Steph E

Linking Communities

One of the things that gets me excited is seeing the community of Hilton intersted in partnering with their neighbours in Sweetwaters to reach this community. This time last year we ran a holiday club –a little like a vacation Bible school, for you Americans 🙂 — and we had three volunteers from Pietermaritzburg whoContinue reading “Linking Communities”

Listening

Here is a really good article to read about how to listen from a position of privilege, from Christena Cleveland’s blog. I challenge you to read it and think about how you are privileged either because you belong to the dominant culture, race, religion, or gender in society, and how you can be a betterContinue reading “Listening”

Total Restoration

I try to stay positive about those in leadership in my birth country. I have been known to get very irritated at people (usually of the vanilla variety, like myself,) who moan about how our leadership is just going down-hill. Most of the time, the things they’re moaning about are for nothing. I’ll take pot-holesContinue reading “Total Restoration”

Our Father

I just heard this morning that only 37% of children in South Africa live with both their father and mother. This means that over half of South African children are being raised by one parent, or aunties, or grandparents. On the one hand– wow, I am so thankful for all the grandparents and hard-working momsContinue reading “Our Father”

Asidlale–Siyazama Creche

Here’s a video I made to be sent out as a thank you to the people who help support Asidlale, our Early Childhood Education programme. I thought since I talk so much about these creches and kids, you might like to watch a 1min 30s clip of them. 🙂 Also, for those of you whoContinue reading “Asidlale–Siyazama Creche”

One Year

I can’t believe that David and I have been here for one year already! It’s been a wonderful, exciting year–sometimes difficult, but always good. Here are some moments I have loved about being in South Africa and working with iThemba: The moment when kids stopped excitedly waving and shouting “Mlungu, mlungu” (white person) when IContinue reading “One Year”

Giving

I love gifts. I love that flutter of excitement right before I open a gift and discover what it is. Even more, I love that flutter of excitement right before someone opens a gift that I have thoughtfully picked out for them. When you give someone a gift, you’re exposing a little bit of yourself–whatContinue reading “Giving”

Freakonomics: ARVs vs Prevention

They say prevention is better than cure. But is it cheaper? When looking at HIV/AIDs in South Africa (particularly in Kwa-Zulu Natal) the statistics are overwhelming. Even after years of “ABC’s” (Abstain, Be Faithful, Condomise), KZN HIV stats are some of the highest in the world. In particular, Mpumuza, where iThemba focuses, is amongContinue reading “Freakonomics: ARVs vs Prevention”

Skills

So, I want to tell you about some volunteers that are coming to iThemba that I am super excited about! Firstly, I’m excited because I know them– Rachel and David are two friends from Taylor University where I attended. Secondly, I’m excited because they are volunteering their awesome photography and video skills to iThemba. ForContinue reading “Skills”

A Poem for Mandela Day

The Sharnbrook team from the UK was able to be a part of Mandela Day (Madiba’s birthday and a day of community service here).They partnered with a local school in Sweetwaters, and together with the gogos (grandmothers) and mamas of the children in the school, we repainted almost the entire school. In the media in SAContinue reading “A Poem for Mandela Day”