SOuTh AfrIcA - LIvIng ZuLu

Using a Persona doll at Kuhle Ukuthula crèche

I have never forgotten that it was

HANDS AROUND THE WORLD that

launched me into a new dimension and

because of my experience as a

volunteer got me a job at Devon

Development Education.

It’s just that since I came back from

Kwa-Zulu-Natal in 2001 I never seem to

get to the bottom of the list of things

to do and have been juggling a

multitude of jobs with trying to keep in

touch with the pre-schools out there.

I had not been successful in getting

schools interested in linking until I

started training with ‘Persona dolls’,

but having hit upon an idea that seems

popular, I wasted no time in making the

excuse to return to the Centocow area

to do some research for my MA on

Culture Language and Identity, taking

my half Zulu persona doll, Lindiwe,

with me.

Buhlebuyeza crèche

There are many details of life and culture thatfascinate me. We are steeped in our culture anddon’t even recognise it until we encountersomething quite different. Often we can’t quiteput our finger on what the difference consists of,but if we are going to really grasp hold ofanother way of being we have to fully embraceit, not just do a tourist trip.

The first thing I reflect on is the self assuranceof the Zulu people, which they radiate andextend to include everyone they meet. This is arural community, the beauty and a relaxed paceof life are appreciated by its inhabitants despitebeing a community in crisis where death by HIV/AIDS and TB are still cripplingly high and orphansand the children of teenage mothers are aconstant worry to teachers and elders in thecommunity.

The situation here is tragic. There isemployment in the hospital at Centocow, but Iwas told the official figures for HIV/AIDS and

deaths is grossly underestimated andunemployment is around 60% here. There aregender imbalances and gender violence. Teenagepregnancies are high and by the age of 25 half ofthe women in the region are HIV positive.How can a community come to terms with thismass human devastation? There are taxis full oflaughing smiling people, playgrounds full ofchildren engaging in exuberant dancing andsinging, but in between the lines there are thesilent unspoken moments. Those with courageare tackling crime and violence, givingcounselling, working with young people, talkingabout AIDS, but there is a long way to go and noeasy answers. Life doesn’t stop here unless youdie and then there are just more vulnerablepeople to care for.

Whilst the communities struggle to get to gripswith what is happening to them, life is changingrapidly. The traditions of the Zulus standuneasily alongside the mobile phones and rapidchanges in technology, education andcommunication. An enforced rural way of lifewith all the beauty and charm of a picture bookis a hard life when there is no money for food ifyou can’t grow it yourself. Carrying the water tothe house is hard if your illness leaves you weak.If the mud brick house you have made is washedaway gradually by storms then you have to startmaking bricks to make a new one.

Nursery Education

When I first visited the crèches in the area,there were 18 of them. The organisation, ‘IsibaniSezwe Centocow Association’ was officiallylaunched in November 2001. Throughout thewhole Association was a great enthusiasm for theyoung children’s future, a great commitment intime and energy, but also the realisation thatbuilding effective provision was a major task andthe energy needed was often sidetracked byfamily and community issues. Resources werevery scarce and the teachers were paid apittance if anything at all. The parents weresupposed to pay for attendance but many couldnot afford it and the children turned up anyway.

Now, in 2011 I have visited 14 pre-schools andmet members of the Association at a workshop.There are at least 30 crèches and morale is fairlygood despite ongoing problems. Many of theoriginal crèches are now in permanent buildingsbetter than the original ones, but there are stillsome very dilapidated, overcrowded and run-down buildings in use. The resources are stillvery poor although there has been someimprovement. Some of the teachers I met in2001 are still going strong. And there are manynew ones, but many of these have had notraining.

Using Persona dolls

Lindiwe is a dual heritage ‘Persona doll’. Hermother is a South African, Zulu, nurse who worksin Exeter and her father is an English bus driver.Persona dolls are used to encourage youngchildren in this country to explore, talk aboutand appreciate diversity. In South Africa personadolls are used to help children to understand andcome to terms with loss and illness caused byHIV/AIDS. For the Zulu children in this rural areathe persona doll training is something whichwould be a huge benefit but which is deniedthem through lack of funds. My aim is tointroduce pre-schools to each other through thedoll, so that pre-schools in Devon can make amore tangible link with rural African pre-schools.

