The rains continue...on and off, for the most part, but it's caused some problems for lots of people living in the informal settlements. The latest count I've heard is the dislocation of around 30,000 people from their homes and that's just in the Cape Peninsula... pretty crazy.
Friday night Becky and I had the opportunity to go check out some of the damage to homes in Heinz Park, one of the areas that we have fallen in love with. With Ricky, the director of the Y, we met up with Aunty Rosie, the unofficial mayor of Heinz Park. She runs a shelter/orphanage for kids she takes in from the streets... right now she has 7 children living with her (she is 66 years old...) and is absolutely amazing. She has the most incredible energy and spirit.
Aunty Rosie took us to a couple of "backyard dwellings" in the area that were affected by the rains. In Heinz Park alone (a small area) there are over 4000 families living in these dwellings, essentially shacks built in the backyards of the government homes that were built in the area. These are made of wood scraps, metal scraps, etc... and, needless to say, don't stand up well to heavy winds and rain. One house we went into had a massive pool of water covering the entire floor, they had to put boards down to create a little bridge to walk on... 13 people live in this particular 2 room shack. 7 adults and 6 kids. Standing in there with all of the water in the cold air, it was pretty hard to imagine how they would all fit...
The group's consensus was that these people needed some blankets, to say the least... and so we got some. My dad, the amazing Mike McGlamery, and his students at the Gengras Center raised $1500 for the Cape Flats YMCA... pretty awesome. We decided to use some of this money to buy blankets and tarps for some of the families in Heinz Park who are in desperate need... there was no doubt in my mind that the Gengras kids would feel great about this contribution. So, Becky and I went to find a deal... after a little bit of searching, we found a really nice assistant manager at a store called "Game" (kind of like Kmart) who was willing to give us a 60% discount when we told him about our mission... we bought all 64 blankets they had in stock. Ricky went to the hardware store for the tarps and we met back at Aunty Rosie's place around dinner time.
We were able to get the blankets/tarps out before we went home for the evening... it was a great feeling and nice to put smiles on the faces of some incredibly nice people... a great way to start the weekend!
Also I fell in love with one of the boys at Aunty Rosie's... he's a 1 and 1/2 year old named Ciyabonga... gorgeous!!!
Friday was also our friend Mwaka (Mo) 's 21st birthday... so on Saturday we went out on the town to celebrate!! Sonia and Mo (both from the Y) and Becky and I got a room at a backpacker's lodge in downtown Cape Town for the night and went out on Long Street which is a fun area of town... very cool. We had a great time and it was awesome to be able to celebrate with Mo. The only bummer of the night was that my bag got snatched! They were kind enough to leave it but only after taking my camera, phone, and umbrella... the good news is, they didn't snatch me or Becky or anyone else...just some replaceable, material items. They even left me my bank card!! So, it was an un-traumatic robbery.... and we are all fine. (my camera got stolen the last time i was in south africa, too... i'm starting to think i'm not meant to have a camera here!)The only piece that wasn't replaceable were the pictures we took in Heinz Park while giving out the blankets... but those pictures will be forever embedded in my memory...
We fly out 2 weeks from today... whoa! Time has flown by... and just as we are starting to really understand the dynamics and needs at the YMCA, we will have to leave to come home! In the meantime we will be doing sessions, visiting some more sites, and making the most of the next 2 weeks.
We always send love...but here is also a HUGE thank you to all of you who are faithfully reading this blog. It means a lot to us to know that friends and family at home are interested in the daily happenings of our lives on this exciting trip. Don't forget there will be an event happening on August 23rd to celebrate the relationship between Hartford and Cape Flats. Becky and I will be presenting our pictures, stories, etc... we hope you all can make it.
Much much love, Susannah and Becky
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9 comments:
There are some strangers out here watching your journey as well. Thanks for sharing your story - I'm loving it.
I think I found my way here via my neice Rachel's myspace page (Tommy Michael)
Reading about all those cold, wet people living in such conditions has made me alternately angry, sad, and grateful that you are there to help with the blankets from your dad and the great kids at Gengras. I wish, and know you do too, that there could be even more permanent ways to help. We'll be eager to hear what you think we can be doing.
Make the very most of every minute of these last two weeks!
Too bad about your ill-fated camera, the pictures tell such a great story.
We love you,
Mom and Steve
I am very happy to learn that some of the "Gengras Center"money was used to help in this emergency. It was always my hope that the money would have some sort of direct impact, where it would count, so well done. Sorry about the camera, but your words probably speak louder than pictures, in this case.
Wonderful work you are doing. Does it feel like ASP becky? Satisfaction at knowing there are helpful things that one can do, even against overwhelming conditions? So proud of the two of you for taking this step. Can't wait to hear all about it, and see you home again.
You both are amazing! I love reading this blog! Keep up the great work - can't wait to hear more tales when you get back!
Hello you fabulous ladies! Thanks for sharing your amazing experiences with us. Just wanted to let you know I am reading this and thinking of you! xoxo laura m.
hello you fabulous ladies! Thanks for sharing your pictures and stories... I just wanted to say hi and to let you know I am reading this. Thinking of you!
laura
Hey there Susannah!
I just read your latest entry and was completely moved- I had to call Troy in here to read it as well. The work you both are doing is inspiring to us. It gives me hope in the world when I get to read about all the good you are doing over there. I can't wait to hear more about your lessons that you did with the kids. Keep up the awesome work! Be safe.
Rachel
Matthew & Maddy give you big hugs as well.
hey susannah it's little filippi! What an adventure, If I ever make it to South Africa I'll have to be sure to bring my own green stickers, I can get pretty hungry. But joking aside, it is pretty sad those kids have to fend for themselves, but they're fortunate to have people like you and Becky around.
Jon
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