This year's project takes us to Southern Africa.
For the first time, the team will be split into 2 groups working in different countries.
One group has been invited to Grahamstown, South Africa to help establish a Youth Centre. This team will also include a dentist to assist in the local Health clinic.
The other team will be working in the neighbouring country of Swaziland . At the invitation of Father Charles Kunene, it is the Diocesan Council's wish for our team to assist:
1) the local community in the construction of teacher housing and development of a small library at Luhhumaneni Anglican Primary School,
2) the local community with the construction and painting and library development at St.Aiden's Anglican Primary School.
3) One of our team members has also been invited to accompany and learn about the Diocesan HIV / AIDS Awareness Programme. At the present time, 35% of the Swazi population are HIV positive. HIV is not strictly a homosexual disease as much believed here in North America. As a result of AIDS, there is an estimated 40,000 orphans in the country whose present population is 1.1 million. By the year 2010, an estimated 15% of the population will be orphans.
Aside from HIV, Swaziland is in its second year of drought. One in five is dependent on food aid. With the pressures of HIV /AIDS and the drought, the life expectancy at birth is now 37 years.
It is our hope that by assisting in the development of a child's education, their future is a bit brighter. Those who miss out, either end up working on the family homestead, or turn to the streets for survival.
As part of our education,the team will be travelling to Ethiopia and visit the 13th century Monastary of Ura Kidane, the churches and castles at Gondar, visit St. Maty's Church at Axum which is believed to be the Repository of the Ark of the Covenant, and visit the Rock Churches at Lalibela.
Our journey starts Tuesday July 15 departing for London. It is my hope that I will be able to provide regular updates, pending the availabilty of the internet. Until then, ...
UPDATE Friday July 19, 2003
We finally made it! We arrived here in Johannesburg yesterday afternoon after a morning (ie 4:00 a.m.departure)of planes and airports (ie. the "milkrun"). The weather is cool in the morning, however it will warm up we are told. On Wednesday, we had a whirl wind tour of London. I never thought one could "hit" all the tourist traps in 5 hours.
After our arrival we had a very informative tour of Soweto. A very fascinating experience! Soweto is really a mix of economic levels, from well to do to the the very poor. A real surprise.
We are just waiting for our bus to depart to Swaziland in one hour. The Grahamstown team leaves for the airport later this morning as well to being our projects. Last night, all school/health supplies were divided up for the respective teams and have atleast 10 suitcases full of supplies.
We'll it's almost time to get the bus loaded. Until next time, ...
Friday August 1, 2003
Well here I sit 2 weeks later and doing my second update at the same terminal at the Africa Centre in Johannesburg. Unfortunately I was with the Swaziland team which did not have internet access at our centre. Of course, there are no connections on safari which we just completed in Kruger Park, South Africa.
As for the Swaziland team, everything was great. We had a slow start when we left here, when our trailer carrying the bags got a flat in the middle of nowhere, however we recovered shortly after.
The painting project concentrated on the Luhhumaneni site, where the teacher housing was completed and painted. The dedication took place last Saturday performed by Archdeacon Shongwe.
Six members of the team toured St. Joseph's school in Mzimpofu, Swaziland which accommodates the school for the blind and the handicapped. Two of the members worked at the school 23 years ago, and met many old friends.
The Grahamstown, team reported everything was great and it has been a truly unforgettable experience.
This past Monday both teams left on safari in their respective teams, each going in opposite directions.Our team sighted several animals and was a real experience, not to be forgotten. The safaris finished today and it just so happens our team got to the Africa Centre first, so that's why I'm beating the rush to the computer.
The weather has been perfect for the entire 2 weeks. Sweater weather in the morning and getting up to about 25 C during the afternoon.
We are only here until the morning when we take the early morning flight to Victoria Falls. I will get a full report on the Grahamstown team and should be able to update their adventures on the next report.
Bye for now, ....
UPDATE: Tuesday August 5, 2003
We have just completed our R & R portion of the trip, here in Livingston, Zambia, the home of Victoria Falls.
After we arrived on Saturday, we were wisked off to tour the Eastern Cataract of the Falls, which is on the Zambian side. I truly amazing site. Fortunately most of us were prepared to get wet, and wet we did get wet since the path is directly in front of the Falls. Victoria Falls is reknowned to be the world's longest falls.
Sunday we attended the local Anglican Church of St. Andrew's. I think we surprised the locals since we were not the only visitors. In the afternoon, a number of us challenged the "mighty" Zambezi in in inflateable kayaks. Aside from taking on a series of rapids, we also had to dodge the many hippos and crocodiles on the river.
Others challenged their spirit for adventure by bungi jumping into the gorge, rapelling down the gorge, swinging into the gorge after a 54m plunge, and zip-lining across the gorge! (So much for R & R !!). A number also visited the local Livingston Museum and a Cultural village.
This afternoon we are heading back to Johannesburg to catch a flight tomorrow morning to Ethiopia, where we will start our educational portion of the trip.
Until next time, ....