Today was another good day in South Africa. We kicked off the day with a morning meeting about what is going on with Hands at Work across Africa called 'Hands on Deck'. We found out about the terrible situation taking place in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and the civil war that is taking place around the care points there. The children and care workers have had to run for their lives, but Hands at Work have been able to set up a refugee camp for 145 of them, that for now is providing them with some safety. The girls, Lucy, Aoife and Isabelle did a little section on what our Link for Life team has gotten up to so far this week. It was a very good discussion and the rest of the Hands community at the Hub us enjoyed it very much.
Whereas Jesse, Joe, Kerry and Mr. Leonard walked with Eunice from the Hands at Work service centre and Maria one of the care workers, to meet a woman called Grace* (Name changed*) who has 4 boys; the oldest is 23 and the youngest was 4 but unfortunately she wasn’t in when we arrived at her house. Grace lives in a two room house. Three of her kids sleep in one room with her and the eldest sleeps in his own room which is split into two (half of which is used for the kitchen). Hands at Work had paid the eldest son to build the second room onto the original single room that the whole family shared. They also provided locks for the doors and a long drop toilet in the garden (the family had to use neighbours toilets before this was installed).
We then went back to the care point where we sat down and had some pap and potato stew with shredded cabbage.
Some of the team were playing with the parachute which the Mothers Union from St Michael's in Penkridge which everyone enjoyed. (Thank you very much MU!) and there was lots of laughing. I got talking to one of the children about football and he knew quiet a lot more than me!
On the whole it was a good day - with the children and the team feeling a bit more relaxed in each other's company.
Jesse