A look back on 2013

As we head into 2014 with an awesome January shaping up, we want to take time to reflect on the great year that was 2013. 

Firstly we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who was involved. From volunteers to staff to visitors to community members, you have all made 2013 a year to remember. There is far to much to put into one blog so we have picked out a few highlights for our readers to enjoy.  

One of our biggest achievements of the year on our ‘Orphan Day Care and HIV Education’ project was the progression that was seen with our Child Assessments carried our by volunteers with children aged 4 and 5 heading to Grade R across the 8 Creches we work within.

Sabatha was delighted with his Child Assessment results

The Child Assessments assess abilities such as  pencil holding, reciting and recognition of the alphabet, basic motor skills and matching of shapes and objects. 

At the creches we were lucky enough to return to and do a second round of assessments, we saw huge improvements in the children’s ability which is a great testament, not only to the volunteers but to the teachers of the creche who have been putting in the hard work while the AI team are absent. 

Huge congratulations to all the children who went on to graduate and are now starting Primary School this month. 

Inkanyezi Creche

Along with creches we were delighted to have continued the work at Inkanyezi Creche. After meeting with builders and raising more funds with the help of The Happy Africa Foundation, a middle pillar was erected along with the roof being tilted meaning that there will be no more leaks! 

The next stage will be to fit toilets and an extension for the kitchen and baby room. A local business woman has kindly taken up sponsorship for the food for the children which will assist in the registration process.

 We are very attached to this gorgeous Creche and look forward to the relationship continuing and for what 2014 brings for this special place of learning. 

Volunteers and Support group members enjoying yoga

2013 was the start of our new ‘Vulnerable Children and Rural Family Support’ project which consisted of two HIV/AIDS Support Groups, one Mothers’ Support Group, two After School Clubs, Girls Club, two community gardens, refurbishments, Garbage Pick-Up, bed building, assisting in baby rooms and lots lots more! 

This project is something that all who contributed to this year should be very proud of and it is only what it is because of the amazing volunteers that we have had join us in 2013. 

All the Support Groups loved the Hippo & Croc tour!!

A highlight for the community project has to be the awesome trips we were able to take our  Support Groups and After School Clubs on. Not only did the Support Groups enjoy beach trips and an afternoon at the Croc Centre, but everyone had the best time in November as a local tour operator sent everyone off on two mornings of Hippo and Croc tours on the Estuary! This was such a treat for community members and staff, made even better by a local business woman’s donation snack boxes for all 80 children. This really was incredible!

The ‘Medical Outreach and HIV Awareness’ project went from strength to strength. Volunteers saw 6706 patients at the Sipho Zungu Clinic intake desk and also participated in 260 home visits for Home Based Care.

Home Assistance is a hit with the volunteers

We welcomed the start of Home Assistance in 2013 which was born from Home Based Care. 

There were many patients we would visit and want to help more in and around their home, but faced time restraints, so March saw volunteers head into homes to help with anything that might need doing. 

This could include  washing, cleaning, gardening, washing the children or fetching water - volunteers did it all!  

Over all 2013 was epic! The African Impact team and everyone here in the communities surrounding St. Lucia truly appreciate the hard work that was put in from every volunteer. You all did truly make your impact. We are all very excited for the coming year and hope you all are as well! Be sure to follow our updates from our blogs, Twitter and Facebook. Happy 2014!

An amazing 6 months as The Happy Africa Foundation Intern

For the last six months Stacey Addison has interned for The Happy Africa Foundation (THAF) in partnership with African Impact in St. Lucia. Her time has now come to an end in St. Lucia and she has done an amazing job. Take a look at her final blog for THAF. 

When I first arrived as a volunteer in May I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was hoping that this trip would help me figure out the next step I needed to take. Those three weeks of volunteering taught me so much about myself and a new culture and it’s fair to say that I realised then that I couldn't go back home to a ‘normal’ life. 

Stacey and a young learner at reading club 

I knew that if I didn't make that decision quickly I would go home and get stuck back in the rut that I had been in for the last few months, so it was time to call the parents and explain that I had seen an advert for an internship with The Happy Africa Foundation in St Lucia.

The rest is history, within hours of arriving back in the UK I had been offered the internship for 6 months and by the end of that week I had signed my contract, handed my notice in at work and booked my flights back. 

A quick decision but the right one, I wanted to do more for the communities I had worked in for the last 3 weeks and get amazing work experience in fundraising and events coordinating and where else better to do it but the beautiful settings of St Lucia, South Africa.

After meeting Monique at Durban airport I was so excited to see everyone and get straight into the internship. Driving past Khula Village and back over the bridge into St Lucia I felt like I was back home, which may seem crazy considering I had only been here for 3 weeks previously but this place quickly takes its hold.

