SOUTH AFRICA LINK

The Bolton and Rochdale Methodist District has links with two Circuits in South Africa : King Williams Town area (Eastern Cape) and Pinetown, Durban (KwaZulu Natal Province)

Two specific projects/needs have been identified and it was agreed to raise monies in the Bolton & Rochdale District for:

King Williams Town area (Eastern Cape) :

1. Queenstown - £3000 for new toilet & shower block in orphanage for street children

Pinetown (KwaZulu Natal):

"Phakamisa" at Pinetown Methodist Church , Durban , Kwa Zulu Natal Province , incorporating Educare, Sisanani sewing group, Soup Kitchen and John Wesley School

There are ongoing links & support at individual, circuit and church level, particularly for " Phakamisa" in Bolton Mission, Farnworth & Worsley, Leigh & Hindley Circuits and currently District Network.

2. Explore and support outlets for economic empowerment projects - beadwork and sewing, especially when on sale in District Churches

The "Phakamisa" Project reaches out to extremely impoverished communities 30 mile radius around Pinetown. Phakamisa seeks to uplift and empower those in need through the provision of education, training, resourcing and support – ‘a hand up, not a hand out’

93 Vegetable gardens

New training kitchen - teach nutritional cooking skills using vegetables from gardens

Sewing – making dressing up clothes & soft dolls for Educare centres and now ‘to order’ -children’s dresses and liturgical stoles

PHAKAMISA NEWS

The name “PHAKAMISA” is pronounced “PA-GA-MEE-SA” and means ‘TO LIFT UP, TO MAKE GROW

Did you hear of the English postman, who, during this bitter winter, delivered breast milk from a Milk Bank, to a marooned, premature baby and her sick mother?

Or of the tiny baby, only a few days old, rescued from under the rubble, many days after the Haiti earthquake?

The harsh winter of 2009/2010 in the northern hemisphere and the devastating earthquake in Haiti both represent incidences of human suffering of epic proportions. In the face of seemingly overwhelming pain Mother Teresa has wise words for us: “If you can’t feed a hundred people then feed just one.” The postman did. The rescuer did.

Friends of mine had catered for a business function and had lamb stew and rice leftover, which they gave to Phakamisa to distribute. This is an extract from a thank you letter to them.

When you delivered the food today, we were talking about the huge need facing South Africa as a developing nation and the effects of the recession on charities and families’ finances. Somehow it all seemed overwhelming. What could we do-you do- I do? Our contributions and efforts felt so insignificant in the bigger scheme of things!

I just WISH, WISH, WISH you had been there! At first Esther did not believe the food was for her. (Her English and my isiZulu are both poor.) When she truly understood, she simply sobbed. She put her pinafore over her head and cried- shaking her head, saying "Nkosi-yami" (“my God”) over and over again! Then she sent her 7 orphans out to call her neighbours to join the feast. There was much laughter, loud, joyful talking, ululating and singing! One of her neighbours explained that the only time they had ever seen so much meat, was at funerals- but that the goat meat served there often made them sick! You provided a feast for many today! I was going to give her one 5 litre container of the stew, but when I saw how she, despite her own need, reached out to others- I gave her two 5 litre containers!

A very similar thing happened at the other 2 homes I went to! Children were called from across the valley, in loud, delighted voices telling of the good news!

And each time, they stood in a circle, sang and all prayed aloud together, for you and the boys! (I had to explain WHO you were and all about your family, because they all really wanted to know!!)

I kept remembering you saying, as you delivered the food, "We can't help much- we are so small." How mistaken our thinking can be! In fact that’s the very heart of Mother Teresa’s quote- “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one”.

I was struck by the ripple effect and impact of a small action (just feed one person). You reached out to 3 families, who in turn reached out to their communities, so hundreds of people WERE fed, because you were faithful and ‘fed one person’.

Clearly a ‘loaves and fishes’ event happened, where the community members combined their resources and created a feast…………BUT, it took one ‘small’ action of feeding one person FIRST…………and THEN- hundreds were fed! Do any of us realize the ripple effects of our smallest actions? Are you building wholeness and connection, or are you inadvertently disconnecting and destroying?

The story ends a few weeks later when Ntombi’s 20 year old daughter died. During Phakamisa’s devotions Ntombi gave thanks for the visit and the feast and said her daughter was not afraid to die, because she had met Jesus through people who loved her and fed her and her community….. but had never seen her.

Phakamisa got off to a flying start, with Dawn and Christine, of the U.K. volunteering here for 3 weeks. Their hands- on- assistance, insights and reflections were very valuable.

This course trains people teaching 0-2 year old children. Our first group of ladies completes the course at the end of March. Already we have seen an improvement as their little children have blossomed in a structured environment.

The arduous process of accrediting our Early Childhood Development Course material continues. As part of the process, the staff has received training in assessing,... and all the while, the Educare teachers continue to learn how to teach more effectively.....and.....the government schools continue to send their teachers to us for training....so we certainly must be on the right track!

Caryn Green is voluntarily assisting Elaine Osborn, our psychomotor expert, every day this year. Her help is invaluable as is Helen Anderson’s, who comes in 1 morning a week. The children from the wandering teacher classes are benefitting enormously from their highly specialised lesson at the church each week.

The number of Caregiver Groups continues to grow rapidly as more and more children are orphaned and carers seek support.

This has necessitated us offering an additional training class as the other classes were overflowing. They are: ‘Simple Sewing’, ‘Healthy Cooking’ and ‘Home Based Care ’.

Our wet summer has resulted in very poor yields from the gardens but, 40 of Phakamisa’s vegetable gardens are part of a government pilot project growing soy beans, so our gardeners have been encouraged and motivated by this challenging privilege!

