It has been a week and a half and each day has been incredibly different from one another. One day we are scrubbing dusty books, the next we are taking children’s weight and height measurements to contribute in a health clinic. We usually don’t know what we will be doing until that very day.
A beloved friend once inspired me with this quote, and so I feel it is my duty to pass it on. I think it is very fitting of the work I am doing for Tapologo.
"Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity"
-Gilda Radner
peace and Mo love
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Boitekong Health Assessment Clinic
Boitekong is a squatter village, similar to Freedom Park. It is located near the Thembalani platinum mine. Tapologo has an OVC program here. Today we helped in the children’s health assessment clinic. The clinic was held today because the children are on school holiday. The women who run the OVC program went around to each home earlier in the week to announce the clinic.
Around 50 children came to the clinic today. Each child’s first stop was Lebby and my room. If they had already participated in an OVC clinic, they had a file. If it was there first time, a file was created for them. Lebby and I took each child’s weight and height measurements and recorded it in the child’s file. When we were evaluating the children, I got many grins. I believe this may have been related to the fact that I was the only white person in the entire clinic (out of all the children, parents, and staff). When a child would give me a grin, I would smile back. This would usually lead to an even bigger grin, a shy look, or an enthusiastic wave. Some children seemed happier to be here than others. Some children seemed curious and proud of their measurements. Others cried and struggled to get on the scale. I would say that about half of the children understood English, and the other half solely understood Setswana. For the children who did not understand English, a lot of gestures were required. I would point to my shoes and motion for them to take theirs off. Next I would use my hands to usher them onto the scale.
We saw toddlers through teenagers. Most, however, were primary school aged. We used a baby scale and tape measurer for the littlest ones. There was one child who was not by any means a baby, but did not have the ability to walk or stand. For this boy, we put him on the baby scale. To take his height, we laid him on the table and used a tape measurer.
Because Boitekong is a squatter village, Tapologo is not allowed to put up any permanent structures. The quality of the trailers we worked in was very apparent. The children walked barefoot on the splintered wood floor onto the ant-covered scale. Each child left sweaty footprints on the scale.
The children’s’ next stop was the waiting benches. The children waited to be seen by the nurses. There were two examining rooms. Each had a nurse and a counselor. Each child’s health was assessed. If they had not been previously tested for HIV, and they had parental consent, they were given a blood test to test for HIV. They found out the results immediately. They were provided counseling to help handle the results. I watched as some of the children came out of the examining rooms. Some children had a large smile on their face, others looked depressed and left quickly. I assumed the different moods related to their health status, but I am certainly not sure.
The purpose of this clinic was to assess each child’s health and HIV status. The OVC program has a separate clinic once a month to distribute ARV drugs to the children who are HIV positive. However, some do not take advantage of the treatments offered. Hilda, the head nurse, explained how the treatment of children who are HIV positive, is ultimately up to their caretakers. Hilda expressed her frustrations about children who came to the clinic today in very poor health. She explained that some of these children were much healthier at the previous clinic. She believes that the caretakers of these children stopped giving the ARV treatment, which takes a very detrimental toll on a child’s health. I was very puzzled by this. I could not figure out why someone would stop giving their child life saving and free medicine. One of Hilda’s first explanations was the belief in traditional medicine instead of the ARVs. Another reason is that the caretakers are overwhelmed by the sickness and death they have experienced due to this disease. This leaves the caretaker unable to care take properly because of their emotional state. Hilda believes that Tapologo is lacking in bereavement support. Hilda believes that if these caretakers, who have lost so many family members, had better post-death counseling, they would be better able to take care of their children.
Around 50 children came to the clinic today. Each child’s first stop was Lebby and my room. If they had already participated in an OVC clinic, they had a file. If it was there first time, a file was created for them. Lebby and I took each child’s weight and height measurements and recorded it in the child’s file. When we were evaluating the children, I got many grins. I believe this may have been related to the fact that I was the only white person in the entire clinic (out of all the children, parents, and staff). When a child would give me a grin, I would smile back. This would usually lead to an even bigger grin, a shy look, or an enthusiastic wave. Some children seemed happier to be here than others. Some children seemed curious and proud of their measurements. Others cried and struggled to get on the scale. I would say that about half of the children understood English, and the other half solely understood Setswana. For the children who did not understand English, a lot of gestures were required. I would point to my shoes and motion for them to take theirs off. Next I would use my hands to usher them onto the scale.
We saw toddlers through teenagers. Most, however, were primary school aged. We used a baby scale and tape measurer for the littlest ones. There was one child who was not by any means a baby, but did not have the ability to walk or stand. For this boy, we put him on the baby scale. To take his height, we laid him on the table and used a tape measurer.
Because Boitekong is a squatter village, Tapologo is not allowed to put up any permanent structures. The quality of the trailers we worked in was very apparent. The children walked barefoot on the splintered wood floor onto the ant-covered scale. Each child left sweaty footprints on the scale.