 

Helping at the first local Hippo Fest was a highlight for THAF 

Writing this now I can’t quite believe that I am in my last week as the intern, which has been the best 6 months of my life.

I have been lucky enough to have met some incredible people who have inspired me with their strength and community spirit. 

Some of these people which have very little and have lost many loved ones young and old, yet their smiles are still beautiful and captivating.

Some facts about what I have achieved during my time here as the St Lucia Intern. I have raised the following through fundraising events and very kind donations from volunteers through campaigns and talks during their time with African Impact:

Medical Projects: R15,329.57

10 Families Programme: R6,393.75

Inkanyezi Crèche Redevelopment Programme: R57,626.87

THAF Merchandise: R4440

Emergency Funding for House Repairs: R8640.70

TOTAL (exc Merchandise): R87,990.89 (£5136.38)

The day I stepped into my manager’s office I knew I had made the right decision to leave my friends and family behind to pursue work experience with The Happy Africa Foundation and I have never once regretted flying over 8000km away from home to follow this dream. 

For everyone that thought I was crazy to give up everything in the UK, well I proved you wrong and I couldn't be more proud of my achievements here. I never imagined that I would be able to raise so much money for such an amazing charity and that means so much.

Stacey and a little one enjoying her last week as a THAF Intern  

The last 6 months in St Lucia, have been incredibly inspiring and I have grown to call this place my home from home. 

Meeting so many new people, making new friends and learning so much about a new career path and myself, none of that would have happened if I hadn't to the leap and left the UK.

Thank You for everything St Lucia!

“Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings.” - Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

If interning for THAF  interests you then please visit their website to find out more.  

What CAN you do with old soft drink CANS?

Past education volunteer Loes Smeets from Holland passed alone some of her rather epic skills to members of Khula community, skills that she had learnt from her grandfather. Loes was kind enough to write a blog about the workshop she ran with the community members so we can all be equally as green and cool as her (plus it is in Dutch and English!)!

Workshop: Yes we can!

Hergebruik is de laatste tijd steeds meer uitgegroeid tot een van mijn grootste fascinaties. Er zijn op deze wereld zo veel restproducten waarmee je, als je er een beetje creatief mee omgaat, zoveel meer mee kan doen dan ze afschrijven en op een grote hoop gooien met de noemer 'rommel'. Ik shopte natuurlijk wel al vaker bij de kringloop, maar er zijn zo veel meer manieren waarop hergebruikt kan worden. In mijn studie architectuur zie je bijvoorbeeld dat renovatie en herbestemming ook een soort van hergebruik genoemd kunnen worden. Oude gebouwen worden daarbij namelijk geherwaardeerd. Maar ook alledaagse gebruiksvoorwerpen en materialen kunnen hergebruikt worden, zoals een blikje...
Hierbij mijn workshop van blik tot blikvanger.

Re-use has become one of my fascinations lately. People often throw things away which you can re-use, if you look at them at a different perspective. People easily throw things away, because they don't see their value any more, but there are so many ways to reuse those items. I already used to shop  for clothes, bags etc. at the thriftshop sometimes. And reuse in my field of study, Architecture, can be found in the renovation and reallocation of buildings. Also objects can be reused, for example a soda can.....
This is my workshop: yes we can!

Stap 1

Neem een willekeurig leeg blikje frisdrank en spoel het uit onder de kraan.
Take any empty soda can and wash it out with water. 

Stap 2

Neem een scherpe schaar en prik een gat in het blikje, net onder de knik.
Take a sharp scissor and make a hole in the can, just below the bend in the can. 

Stap 3

Knip rondom het blikje en scheid zo de bovenkant van de onderkant van het blikje. 

Cut all the way round untill the top of the can comes of. 

Stap 4

Droog het blikje van binnen en eventueel van buiten. (Pas op de scherpe randen!)
Dry the can on the in- and outside. (Watch out you don't cut yourself!)

Stap 5

Knip stroken in het blikje van ongeveer 5mm wijd. Zorg ervoor dat je knipt tot aan de bodem van het blikje en dat alle stroken even wijd zijn. 
Cut straps from approximately 5mm. Make sure you cut them all the way down to the bottom of the can and try to cut them all at the same width.

Stap 6

Buig alle stroken naar beneden en draai het blikje om. Druk de bodem van het blikje op de tafel om ervoor te zorgen dat alle stroken naar buiten blijven staan. 
Push all the straps down and turn the can over. Press the bottom of the can firmly on the table to make sure all the straps will stay down. 

Stap 7

Knip de punten van alle stroken schuin af. Knip alle punten richting dezelfde kant af!
Cut the ends of all the straps diagonally. Cut all the straps in the same direction!

