A massive thank you once again to everyone that came along to the Friends of Link for Life launch event last night, and another big thank you to Great Wyrley Community Band for providing us with entertainment. The night was a great success, with a great turn out! It was so encouraging to not only receive support from familiar faces, but to also watch the Link for Life family grow. If you couldn't make it to the event last night and are interested in becoming a 'Friend of Link for Life' and helping support us then do get in touch with one of the team.
Sunday, 26 March 2017
Sunday, 12 March 2017
Head over to our Flickr account to take a look at the photos from the Wolgarston Link for Life team's time in South Africa.
Photo credit to team member and photographer Joe Wilkins - @joewilkinsphoto
Saturday, 11 March 2017
Save the date! Two weeks today!! Join us at Peace Memorial Hall in Penkridge on the 25th March for our Friends of Link for Life launch event. From 7pm there will be a chance to hear from the recently returned Wolgarston Team, learn more about Link for Life and what we do, and enjoy fish and chips and entertainment from Great Wyrley Community Band.
Head over to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-of-link-for-life-pro… to purchase tickets
Thursday, 2 March 2017
Day 10 - Wed 1 March - Bananas, clinics and thoughts about our visit to Africa
Blog 01/03/17
Maisy & Alex write about the team's final full day in Africa
The Wolgarston team at their second base - Mercy Air |
This morning we went to a banana
plant farm. Whilst we were there, we took care of the few children that were at
the mobile clinic. This was because their parents work out on the banana fields
everyday and also as they are so young that they need supervision. Although
some of the kids at the place we went to didn’t look happy to be playing with
us at the start, by the end they were laughing and playing with us. At the
banana farm, the workers will get payed R100 (£6.25) for working for 9 hours,
however some will work for 10. They get a half an hour break and lunch and most
of them even live on the farm, but the living conditions aren’t the best. There
weren’t many children at the clinic and they were very overwhelmed to see us.
With some friendly gestures and big smiles, we were able to make them laugh and
play.
Joe doing the braii by torchlight |
At the end of the day were able to enjoy a BBQ ( Called a Braii in South Africa) and talk about our visit and what it has meant to us and the people we have met.
As we raised £1,800 to be able to
come to South Africa, we learnt that £150 of that will provide three essential
services (food, education and healthcare) to one child for 10 months in the
community called Siyathuthuka, this is amazingly just £15 pounds a month. This
was exciting news for all of us as we thought of a certain child that we had
bonded with and knew that we had made an impact to their lives. We will now
know that when we leave we will have hopefully changed a child’s life and this
will give us the encouragement to continue to help others that are less
fortunate than we are.
The team on their way to Johannesburg for their flight home...One of the best views from a service station anywhere |
This visit has been a real eye opener
to all of us and has changed the way we see the world. We will leave knowing
the stories we have been told and hold them dear to our heart. The whole team
is looking forward to going home but we will miss South Africa greatly. It has
been an incredible experience and we are very privileged for the opportunity
and to have shown what difference we can make to the less fortunate.
To make donations to the work of Hands at Work in Africa in Siyathuthuka where our Link for Life team has visited,
please go to: https://my.give.net/LinkforLife_Siyathuthuka
This will go towards feeding a child and improving their life for good. Thank you.
This will go towards feeding a child and improving their life for good. Thank you.
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Days 9 & 10 -Mercy Air and a visit to a mobile clinic
Wolgarston goes bananas at the mobile clinic |
After leaving Hands at Work the team moved to a new base at Mercy Air - a Christian aviation charity, flying goods and people to remote parts of southern Africa. They heard a talk from Paul and Cathy Middleton, who live and work at Mercy Air, telling their story of how they came to be in South Africa after spending much of their earlier life in Walsall. Paul is a pilot, flying light aircraft and Cathy is a Midwife and nurse trainer.
Day 10 Wednesday March
The team travelled with Cathy Middleton to a banana farm when Cathy joins with trianee nurses from the Africa School of Missions to provide a mobile clinic to the families who live and work on the farm. The team helped with the creche and played with the children, joining in with some painting activities and giving the children some yoghurts which was a real treat for them.
The living conditions at the farm are not great and the mobile clinic (which is free to access) gives welcome help and support to the families and children who spend much of their lives living and working there.
After returning from the mobile clinic it was time to pack and get ready for the long journey home which begins on Thursday 2nd March. There have plans for a Braii ( South African BBQ) and a debrief time before heading for sleep.
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