Aug 1: Chapter 5 - Patience is a Virtue!

We arrived at the job site this morning geared up and ready to go  We had high hopes of accomplishing the installation of at least one garage door and unfortunately were met with some frustrations. The local handyman that SACRO had initially hired to assist us on Monday, in fact failed to show up at the job site.  So out of frustration and with good intentions we attempted to complete our original goal, one garage door...perhaps not the best idea.

After several unsuccessful attempts and with the arrival of our new best friend, Shadrack, we cleaned up the mess we had made.  And we have high hopes (yet again) for tomorrow.

Lesson of the Day:  Pack a little patience.  Be sure to pack a little more.

Disclaimer:  Our parents have taught us to leave a place better than you found it; we failed to do so today.  Our optimism has not yet been snuffed out and we hope to do better tomorrow.

Chapter 5: Part 2 - Food for Thought

We had the pleasure of having a guest at dinner tonight.  Sibusiso, the Social Worker at SACRO.  He joined us for a traditional Italian dinner complete with garlic bread.  Before, during, and after dinner we discussed a variety of topics related to life in Swazi.  It was fascinating to hear about politics, cultural practices, and social issues that affect the quality of life here.  It was our own little cultural exchange of information and ideas.  It seems we both learned a lot. In fact, phone numbers were exchanged.

Lesson of the Day:  The sharing of food is a common experience across all cultures.  Our 'family' adopted another member tonight and we feel like we've been adopted in return.

Disclaimer:  Nothing to disclaim!

Anya Malda
DWC Participant
Swaziland, August 2013

July 31: Chapter 4 - Two Halves Make A Whole

We awoke to another beautiful sunny morning in Swazi, clear blue sky and approximately 22 degrees Celsius. Feeling confident and industrious we set off on our trek to work.

Part of the group, myself and Kelly, went with Sibusiso to the SACRO Drop-In-Center in Mbabane. We were introduced to staff, toured the facility, and scoped out the area where we hope to cultivate and plant a garden with the children. We had a stimulating and eye opening conversation with Sibusiso and Sihle (Social Workers for both programs) wherein we learned more about the program, it's vision, and goals. The Drop-In-Center functions as a support system for over sixty children living in the area. Their main goal is crime prevention by keeping children off of the streets. Through several donors and partners the program is able to meet some of the basic needs for these children such as, provide a warm and nutritious meal, support with homework, and life skills teaching. In the coming days the group will have several opportunities to interact with the children. Stay tuned.

Back at the work site the other part of the crew worked tirelessly removing several dilapidated garage doors and beginning to replace them with new, shinny, lightweight roll up doors. It seems that Mirella is stronger than she realized and accidentally broke the hammer drill - oops! We were also stunned to find that we've unleashed a 'monster' in Gillian as she demonstrated here prowess with the drill. As luck would have it one of the small business owners in the SACRO complex was a welder and he was able to display his talent for fixing drill shafts. Unfortunately it was more of a bandaid than a remedy.

From today's experiences, we are seeing how the work with the children and the improvements that are being made for the ex-prisoners complement each other. For the rest of our adventure we look forward to seeing how the mission and vision of two distinct programs help young children, adults, and their local community. We look forward to sharing with you more about what we learn and experience as the weeks go by in beautiful Swaziland.

A bonus of our stay at the Road Lodge is the befriending of our night watchman, Futi. We have seen pictures of his beautiful family and have taken him on as a member of our family, particularly at dinner time. This evening's meal, again compliments of Chef Tommy and Sous Chef Chris, consisted of stir-fry and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Yum yum!

Lesson of the Day: Having the right tools is half the battle.

Disclaimer: I am suffering from a bit of a stomach bug today so Kelly contributed the words of wisdom; he's also a year or two older.

Anya Malda 

DWC Participant

Swaziland, July 2013

July 30th: Chapter 3 - Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work we go!

