on the list' for receiving basic amenities such as clean water and toilets.

Behind us and across from us at Refilwe there are informal settlements. Some of these places still lack easy access to clean water. In many of them there is one central tap from which all 1-3,000 people must draw water. Bathing is done from basins or in local rivers; contamination of rivers by human waste puts everyone who uses them at risk of diseases such as cholera and dysentery. 

Here at Refilwe we are lucky to have running water facilities. We don't have to get up early every morning to walk to a central source to fill tubs with water for our day. We don't have to worry about getting violently ill after drinking what comes from our tap. But many of the people we interact with face this as a daily challenge. There is not much Refilwe can do to change this fact, aside from waiting along with these people for the day their community tops 'the list'.

Wonderful Women

Feminism. It’s a word that in many circles of people I know would be uttered with slight disdain. In the context of our Western histories, it conjures images of burning bras and man-haters. Its associated movements have opened up doors that women now tend to take for granted, which is possibly why many people now think that it’s best to stop beating an already well-beaten path and just get on with life.

Yet aside from our developed, Western cultures, feminism takes on new meaning. In this world, 1.4 billion people live in abject poverty. This figure is an estimate of all of these people living on less than US$1 a day (and if you consider all those living on less than US$2 a day, the number is increased significantly).

The majority of these are women.

Women suffer the greatest inequalities in the world in terms of rights and access to resources. The real-life impact of this fact means that the poorest of the poor, those most vulnerable to disease, trauma and exploitation, are women.

In South Africa this is no different.

Refilwe is not a ‘women-oriented’ organisation, but it is very aware of the importance of reaching and empowering the women in its local communities. Many women have been impacted by Refilwe’s skills training program, daycare facilities and health services.

Over our time here at Refilwe, I have been able to spend a lot of time with many of the women who work at Refilwe. Amanda and I intentionally went about organising regular social activities with the Mamas who live here- going to movies, out to dinner, trying ice-skating and enjoying late night conversations by the fire.

Over these times we have learned much about who these women are and where they have come from. Their stories make you laugh, cry and sometimes sit in wonder that they have made it so far. Recently I recounted to them the story of one of my good friends’ strength in fighting off an intruder into her apartment armed with only a piece of wood- in the conversation that followed, each of the Mamas there recalled similar experiences in their own lives. The memories came with laughter, but for these women, vulnerability to violence and abuse was just part of their child and young adulthoods.

Violence and abuse is still rampant in South African communities. Sexual promiscuity is the norm among poor African communities, with the dangers of contracting diseases or falling pregnant at a young age reality for many women. In places like this, Feminism has little to do with political movements; it means finding ways to help women become empowered, confident and unafraid of the world around them. Refilwe offers alternatives to many women by providing education, skills training, employment and, for some, a home that allows them to live  (and grow up) free of poverty and fear.

A Recent Project

Thanks to our MacBook, Cliff has quite unexpectedly become Refilwe's resident multimedia whiz. It started with putting a few photos together on Iphoto for Jaco to take abroad on some fundraising/awareness trips and has ended with him creating movies! 

The following video is our favourite. Mum, you might want to get some tissues before you watch it...

Cape Town Capers

Over the school holidays, we ventured off on a well-deserved (we think!) holiday to South Africa's beautiful city of Cape Town. The legislative capital (quick trivia, did you know SA has three capital cities?) is a city of many faces; there is an impressive mountain range, a spectacular coastline and a sprawling wine region, not to mention the bustling city itself!

At the risk of sounding a bit like a travel agent, let me extol some of Cape Town's many virtues.

First off, there's the spectacular coastline. We were able to see a fair bit of the peninsula that consists of several different, beautiful, bays. We spent a couple of nights in Simon's Town, an old Navy town on False Bay. Here we experienced some crazy winds, but also a day of lovely sunshine and calm. Simon's Town is home to a large colony of African Penguins, while False Bay is home to many whales during breeding season. We even got to see a few doing flips and having a grand old time right from our balcony!