What has impressed me is how much moreconfident and well organised the crèches havebecome even where little or no training is inplace. Workshops and the support of thecommittee have helped create a recognisedpattern of learning. Evidence of children’sdrawings on the wall, construction play, morephysical play and use of home corner equipmentas well as the usual singing and learning days ofthe week and months. For communities whohave had only formal learning by rote and forsome, little training, this is a great step forward.The children are cared for and respected fortheir own unique qualities.

Jane Habermehl

A full version of Jane’s report can be found onour website.

KENYA PALuOC

One of the joys of any HATW project is a visit to thehost’s home. In our case, Kisumu, Kenya 2011, PaulOchieng wanted to show us not only his town home inKisumu, but also his family home in Sega, about100kms away to the north near Uganda.

We hadn’t long been in Kisumu so the journeythrough the city out towards the airport was interestingin itself. We had travelled to Kisumu by minibus fromNairobi so this was new territory to us.

For much of our journey the road surface was verygood but we turned off down a side turning, and thenoff down a track. We were looking for the home of thewife of someone who had been supported by one of ourteam through his education some years previously.

The track was deeply rutted; it was hard going for thedonkeys loaded with water containers and not reallysuitable at all for our Toyota Corolla automatic. Ourteam members did offer to get out and walk andeventually did so. Unfortunately the damage hadalready been done. The car would not engage gear to goeither forward or backwards. We were well off the mainroad, it was very hot, but at least we had quite a fewhours of daylight left. We thought we were a long wayfrom anywhere but it was surprising how quickly agaggle of interested children appeared to check out themarooned “mzungus”.

Thankfully all of the locals had their mobiles to handand very soon a mechanic appeared with his toolkit, onthe back of a motorcycle. We were a little anxious as towhether 3 open-ended spanners, a small adjustablewrench and a screwdriver without a handle would besufficient to sort out the problem! Oh ye of little faith.He adjusted the gear changing mechanism to no avail,and then set about banging the oil sump back intoshape. To do this he had to borrow a hammer fromanother local; it arrived with a youngster out of thebush. Before we knew it, having sent for some more oil,we were back in the Toyota and back on the main road.

I wonder how many people reading this know thatToyota Corollas have a protective device which stops theautomatic gearbox engaging if the oil level gets too low.I certainly didn’t. Our Kenyan mechanic did know,diagnosed the problem and remedied our little mishap.How much did this service cost us? The answer is Ks 200(less than £2). Fantastic! Amazing!

Very gratefully, and much relieved, we were able toget back on our way. And ... during the time that we hadbeen delayed, the person we were looking for, and hadgiven up hope of seeing, discovered where we were andturned up for a joyous reunion. Sometimes it’s better tobe lucky than rich!

Later, much later than we had planned, we arrived atPaul’s family home where a feast had been prepared forus. Our crate of Fantas went down well too. A verymemorable day out.

Nigel Sampson

One evening, two of us went for a night walk tosee how the street children lived.

It was arranged for us to meet with Alex fromPandipieri Mission, who has worked with andbefriended street boys for seven years. I asked himhow and why boys (and occasionally girls) end upbegging, stealing, glue sniffing on the streets. As Iexpected, the extended family break-ups due tomany members of large united families dying fromHIV/AIDS, puts enormous pressure on the remainingadults, who just can't cope with many children tocare for, and often abuse them or send them awayto look after themselves.

Already boys were appearing in the dusk, in twosand threes, glue bottles held in their teeth or stuckto their lip, so that the fumes are constantly withthem.

Several boys were climbing out from a brokenculvert - a deep storm drain which in the rainyseason must be filled with fast flowing rain waterand rubbish, leaves and vermin that the watercollects on the way through the drains. But theywere dry now, and provided some shelter for theboys living in them. Many of the boys slept in theopen air market area, where there are permanentrough stalls they can sleep under, and there is alsoall the waste fruit, vegetables and fish lying aroundwhich they eat. Many children scavenge on the townrubbish dump at night.