We departed from home this morning in out typical mode of transportation, the back of the truck, ready for our first day of work. As we merged into rush hour traffic we were joined by a man who we assumed was a "jumper" but in fact he turned out to be a "pusher." While we thought we were quietly idling and trying to overtake the stalled vehicle in the middle of the road, we came to realize that our truck had run out of gas. In fact we were being assisted to the side of the road by our friendly "pusher," our new best friend. After a slight delay we continued on our way to the work site.

With much discussion of work site projects, our team of highly skilled labourers set out to dig a trench for piping to assist in improvements to the washrooms. We dug. We picked. We chopped. We scooped (with an empty coffee container). And we dug some more. If a trench can be pretty we did it!

After a lunch break and wifi connection (HOORAY!) we returned to the work site for a meeting with local community administrators to clarify their needs and our skill set as they relate to the projects we would be working on. Now with a firm game plan we are set to go for our two week adventure.

As we ended our work day, since we hadn't had enough exercise we chose to walk home. Approximately forty minutes later we arrived safe and sound and discovered that we're all more than ready and capable of hiking up Sheba's Rock.

Lesson of the Day: Always carry a spare jug (aka Jerry can) and the top part of a water bottle (aka funnel) in your car when you have a poorly functioning gas gauge.

Disclaimer: Unbeknownst to himself, Kelly has officially been suckered in to writing this blog with me - sweet deal for me! 

Anya Malda
DWC Participant
Swaziland, July 2013

July 29th: Chapter 2 - The Wild Side

We woke this morning to a breakfast of champions prepared by Chef Tommy (credits for toast preparation to Sous Chef Mirella). Gourmet style eggs with mushrooms, onion and asparagus set the tone for the day and the bar for the next two weeks.

Our day on the wild side started with typical Swazi style transportation - a ride in the back of a pickup truck. Displaying our exceptional form and agility nine of us were seated snugly in the back on top of bags of donations (can you say squeezy squeezy?) We again had a 'ten minute walk' (in reality a twenty minute drive) through the city to the project site. SACRO - Swaziland Association for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of Offenders will be our work home for the next two weeks. We had a warm welcome and lovely tour of the site and we look forward to an opportunity to help them in their vision and mission work.

Then we were off to the much anticipated Candle Factory finally! In keeping in lines with our walk on the wild side we explored the local craft market full of wood carvings, batik, woven goods, and CANDLES in various sizes, shapes, and animal prints (compliments of Chris, which we currently have burning on the coffee table in front of us as we lounge on the BIG RED COUCH).

Today, lunch too was on the wild side. On the way to the animal sanctuary we made an impromptu stop at a roadside market and ordered bbq chicken off the open flame of a homemade Big Green Egg. The eight of us sat in the van and mauled apart the carcass of several fowl. It was better than 'finger lickin' good,' so there Colonel Saunders! Thank goodness for hand wipes.

We arrived at the Milwane National Big Game Sanctuary and continued the walk (or bike ride) on the wild side. I was so impressed to see two of our other team members tap into their personal wild sides by spontaneously upgrading to the biking tour. It proved to be full of twists and turns, highs and lows, and laughs and scrapes. Highlights included jumping impalas, zebras, hippos, the hibernating crocodile on Crocodile Island, and the ever popular warthog. To celebrate that no one became prey while touring we shared various libations at the Hippo Haunt.

With another stop at a local craft market full of typical hand crafted items for the typical tourist we headed off to Sheba's Rock for a tamed-down version of dinner. Internet finally! After much conversation about the day's events and another round of libations we headed for the BIG RED COUCH in our evening attire.

Lesson of the Day: Look where you want to go and commit! Hold on and smile. Take a risk and you'll be fine.

Disclaimer: The names of the animals have been omitted to protect the innocent. This entry was yet again another group effort.

Anya Malda
DWC Participant
Swaziland, July 2013

July 28th: Chapter 1 - On the Road to Swaziland

After lengthy travel time, the eight of us (1 Dane, 3 Americans, 4 Canadians and a Partridge in a Pear Tree) arrived safely in Johannesburg Airport. We were introduced to South African Standard Time right off the bat. Our driver, Muzi, was running "10 minutes" late as he needed to have the tires on the van changed. He did show up, albeit several "10 minutes" later (try 2.5 hours).

