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.