Everybody we know who knows goes on about Cape Town's wine routes, so we had high expectations. We were not disappointed! We stayed in the quaint university town of Stellenbosch, its namesake wine route is world famous for its 110 or so wineries. We duly embarked on a wine tour of 4 of said wineries, enjoying a beautiful day of scenery, mountains, wine and, even better, cheese. Of course we snapped up some direct-from-the-seller bargains and continued to gorge ourselves for the following few days.

And then, of course, there's the city itself with Table Mountain as its backdrop. In many ways the city reminded us of Melbourne- there were times when we'd be driving down a stretch of coastal road and swear we were on Bay Rd, or drinking coffee in cafes on streets that could easily have been Chapel. We did quite the touristy things in the city, visited museums, markets, the aquarium and of course took the cableway up to Table Mountain. Coming from Johannesburg, where the weather is a constant 27 (80) or more, we weren't quite prepared for the cold at the top of the mountain! 

We really had a great, relaxing holiday. It was wonderful to see and experience more of South Africa's many beautiful qualities. Of course, this week it's back to work, with the memory of the holiday suddenly feeling very distant. We're on the home stretch now!

The Rainbow Nation

South Africa’s culture is a genuine melting pot of different cultures combining to create one.  With 11 official languages and many different people groups, the convergence of these in common areas creates a unique blend. Being open to another person's background and culture creates a sense of acceptance and understanding, something we see at Refilwe every day.

Here is a picture of the different cultures we experience daily at Refilwe:

Blessing is Venda. She’s in year 8 at Hands of Hope and speaks the language of Venda. She can also speak Zulu, Tswana and English. 

Natasha is from Zambia. She came to SA when she was very young and now speaks Zulu as well as her native Zambian language. Her family still follows many Zambian traditions.

Monica is Afrikaans. She is the principal of Hands of Hope and has been a teacher for over 20 years. Although she is traditionally Afrikaans, her personal culture is very mixed because she and her husband lived in Hong Kong for almost 20 years.

Maxwell is originally from Zimbabwe. His family moved to SA  to get away from the instability of their home country. He speaks the Zimbabwean language of Sbedhi, but has quickly picked up the local language of Tswana in order to communicate with his friends.

Abby is Tswana. This people group is native to Gauteng, the province of SA in which we are located and is one of the larger populations in SA. Most people in the surrounding communities speak this language and adhere to this culture.

Nomvula is Zulu. This people group is the largest population in SA, although they primarily live in the Eastern province of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Zulu is the most widely spoken African language in SA.

Jessica is English. There is a clear distinction in SA between white 'English' South Africans and white 'Afrikaans' South Africans, with many English South Africans speaking only one language.

Shirley is Sotho (pronounced Sootoo). Her family is originally from the Mpumalanga Province, however the people group to which they belong live in both SA and the country of Lesotho. She can speak several African languages.

All either students or teachers at HoH, we daily interact with the complications of cross-cultural communication. Almost every student speaks at least three languages, some fluently and some haltingly, with English being the hardest of them all. It is so important for us to recognise that each student has a unique history that has brought them to Refilwe and Hands of Hope, as well as a unique cultural background that influences the way they think and behave. Doing so creates a culture of respect and acceptance completely unique to our environment.

 

A Unique Investment Opportunity

Cliff's role at Refilwe has seen him become involved in a range of things, one of which can loosely be titled 'donor relations'. Below is an example of the sort of writing he has done in this role.

Refilwe Community Project’s Investment Strategy Shatters Expectations

Recently many people have been discouraged by the rate of return in investment markets around the world.  The Global Financial Crisis has caused shares to plummet as the world economy has slowed to grinding halt. 

Are there any investments that are showing positive growth?

Despite difficult economic times Refilwe Community Project continues to invest and has structured an investment portfolio that is outperforming today’s markets.     

 Here are 4 investments Refilwe makes on a daily basis.

  1.     Investment in People

In addition to a variety of community based programs and initiatives Refilwe is unique in that many of the organisations staff positions are filled by members of the informal settlements in which they serve.  Other positions have been filled by people who have the unique qualities and personality required for community development work, but benefit from more job specific training.  Personal and professional development are core components to how Refilwe plans to grow their organisation and their community. 