After a quick pit stop at the Mercedes dealership to pick up a single fuel injector (apparently an essential part), we were on our way. The terrain was relatively flat with little vegetation throughout most of the countryside. We took a lunch break at a local mall. Kind of surreal and bizarre being in a developing country and visiting a mall. It was packed with people and we were told that this is the natural phenomenon on payday. The mall seemed more than just a place to shop and more like a community centre where families gather to socialize.

On the road again the landscape started to become a little more hilly the closer we got to the Swaziland boarder. This was also where you began to see large Pine trees...didn't see that coming. Massive acres of Pine tree rows are planted for harvesting.

Mid afternoon found us at the official South African/Swazi border. We all disembarked and went through what could quite possibly be dubbed the shortest customs line worldwide. After being peppered with intrusive questions (Are you driving? How long are you staying?) we were forced to literally walk across the border and past the customs officials who were lounging comfortably in their lawn chairs.

After enduring the bumpy ride we arrived at our appropriately named home, The Road Lodge Guest House. If you squint your eyes really tightly and use a little imagination it looks exactly like the photos they display on their website. After rearranging the room assignments and furniture we all settled into the BIG RED COUCH.

Lesson of the Day: As there are no traffic lights and traffic is somewhat chaotic we recommend crossing the road at the speed bumps in order to better your chances of not becoming a speed bump yourself.

Disclaimer:  This has been been written under the influence of jet leg, and while I was initially concerned about all of the readers judging my writing abilities, the good news is I'm surrounded by 3 teachers, a principal, and a career counsellor so the judging is being done well before this blog gets posted.

Anya Malda
DWC Participant
Swaziland, July 2013

 

Poor in Riches, Rich in Spirit: Reflections on Swaziland

There is one thing that I have learned having gone to visit Swaziland, South Africa, and that is we are rich beyond belief. Ours is a country where we rush to upgrade our IPhone or Berry, finance a brand new car, and spend oodles of coin renovating our old kitchen’s into something we see in Dwell magazine. Some of us take our motorboats out to the lake, have family ski passes every winter and go out for dinner often. We truly enjoy the benefits of being born to a developing world country. If we cannot find a job, we can apply for welfare; if we are a person with a disability, we can apply for PWD benefits. We are entitled to child tax, tax returns and can even access a food bank if time’s get rough. Education is available to everyone up to grade 12, and medical is available to all. In Canada, if we feel our rights have been ignored, we demand recourse. Entitlement is a word that comes to mind.

It is the opposite in Swaziland in every way. Men can have more than one wife, and many women are raising their children alone. There is a 35 percent employment rate and absolutely no social programs available for those who are unemployed. Most of the rural communities we worked in were incredibly poor. The children within them loved to play but did not have any toys. Toys were made out of garbage, but fun was still had. In the one community to which we provided outreach services, the children walked alone to the child care centre for their meal each day as there wasn’t a meal at home. If it rained, there was no meal because the grandmothers cooked over a fire outside. The children came each day in the same dirty clothes with smiles on their faces.

Their eyes sparkle with a gentle and accepting resilience to the poverty and lack of opportunity around them. It was nothing short of inspiring. It caught my breath and brought tears to my eyes. All they really wanted was to play games and to snuggle and share my lunch. The value of a game of "duck, duck, goose" or a single balloon was priceless it seemed. In Canada, our children expect WII, or Xbox, satellite TV, long boards, name brand clothing and more. Now my point is not that we should feel guilty for all that we have because we come from a developing country, but rather be aware of our blessings. We were blessed to be born Canadian. We are blessed that we have a government that believes it is our human right to have heat, water, medical care, education and social programs such as welfare. We require less “stuff” than we think we need or feel entitled to have. I know I do, as I look at the two brand new vehicles parked in front of the house I own. A closet filled with more clothes than I know what to do with and cupboards full of food. I have water that can fill my bathtub and sinks, I can wash my clothes and crank the heat on cold dark nights. These are blessings.