Stap 8

Vouw een van de stroken schuin naar links. 
Fold one of the straps diagonally to the left. 

Stap 9

Draai het blikje om en vouw de strook zodat hij in zichzelf terug haakt.

Turn the can upside-down and fold the strap back into itself. 

Stap 10

Duw met je vinger op de boven en onderkant van de strook om ervoor te zorgen dat het op de plaats blijft zitten. 
Press with your finger at the top and the bottom of the strap to secure it into place. 

Stap 11

Buig een tweede strook over de eerste strook heen en draai het blikje weer om. Laat ook deze strook in zichzelf terug haken. Zorg ervoor de de twee stroken in elkaar haken en duw weer de boven en de onderzijde aan. Herhaal deze stap voor alle andere stroken

Now bend a second strap over the first one and turn the can around again. Also bend this strap back into itself. Make sure the two straps interlock. Press with your finger at the bottom and top. Repeat this for all the other straps. 

Stap 12

De laatste strook moet ook op dezelfde manier gevouwen worden als omschreven in stap 11.

Also repeat step 11 for the last strap.

Stap 13

Vouw de eerste strook over de laatste heen zodat ze in elkaar vallen. 
Make sure the first strap interlocks with the last strap. Fold the first strap over the last one. 

Stap 14

Je theelichthouder/asbak is klaar voor gebruik!
Your tea light holder/ashtray is ready to use!

Theelichthouder - Tea light holder

Asbak - Ashtray

Thokozile @ workshop South-Africa

An afternoon as a 'Rural Healthcare and HIV/AIDS Awareness' volunteer: Hannah Carr

Volunteers sometimes find themselves faced with moments on projects that provoke such an intense passion, emotion and desire to make an impact, that it can often be hard to find the words to express these feelings. This entry is straight from past 19 year old Australian volunteer Hannah Carr's journal.  

October 3, 2013- Day 2 Adult HIV Education Course:

“The second HIV class was a combination of hilarious, impressive and incredibly heart-warming! The difference in all the men today compared to yesterday (day one) was wonderful! They were so confident and comfortable speaking about HIV and even about STIs, that I was feeling really overwhelmed at the end of the day, knowing I helped make that happen. 

We had to do the condom demonstration and my gosh, did that make me laugh! Between sexual jokes and awkwardness and the men momentarily thinking they had to practice on themselves, it was a huge dose of laughter! The one woman of the class was very timid, so I sat with her and we went through it together; which I’m glad I did!

Again, the men blew me away today with their honesty and well-thought-out questions, as well as the way they responded to the information we gave them. It really felt like they believed in what we were teaching, particularly when I started talking about being proud of who they are- HIV positive or negative- and that they were all equal and worthy people, regardless of their HIV status.
I cannot wait for the exam tomorrow afternoon and to give out the certificates; even if they forget some of the medical stuff, removing the stigma and discomfort of speaking about HIV is so HUGE and I feel so, so lucky to be a part of that.”

- Hannah Carr, 19, Australia.

The below pictures were from the last day of the Adult HIV Education course, where each and every student in Hannah's and fellow volunteer, Jo's class passed!

For more information on volunteering our Rural Healthcare and HIV/AIDS Awareness project or any other AFrican Impact project please follow this link: http://www.africanimpact.com/

September Monthly Update

A quieter month than we are used to here in St. Lucia but none the less productive! With 14 volunteers and a few special visitors it’s been a great month for staff, community members and of course volunteers. Some very exciting changes are on the horizon for our Medical Outreach and HIV Awareness program so watch this space for more information and possible ways you could be involved in shaping its future.

The' Medical Outreach and HIV Awareness' program received a visit from Min, manager for African Impact's Healthcare projects. Volunteers led Min out on projects and were thrilled to be working closely with her as she and the team formulated ideas which will be put into place over the next few months as a way to progress the project. 

Rachel helping volunteers on 10 families

A couple of sneaky examples how things will evolve include incorporating a lot more education into the 10 Families nutrition program so that it will focus not just on weight gain but also on positive and healthy living. We will also be compiling a new and improved ‘Medical Induction’ so volunteers feel more comfortable and prepared before they head out onto project. 

The first step for all of this coming together is working alongside Rachel, our newest member of the African Impact St Lucia team. Rachel is a trained nurse who has worked for AI previously, she will be working closely with the volunteers,  communities and staff  as our new ‘Medical Adviser’ to ensure that our Medical project is the best it can be... we are very excited to see how the next few months play out!!

Veronic was thrilled to get spinach

Harvesting from our gardens to give to our 10 Families and Home Based Care patients was a brilliant achievement on the medical project this month as it really shows that all you lovely volunteers and your hard work has paid off. Every volunteer who has been a part of each of our gardens throughout the year should be very proud of themselves, these gardens really do bring a lot of people joy as well as fresh, nutritious vegetables. Top job volunteers!