Some of the boys were in a group outside a smalllighted duka (shop) squatting on the pavement gamblingwith small coins or bottle tops. The fumes of cheap shoeglue which emanated from the boys were very strong;many boys were sky high, drunk, incoherent from thefumes, unable to stand without support.

We saw where they buy glue... which is sold tostreet shoe-menders quite legitimately. Alex saidthat many of these children (who were agedbetween 8 and 15, I'd guess) had been abused in thehome and had run away; girls who had done so wererounded up as soon as they were seen, by femalestreet workers, and taken to a children’s home.

Boys who show an interest in moving off the streetsare investigated to see if their natural families can inany way take them back; often there are problemseither with the child or the adults such that theycan't or won't. Pandipieri Mission copes with manyex street boys, and has an 'informal' school toeducate boys up to a certain level... informalbecause it is outside the state system, and runsmixed age classes.

We later learned thatthe workshop siteforeman builder hadhimself been a street boyonce; he was taken in bythe mission and trainedas a builder; now he ismarried and has a child,and he is also a fineartist. It CAN work!

Lyn Harper

This article has beenshortened. A full version canbe found on our website.

Stephen, the ex�streetboy now a builder

hE hAD TO bOrrOw A hAmmEr LIVING ON ThE STrEETS

Gill, Dan and Nigel with Paul, who set up the Paluoccarpentry project

One evening I asked the guard on duty at the gate ifit would be possible to arrange to meet theHeadteacher, and visit the school. Within a few minuteswe were talking to the Headteacher and a visit wasarranged for the following Monday. Lyn and I duly turnedup at 8am in readiness for the school assembly, wherewe were to be introduced to staff and students. We satat the back of the hall, listening and watching, asstudents came up to the front to give their news or singa song. Some of the youngsters spoke in English – thelanguage always used in Kenyan schools, but otherswere only fluent in their mother tongue - Luo. Despiteonly being able to understand some of the informationgiven, we were struck by the humour, warmth andhappiness of the occasion.

After we had been sitting for a few minutes, one ofthe students, aged about 12, got up and wandered overto investigate ‘the visitors’. He promptly sat on my lap,and played with my watch and earrings, graduallysnuggling up to me. As I put my arm around him hecuddled up a bit more and was very soon asleep!Towards the end of assembly one of the teachers got amattress out of a cupboard and we gently laid him downto continue sleeping.

As we toured the school later that morning we sawour friend, now awake and in class, working on hiscoordination skills – stacking old shoe polish tins. WhenI asked about his background, the teacher explainedthat they knew very little about him – he had beenabandoned at the gates of an orphanage. Because of hislearning difficulties and lack of speech, he couldn’t saywhere he came from, give his age, or even his name.And very important in Kenya, he couldn’t say whichtribe he was from.

We were impressed with the care he was receiving atthe school, and how resourceful the staff were, withvery few teaching materials. The teachers were keen tohear about life in a similar school in the U.K. and theyattended any training courses that were available tothem in Kisumu.

On a HANDSAROUND THE WORLDtrip, not only mightyou get your handsdirty, but you mayjust end up givingsomeone a cuddle -something we allneed once in a while.

Gill Sampson

Four of us were in Kisumu, Kenya helping to completea carpentry training workshop for vulnerableyoungsters. Every day on our way to work we passedthe ‘Lutheran School for the Mentally Handicapped’.Having worked for many years in the U.K. with childrenwith learning disabilities, I was keen to visit, to see howschools in Kenya compare to those back home.

JuST NEEDING A cuDDLE

On the evening of Wednesday 6th April, Ijoined current and prospective HATWsupporters from across the UK at a receptionhosted by Lord Joel Joffe at the House ofLords. It was a sunny day and it was a reliefto arrive at Black Rod’s garden entranceafter a typically hot and sticky journeyacross London from the airport.

Security checks completed, and clutchingmy formal invite, I was shown through theinner court and to the reception area to bemet by familiar faces. Joanna and Mandy sawall the guests in, and recommended the lift togo up to the magnificent River Room, wherethe reception was to be held. This room is theprinciple State room of the House of Lords,and is made available (sponsored by a Peer ofthe House) for charitable events. It affords awonderful view of the River Thames andacross to the London Eye.

