“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
Dear Marie, Teachers and Learners,
I can think of no other way to express my astonishment at the achievements at Sinethemba Aftercare School. I just had to write! A year ago, I visited the school and was impressed. This afternoon’s visit bowled me over. Thank you for inviting me once again.
Four steel containers, refurbished and used as classrooms, a kitchen, and an IT room loaded with computers, which, I believe, is the latest addition. Wow! Well done. I realise all this comes from hard work, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and a daily struggle to secure donations and volunteers to keep the wheels turning. The bright yellow walls, covered in flowers and words, make me smile too. So cheerful and refreshing.
Set on a dusty playground, you and your team have created a haven for the children, who voluntarily make the journey to the school every afternoon. Children living across Zweletemba are often in dire straits. As you’ve explained, many of the children’s parents work long, hard hours or are unemployed, scraping a living together on meagre Government social welfare cheques.
When money runs out, love runs out the back door, they say, so it must be with many of the children. Their struggle must often seem insurmountable. We live in a society where there are many single parents, and this must be very frustrating too. Taking responsibility for the welfare, education and care of a household as a single parent when there is no money must be stressful and frightening.
But I look at the happy, wholesome, smiling faces. I can’t believe that many of these tots have parents with alcohol use disorder and drug addiction, people really suffering from a lack of education and a sad history. The adage “it takes a village to raise a child” makes perfect sense when I see how you’ve managed, in a small way, to do just that.
Not only do you provide children with a plate of food, a haven, and a basic education; you’ve also changed attitudes. You show the children that love, respect, and encouragement change lives, perceptions, and attitudes. The teachers who diligently come each afternoon to teach the pupils do so with such empathy and in a spirit of Ubuntu; it’s heartwarming and gives me hope for the future of our children, our education system, and our amazing people.
Thank you, Marie, for allowing me to spend the afternoon at Sinethemba. I feel deep gratitude for what’s happening there, but also shame that we don't all do more for our communities. You have set an example of what can be achieved when someone commits to helping. You have a soft heart and a will of steel; you are certainly courageous, and you put your money and time where your mouth is. Not only have you got the project up and running, but you’ve also stuck with it through thick and thin, even when it’s cost you your health and well-being. I salute you.
It would be great to see every child from Worcester there, perhaps to help or mentor. I am sure they’d benefit from such an experience as much as the children at Sinethemba. “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” Malcolm X
To your wonderful, caring complement of staff, well done! You are amazing. The songs the children sang to me were uplifting and joyful. I loved the dancing and antics from the boys; they came alive as they realised I was in cahoots with them. The littlies are going to grow up to be Van Goghs with their colourful drawings, and the individual attention the group got playing floor games shows you we have a troupe of Little Einsteins. In the games room, I saw older children playing chess, 30 seconds, and Monopoly with such gusto I even thought I’d take up a board game again. Building puzzles was never my strong suit, but in that classroom, the students made it look so easy and like something I should try again. Who knows?
You mentioned some of your donors, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for helping make this project sustainable.
1. The Vusisiswe Secondary School and the previous Principal of the school, Mrs Maureen Makoetlana, for allowing you to use their grounds at no charge.
2. Mr Paul Lewis, who helped you from the very beginning – with monetary support and through his position at Genre- for their help. Without their help, you wouldn’t have been able to purchase the containers.
3. Rotary Club – for the computers. The pupils are already reaping the benefits.
4. Marie made special mention of the anonymous donors, friends of Sinethemba who quietly go about the business of sponsoring or helping, to you, whose time, money, or labour is invaluable to this project. You are the yeast that makes the bread rise. Thank you.
5. Finally, and most importantly, with the financial aid you receive from the UK Trust–Elizabeth’s Children – I do believe this project would never have been able to help as many children as you have. The trust provides monthly financial support, as well as clothes and toys, which regularly arrive from England with UK friends and Trust members.
At Sinethemba I see words become actions, as Desmond Tutu said “Dream of a world where poverty is history, dream of a world where we don't spend those obscene billions on arms, knowing full well that a tiny fraction of those budgets of death would ensure that children everywhere had clean water to drink, could afford the cheap inoculations against preventable diseases, would have good schools, adequate healthcare and decent homes.” Desmond Tutu
Here, children will be armed with knowledge, a full belly, and, most importantly, nothing is expected of them except that they be children for a little while longer.
Thank you for allowing me to take photographs for this blog and for inviting me to make the short Vlog (video blog). It was a humbling experience with the most amazing subjects!
Once again, well done to the Sinethemba Trust for the excellent work you do. You enrich the lives of children who will be an asset to our society, who will know what it’s like to be loved, admired and respected, and who will have opportunities that were denied to many millions of children in the past. I look forward to many more visits, and who knows, maybe I have skills that you may find useful in the future.
Marie, your mentorship has taught a community that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003
In admiration and gratitude,
Kindest regards,
Maricha
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