We were lucky to have volunteer Emma Leek join us this month who is studying nutrition. Emma put together an amazing presentation on nutrition when living with HIV/AIDS, as well as one specific for  nutrition with infants for our ‘VulnerableChildren and Rural Families Support’ program. These presentations were given to our support groups as well as Girls Club. Everyone had a lot of questions and Emma was able to answer them all with great professionalism. Good work Em!

Pat and Selien painting a a new bed for Malibongwe

Our Community program has been on flying form! 

With beds and shelves being made and delivered, gardens tended to, garbage certificates being handed out and of course visits to the Croc Center. 

Staff member Nonhlanhla visited for the first time this month and after being very nervous at the beginning, she did manage to pluck up the courage to clean one of the pens.

Children at Simunye enjoying a lesson with volunteer Ge

The ‘OrphanDay Care and HIV/AIDS Education’ program continues to go from strength to strength. This month volunteers attended Simunye Crèche on the second round of rotations and volunteers and staff were excited to see how much the children had improved. 

They children did not disappoint! After completing Child Assessments, everyone was thrilled to see how much the children had improved and the new skills they had learnt.

Reading Club has been, as always, INCREDIBLE! Every week brings new members and more and more children receiving certificates as they reach their reading goals proving not only that it is a sustainable project, but learning is fun! This Club is something we are very proud of here in St Lucia.

Volunteers helping staff with the condom demonstartion

Along with all our projects we have been involved in a few different events this month. The clinic held a Family Planning day to raise awareness of the next contraception method, the coil. After talks from nurses and councillors, AI volunteers and staff did a condom demonstration and talked about the importance of staying safe during sex. 

It was an interesting event to be involved in and it led to women getting the coil inserted there and then. Success!

We even dropped in on the weekend to assist with a new Environmental group in Khula launching their new club by doing a huge garbage pick-up session. This was amazing as KYD (Khula Youth Development) had organised for different speakers and organisations to get involved and talk to the community about the importance of the environment and why it is important for the younger generation to take charge. It was such a fun and fruitful day!

KYD Enviro Day! 

Months like this are only possible because of all you rad volunteers joining us and throwing all your passion into the projects! September saw lots of exciting developments, and we are looking forward to seeing how the year concludes.. stay tuned!

The Happy Africa Foundation - September

THAF Intern Stacey Addison has been working as hard as ever for us here at African Impact St. Lucia, take a look at the work she has been up to. Wait! There is more! Check out the stats from half way through her stay, it's pretty amazing! 

Limke (pictured left) saw our donation request on Facebook

A scale for our 10 Families focal project was donated! Massive thanks to Medical Outreach and HIV Awareness volunteer Limke de Hoek!!!

 3 baby packs were given out to new mothers in the communities full of clothes and essential baby items.

 Quiz Night raised R1545 for the Medical Project, with 5 teams competing for a prize of wine and beer glasses.

African Impact Thanda visited St Lucia and we got everyone together to participate in a quiz which was made by one of Thanda’s Volunteer Coordinators, Tara. All of the volunteers enjoyed meeting each other and we were able to raise money for THAF and their Rhino fund. R135.50 was raised for THAF which will go towards Inkanyezi Crèche.

Gogo was thrilled with the mattress received on a visit from Flo and Selien.

        We delivered a bed and mattress to Veronic, one of our 10 Families and Home Based Care patients. Although she wasn’t at home she had a lovely surprise when she got home to find a new bed which was made and painted by volunteers. 

      We also delivered a mattress to Gogo Khumalo. She was so happy to receive this donation and it has made her life a lot more comfortable.

       

      We held a yoga session at the volunteer house with local yoga guru David which raised R120 for Inkanyezi Crèche.

Some of the many donations we received being put to good use. 

     The donations room has been restored after peak season and all donations have now been labelled and organised with donations being sorted ready for Christmas.

       Lots of awesome crafts were made at Holiday Club, After School Clubs and in crèche lessons using donations given by past volunteers.

THAF 3 Month Update - Halfway Through Stace's Internship

We’ve held 3 Quiz Nights which have raised R5574 for the Medical Projects.

9 volunteer events have been held since the beginning of July.

      Volunteer events have raised R2912.10 for the Medical Projects.

      Hippo Festival raised R1763.05 for the Medical Projects.

           THAF Merchandise has bought in R1952.56 for The Happy Africa Foundation.

            Virgin Money Giving Page has raised around R15,000 for Inkanyezi Crèche.

     Thanks to everyone who was involved with all these events, fundraisers and projects. None of this would have been possible without all of our volunteers fantastic work. For more information about how you can help, click here to find out more about The Happy Africa Foundation.