Gradually the room filled up, with familiarand less familiar faces, including other Jerseysupporters, past volunteers and invitees aswell as the charity’s Patron, Kate Adie. Drinksand food were served and the room began tohum as friends and past project groups met upand exchanged memories and discussed newinitiatives; I myself met up with someone thatI last saw in rural Kenya! It seemed as thoughall of the eighty-five invitees were able toattend, as the room was packed.

Soon it was time for the formal receptionand the Lord Speaker, Baroness Hayman,welcomed the Hands Around the Worldcharity and Lord Joffe to the River Room. Shereminded us all that this was, indeed, theroom with the infamous and expensivewallpaper (hand-printed at around £300 a

A SuCCESSFuL DAY AT TrEOwEN

Thanks to the generosity of the Wheelockfamily, we had the use of the 17th centuryTreowen House near Dingestow for a sunnyday on Wednesday 1st June 2011.

Being half-term, the afternoon fêteattracted lots of families, with childrenenjoying storytelling and the inside of the StJohn ambulance (not as a requirement,thankfully) as well as the usual bouncy castleand games. Almost every child attending hadtheir face painted and an added attractionwas watching the adults staggering around ona pair of very technical looking stilts!

For the adults, guided tours of the mansionand interesting stalls could be followed by acream tea on the front lawn with its beautifulherbaceous borders and stunning views acrossthe ha-ha.

In the evening, the serene sunlit approachto the front entrance, through the beautifulgarden fragrant with shrub roses, ratherbelied the energetic ceilidh dancing that wasto follow inside, thanks to the music of ‘Rig-a-Jig’ and Dick Wheelock’s humorous calling.

Flagging dancers were sustained by drinksfrom the bar and a delicious hog roast.

Thanks to all concerned for a mostenjoyable and successful day in a beautifulsetting, raising both awareness and profits ofover £1,000.

Jill Ingram, HATW Events Team

Patron Kate Adie talks to HATW trustee Jim Oliver

The River Room

This occasion provided the opportunity, hesaid, to thank volunteers and supporters fortheir work over the years; more than that, itis an encouragement to continue that work inthe future. He spoke of his vision for givingbright and lively children, trapped through nofault of their own in impoverishedcircumstances, the chance to haveeducational and vocational opportunitieswhich will change their circumstances andthose of future generations.

He encouraged us to work together to makethis vision a reality – making partnerships,involving corporate social responsibilityschemes and maintaining relationships whichwe have already built with people andprojects where we have worked.

And here, at the centre of UK Parliament asthe dusk began to fall over the Palace ofWestminster and lights illuminated the riverbanks, I found it almost believable that itwould be possible to change the world. Thatwith renewed effort and hard work, injusticesand inequalities that give plenty to the fewand leave the majority in poverty, can beaddressed and children can face a brighterfuture – let’s make it so.

Heidi Sydor, HATW Jersey trustee

roll!), but that we – and a variety of othercharitable organisations – had benefited fromthe expensive re-fit which brought the roomsback into use and to their ‘original Victorianglory’. Lord Joffe also greeted us, andencouraged us to enjoy both the venue andthe opportunity to meet and build new linksand friendships.

David Steiner then addressed the group; hereminded us that HATW has been working nowfor over 15 years and expressed his pleasureat this opportunity to celebrate theachievements of HATW with many pastsupporters, as well as with new faces.

In the midst of the splendour and affluencerepresented by the ostentatious setting, hespoke of the 25 million orphaned children insub-Saharan Africa – up to 10% of the populationin some countries. How, he asked, would wecope in the UK if we had 6 million orphanedchildren? It is the need to change the lifechances of these children that has driven HandsAround the World to work in its localpartnerships across Africa – currently benefiting2000 children and young people every day.

hOuSE Of LOrDS rEcEPTION

INDIA SARBERIA

Rosie and Steve Casburn spent a month atthe New Life Centre in Sarberia, WestBengal earlier this year, helping at thevocational training centre.

Steve and I may not have looked forward togetting up at 6 o’clock every morning, but thesight of so many smiling children’s facesalways made our hearts sing.