2. Investment in the Future

The impact of education cannot be underestimated in the work of community development.  In South Africa there is a great burden placed on schools resulting in a poor education system.  In response to this need Refilwe has started the Hands of Hope School and also operates a daycare.  Every weekday Refilwe is involved in educating over 80 young people and children through these programs.  These children represent the future of South African business, government and   

3. Investment in Breaking Social Barriers

Nothing hinders a community’s development more than division among its members.  As a result of the history of apartheid in South Africa this is an issue that continually invades daily life.  Division by race, country, tribe and socio-economic status continue to undermine sustainable growth.  Refilwe’s approach addresses misconceptions and stereotypes and has resulted in the creation of a place where individuals of all backgrounds share ideas and work together.

4. Investment in the Kingdom of God

Refilwe believes that all sustainability, economic, social or otherwise is not a realistic outcome without spiritual sustainability.  Because of this the importance of a relationship with God is presented in every program and project.  Ultimately it is the community of believers that Refilwe is committed to developing and that work will be sustainable for eternity. 

These investments pay huge dividends, are low risk and have incredible growth forecasts in all economic conditions.  Furthermore, these investments are still unidentified by a majority of investment firms and traders.  

We want to offer you an opportunity to invest in our portfolio.  We are giving you exclusive information to this unique and proven strategy.  Don’t delay, act now.   

A belated "Update"

Some of you will have already seen this, but some of you won't have. It does say "August" - I realise it's mid September now! So just edit that bit in your mind! 

It's been quite the 6 months, being here at Refilwe. We're both learning and enjoying so much through being here. And there's still 3 months to go! 

The "New" Plague

Despite its reputation (compared to the rest of the continent) as 'developed', South Africa has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world. HIV/AIDS is easily the main cause of death in here, with one study I recently read stating that around 1000 people a day die from it. This same study put the HIV/AIDS rate at around 10% of the whole population- around 4 million people!

HIV affects Refilwe in many ways. Back in the early 90s, in its early days and right up until just a few years ago, one of Refilwe's main projects was a hospice for dying HIV/AIDS patients. More than a couple of the Refilwe children's parents passed away at that hospice. A sad reality is that many pregnant mothers pass the virus on to their newborn babies and with almost 30% of all pregnant women in SA being HIV+, this reality hits close to home for several at Refilwe.

As I mentioned in my last blog post, Refilwe's current main work with HIV/AIDS is through the Voluntary Counseling and Testing program (VCT), a government initiative funded by an American Aid organisation. With the prevalence of HIV, the first aim of the program is to counsel individuals who may or may not have been infected with the virus, giving important information and options for each person. The individual then has a choice to be tested for HIV and the Home Based Care team must then follow up to ensure the appropriate health care steps are taken should the results be positive.

Despite the prevalence and immediate risk faced, many communities and individuals remain indifferent or uneducated about the causes of HIV. In a culture where sexual fidelity is not always the norm, there is a real danger that the virus is unwittingly spread to those who are not even aware of their partner's "status". Refilwe's Home Based Care team also works to provide clear and basic education for the communities, outlining the risks and suggesting alternatives to unsafe sex. Their education also focuses on pregnant mothers, teaching strategies for avoiding transmission of the virus. 

With all the Swine Flu panic that has swept the globe, we have often discussed mankind's deep-seated fear of "another bubonic plague"; a disease that will wipe out half the population of the world before anyone can do anything about it. What people seem to forget is for millions and millions of people, that disease is already here, slowly wiping out entire generations. It may not move as quickly as an airborne virus might, but its devastation is just as pervasive, with no cure in sight.

The fight against HIV takes commitment by individuals, communities and government as it is just as much about changing lifestyles and beliefs as it is about good health. Refilwe is committed to not only educating and raising awareness about HIV in the local community, but it is also committed to supporting people through the devastation the virus leaves in its wake.