Across the world, in a place called Swaziland, there are families and children whom I know by name and I have seen their homes and the communities they reside in. They do not have power, cupboards full of food or extra clothes, blankets or toys; but they have winning attitudes like I have never before seen. A strength and kindness that shines on the darkest of nights letting us know that “they are here” and they have the will and the fight to survive.

Kira Gosselin
DWC Participant
ASK Wellness
Swaziland 2011

September 2011: Message from the family

This morning, DWC Team Leader Rob Plowright received a message of thanks from Lindewe, one of the many people the ASK Wellness Team were able to serve during their time in Swaziland. Here is what was written:

HI ROB,
ROB I was so happy to meet a hard working team like your team . They were really so good to me and my ladies. and we wish to see them again. ROB, I really dream of good things for that kitchen though sometimes I have challenges, but for my community I'm sure of helping them fully, and I always think the beginning of it that we worked so hard for it with the DWC volunteers so I always say it must not fall on my hands. So ROB you must always remember that hard working people in that kitchen.

ROB, oh our garden is so good we water it every day now is green growing very well , but the water is finish now in the tank. We have not yet started to cook for the children because of the water. The kids are back, I'm so happy about that I'm taking care of them. Please tell the DWC Volunteers about that kitchen, how it works. so that they must know that their money was not thrown away. We wish you to help us again.

The ladies are greeting you too. I WILL send a picture for the garden to see how good it is.

BYE ROB WE MISS YOUR GOOD HEART, YOUR PATIENCE.

Lindewe
SOS Children's Village
Swaziland 2011

August 2011: Swaziland Outreach Day 4

Friday

Today I joined the other Developing World Connections teams at our building site. They have laid hundreds of bricks and built very quickly a two room child care center. Meanwhile, the other team created a garden from scratch. We purchased hundreds of seedlings and planted them. I really needed a day of hard labor and so I joined the construction team for the afternoon to haul huge bricks and pick-axe and shovel hard clay. The sun beating down at around 33 degrees (ps....this is their winter) ... I cannot imagine their summer. We know now that we must pack lunches for the community volunteers and our amazing driver Muzi. We also bring extra to give away to those who need it.

Kira Gosselin
DWC Participant
ASK Wellness
Swaziland 2011

August 2011: Swaziland Outreach Day 3

Thursday

We returned to the community in the morning and replanted an existing garden at the child care center. Then we built 2 new gardens and seeded them with the help of about 16 children. They could not wait for me to begin playing with them. It was very challenging to play with 50 children under the age of 16 and as young as 2 without being able to communicate. Fortunately I had my new friend Kaza with me.

I met Kaza at SOS Childrens' Villages whom we are partnered with. He has taken very good care of me and the team. Translating to the children the games I was teaching them. The best part came at the end when the children saw I was drained from trying to keep them entertained for 2.5 hours and they began teaching me Swazi games....and some language. What fun we had! There are literally zero toys. The children make toy cars out of scrap wire and beer cans. So games are all they have and they have many. All of the games include singing and dancing. The talent in these wee people blew my mind.

Kira Gosselin
DWC Participant
ASK Wellness
Swaziland 2011

August 2011: Swaziland Outreach Day 2

Wednesday

We identified how we were going to help these families, and the next day we planted a huge garden for a family and built them a cold frame for seeding. We brought up all the materials and purchased 444 small vegetable plants. This garden will be the only source of income for this family of seven. Both parents have passed away so the responsibility now rests on the two brothers, one of which is only 22.

The conditions the children face in this community are daunting: wearing the same clothes daily and playing with toys they have made out of garbage. One little girl, maybe at the age of five, was playing with friends, and I realized that the crotch of her pants was completely blown out and her private parts were completely exposed. It seemed as though all the children were sick. The two meals a day they receive come from the community centre we were working out of. The first meal is at noon, and it is a thin cornmeal porridge. There is no fruit or sugar to sweeten this. It is literally gruel. The second meal is around 2:30, and it consists of white rice and a kind of stew that is changes as food becomes available.

Kira Gossein
DWC Participant
ASK Wellness
Swaziland, August 2011