As they arrived at the school gates, eitherby ‘school bus’, or on foot, they couldn’t waitto shake our hands and say eagerly “Goodmorning auntie!” or “Good morning uncle!”Their hands were cold and thin but there wasplenty of warmth in their greeting. Someclutched a dry crust, some had runny noses,some had holes cut in their shoes to let theirtoes grow through, but all of them had abright smile for us.

When they lined up for morning assembly,we got a chance to study them more closely asthey prayed sweetly. Only about half of themcould afford a school uniform, but most weregrubby and held together with safety pins. Afew of the little girls came to school wearingintricate and sparkly dresses, probably theirone and only outfit, purchased at great costfor a family wedding. Their little arms werecold and their skinny legs could not hold uptheir grey cotton socks. They had the mostgorgeous eyes and smiles.

During morning break or ‘Tiffin Time’ theyqueued up for a small portion of warm lentilcurry, served on a saucer made of bananaleaves for a few rupees. After eating it quicklywith their right hand and a drink from thewater pump, the boys asked permission to getout the cricket bat.

It caused a great stir when ‘auntie’ joinedin the cricket, hitting a few good shots when‘uncle’ bowled to her. They weren’t used toseeing a female play cricket. It definitelyimproved my street cred amongst the boys!

The girls preferred badminton andskipping with the new skipping ropeswe’d taken with us. We’d also takenalong table tennis bats, balls and anet. We knew they didn’t have atable tennis table to play on, but wehad a plan to resolve that.

W e a s k e d M r N a s k a r, t h eheadmaster, who was letting us stayin his home in the village for amonth, where we could buy somewood. Steve wanted to make them atable to play on. Mr Naskar wouldn’tthink of letting his guest makesomething and sent for the localyoung carpenter to discuss it. Afterstudying Steve’s scale drawing, hewas dispatched to sort out the timberfor it. A few days later, a huge tree trunkarrived in the village sawmill, to make thetable tennis table.

We watched amazed as this heavy treetrunk was placed on a trolley and pushed byhand along a rusty, old railway track about 20feet long, under the massive and lethal-looking band saw with huge teeth which wasrotating by the power of a very noisy, smokygenerator. I winced as the man’s hands andhead got nearer and nearer the sharp metalband. ‘Health and Safety’ people wouldn’thave been impressed!

The tree soon went from one massive chunkof wood to many, many slices and then intoeven more planks. Later the same day, theskilled young carpenter was seen holdingplanks steady with his bare feet as hishammer and chisel quickly chopped pieces offthe wood.

The children weren’t told of the table untilit was finally completed. It was slightlyshorter than normal, as the biggest piece ofplywood they could find was 8’ x 4’.

We unveiled it to the teachers – who’dnever played it before - and Mr Naskar, and Icould see his many worries about the schooland its finances were soon forgotten as heconcentrated on his ‘killer serve’.

By then, the more curious, older children ofClasses 5 and 6 were caught lying on the floortrying to look under the door where we wereplaying! They were a little confused whenthey saw the table, but soon they were allwhooping with delight as we taught them howto hold the bat and how to serve. Theyobviously thought it was like badminton atfirst, as the ball kept being hit up to theceiling like a bullet.

We were amazed at how quickly theypicked it up and after a few goes we managedto have a proper game with them. Mr Naskarsaid he will soon invite other schools to comeand compete with the New Life Centre, whichwill give the children a sense of belonging,healthy competition and will promote theschool in the community - game, set andmatch!

© Rosie Casburn 2011

PASS IT ON!If you've already volunteered with HATW, you know what a life-changing experience it can be.Please spread the word to your friends, family, colleagues and acquaintences!We need volunteers to go and help build a dining hall and kitchen at the Misthy Cee Development Centre (a children's home andschool) in Ghana and classrooms at Zumbo Primary School, Uganda in autumn/winter 2011/12. We also need teachers, foster carersand social workers to help at Misthy Cee at any time, but particularly between October and December this year. If you've alreadyvolunteered, but fancy another go, please let us know! If you haven't yet volunteered, and would like to give it a try, please get intouch. For more information, please see the 'Volunteer' pages on our website and get in touch with Joanna by phone or email. Wewill arrange to meet up with you for a chat and can put you in touch with plenty of past volunteers for the low-down on what it'sreally like to get involved in this way. We look forward to hearing from you and your friends!