TRAVEL FUND: No one is immune to the global financial crisis. The poor are affected in a life- threatening way, where even food is prohibitively expensive. As many participants prioritised their expenses, they found they could not afford to travel to Pinetown to attend the workshops, so we took a step of faith, and are providing transport for everyone to attend the workshops, using the local public transport system, affectionately known as “The Taxis”. It is proving to be a great success!

This group provides invaluable support to each other as they work through the crisis of contracting a disease that still has an enormous social stigma attached to it. ARV’s are more easily available in South Africa, but tragically, many do not admit to being HIV +ve, or cannot afford to eat properly and so die before getting on to the life saving medication! Tholuthando, however, celebrates living life positively. They are even learning to cook pumpkin pie and other exotic dishes, to increase their vegetable consumption and so build their immunity!

This continues to grow under the watchful eye of Hilary Coombe, where the motto is: “You name it, we’ll make it”!

We have a large order for sewn, screen- printed conference bags for the U.S.A. The Fantasy clothes continue to be made, delighting young children as they dress up! Shweshwe items are our new- found ‘brand’. Small items like hats, cushion covers, table mats and runners and individual orders are produced along with traditional Shweshwe outfits and 1^st communion dresses for our local market.

The beadwork ladies are expanding their jewellery and gift range to include unique orders for companies and gifts. Our web site: www.phakamisa.org displays our range.

The Kitchen is cooking up a storm- caregivers are producing jams, pickles, biscuits and cakes which are being sold at ‘The Shop’ at the church; through the Hillcrest Aids Centre Shop and for individual orders! Large scale catering for events at our church have been culinary treats!!

CRAZY FRIENDS: Alan and Chummy are walking from Cape Point to Kosi Bay- 2600 kms to raise money for Phakamisa. Please view their web site www.cape2kosi.com to follow their progress!

Our ladies are growing in confidence as their skills improve. Their ability to rise above their circumstances continues to inspire and challenge us!

180 Caregiver groups with approx 1700 caregivers caring for over 6000 orphans of 0-18 years.

“Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglie .

Zola Masikane, one of our Caregiver leaders was deeply troubled after she visited the home of a member of her group. She had found an alert, 11 year old little girl, Siphesihle, imprisoned. Imprisoned in her body and imprisoned by circumstances.

Siphesihle had been a bright, very active 5 year old, managing well at school, until she began to stumble and fall for no apparent reason. After a few tests, she was diagnosed with TB of her spine. It was really difficult for her mother and granny to get her to hospital for her treatment as they had no financial means and their little tin house was a long way from the nearest transport route. Poverty imprisoned Siphesihle.

Her health continued to deteriorate as there was no access to water and sanitation.

Re- infection by the TB virus in a tin house with no windows for ventilation became a reality. Poor housing imprisoned Siphesihle.

6 long years passed and her legs withered away and control of her bladder and bowels ceased. Inadequate health care imprisoned Siphesihle.

And then Zola came to visit:’...the smallest act of caring has the potential to turn a life around’.

Later others from Phakamisa visited and Siphesihle was asked what she really wanted to do. “I want to go to school’, she replied simply:- An impossible dream for an imprisoned child, but ‘the smallest act of caring has the potential to turn a life around’.

Her Mum agreed that the family would find a way of surviving without her disability grant, which would be needed to pay her school fees.

Ethembeni School for the Disabled, which has a long waiting list, was contacted and an appointment made to interview Siphesihle-after which she was accepted!!!

The long, seemingly unattainable list of requirements for boarding school was circulated - hearts were moved and provisions were provided for her to go to school- ‘...the smallest act of caring has the potential to turn a life around’.

But on her arrival at school, it was discovered that she had bedsores. She was not even allowed to unpack her bags. She was sent straight back home, and told not to return until the bedsores had healed. Was she about to be imprisoned by poverty, ignorance and poor facilities again?

Six weeks later the bedsores had still not healed, but thanks to the intervention of a friend, the correct dressings were accessed and the school agreed to have her return, on condition she brought the dressings. This time, her bags were unpacked and her class mates welcomed her by taking her on a tour of her brand new environment in her repaired wheelchair. Life was turning around!

A few weeks later, Phakamisa received a letter from the school, enthusing about her ability, her competence and her happy disposition. They are already sure she will receive an award at the end of the year for her outstanding academic ability!

Phakamisa’s beadwork ladies, who support orphaned and abandoned children, are rejoicing. They received an order from the Church of the Resurrection (COR), for 8000 bookmarks with little beaded crosses attached, which they were able to fill in 2 short weeks! (That on its own, was an achievement!) In devotions they were thanking God for the gift of that order and the income it had generated.

Ntombifuthi excitedly related that her family would enjoy a celebratory meal with meat instead of only beans and cabbage for supper. Then she soberly added that she would share her income with 3 very young children, whose mother had died and they had and no money for her funeral “...the smallest act of caring has the potential to turn a life around.”

Neliswe has recently moved into a new Reconstruction and Development house. She told how her neighbour had visited with great concern as she had not seen Neliswe for a few days and feared she was ill. When Neliswe told her she was working very hard because had to bead 400 crosses for an order, her neighbour just wept. She was desperate for work, so she could earn money to feed her family. Neliswe promptly offered to teach her how to make the cross and shared her order with her neighbour. .... “the smallest act of caring has the potential to turn a life around.”

‘Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglie .

May you allow your life to be turned around, as you turn around the lives of others!

Two specific projects/needs have been identified and it was agreed to raise monies in the Bolton & Rochdale District for:

King Williams Town area (Eastern Cape) :

Pinetown (KwaZulu Natal):

93 Vegetable gardens

New training kitchen - teach nutritional cooking skills using vegetables from gardens