The children’s’ next stop was the waiting benches. The children waited to be seen by the nurses. There were two examining rooms. Each had a nurse and a counselor. Each child’s health was assessed. If they had not been previously tested for HIV, and they had parental consent, they were given a blood test to test for HIV. They found out the results immediately. They were provided counseling to help handle the results. I watched as some of the children came out of the examining rooms. Some children had a large smile on their face, others looked depressed and left quickly. I assumed the different moods related to their health status, but I am certainly not sure.
The purpose of this clinic was to assess each child’s health and HIV status. The OVC program has a separate clinic once a month to distribute ARV drugs to the children who are HIV positive. However, some do not take advantage of the treatments offered. Hilda, the head nurse, explained how the treatment of children who are HIV positive, is ultimately up to their caretakers. Hilda expressed her frustrations about children who came to the clinic today in very poor health. She explained that some of these children were much healthier at the previous clinic. She believes that the caretakers of these children stopped giving the ARV treatment, which takes a very detrimental toll on a child’s health. I was very puzzled by this. I could not figure out why someone would stop giving their child life saving and free medicine. One of Hilda’s first explanations was the belief in traditional medicine instead of the ARVs. Another reason is that the caretakers are overwhelmed by the sickness and death they have experienced due to this disease. This leaves the caretaker unable to care take properly because of their emotional state. Hilda believes that Tapologo is lacking in bereavement support. Hilda believes that if these caretakers, who have lost so many family members, had better post-death counseling, they would be better able to take care of their children.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Where in the World is KFC?
Right here. Everywhere! I have never seen a higher frequency of KFC, or KFC commercials ever before! Who would’ve thought. I have always associated KENTUCY Fried Chicken to be a symbol of the American south. Not the south of Africa! But apparently this is because of the tremendous amount of chickens that are here. The KFCs here do not represent the American south by any means. They have a South African style. There is one KFC commercial that explains how the world was once Pangea, but KFC brings the world together in “Fangea”. Once again, the World Cup has found a way into an advertisement!
So since KFC is part of the South African (fast food) culture, and I am trying to be a conscientious world traveler, I HAD to try it out. I mean I was only trying to emerge myself into the culture. Come on now, its not like it’s in my character to eat at gross fast food joints. RIGHT. But yeah, KFC here is good stuff man. I had the “streetwise zinger (pronounced zingah) sandwich” the day after I arrived in Botswana. Mmmmmmm =)
Peace, love, and fried chicken,
Lily
So since KFC is part of the South African (fast food) culture, and I am trying to be a conscientious world traveler, I HAD to try it out. I mean I was only trying to emerge myself into the culture. Come on now, its not like it’s in my character to eat at gross fast food joints. RIGHT. But yeah, KFC here is good stuff man. I had the “streetwise zinger (pronounced zingah) sandwich” the day after I arrived in Botswana. Mmmmmmm =)
Peace, love, and fried chicken,
Lily
The Robots
“Drive straight through the first robots, then take a right at the second robots”
-“Um excuse me? What?”
“Straight through the first robots, right at the second robots”
-“The what?”
“Robots…”
-“Ummmm”
“Traffic lights…”
Yes, “robots” are traffic lights. Good to know.
-“Um excuse me? What?”
“Straight through the first robots, right at the second robots”
-“The what?”
“Robots…”
-“Ummmm”
“Traffic lights…”
Yes, “robots” are traffic lights. Good to know.
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Facts
In Sub-Saharan Africa:
There are 22.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS
There were 1.9 million new HIV infections in 2008
There were 1.4 million AIDS related deaths in 2008
Women account for 59% of the HIV/AIDS population
In South Africa:
13.6% of black South Africans are HIV positive, whereas only .3% of white South Africans are HIV positive
1 in 5 high-schoolers is already HIV positive
28% of pregnant women are living with HIV/AIDS
If the correct preventative measures are taken, there is a 98% chance that a baby born to an HIV positive mother will be HIV NEGATIVE. These measures include prenatal antiretroviral treatment, C-section delivery, and no breastfeeding.
Sources: Avert.org and Kaiserfamilyfoundation.org
There are 22.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS
There were 1.9 million new HIV infections in 2008
There were 1.4 million AIDS related deaths in 2008
Women account for 59% of the HIV/AIDS population
In South Africa:
13.6% of black South Africans are HIV positive, whereas only .3% of white South Africans are HIV positive
1 in 5 high-schoolers is already HIV positive
28% of pregnant women are living with HIV/AIDS
If the correct preventative measures are taken, there is a 98% chance that a baby born to an HIV positive mother will be HIV NEGATIVE. These measures include prenatal antiretroviral treatment, C-section delivery, and no breastfeeding.
Sources: Avert.org and Kaiserfamilyfoundation.org
Sunday, March 28, 2010
"Give TB the Red Card"
During the 1900’s the South African government provided aid to its people to fight TB. TB eventually subsided. However, with the onset of HIV/AIDS in the late 1900’s, TB is back in full force. AIDS depletes one’s immune system causing susceptibility to TB. TB is once again a major concern in South Africa.
With the World Cup coming soon, media is using the soccer appeal to communicate health advisories to the South African people. In a commercial that I have seen constantly on the TV and hear on the radio, the World Cup is the theme to send the message of the importance of being tested for TB. This commercial starts by explaining that in soccer, yellow cards are given as a warning. TB also gives yellow cards. The commercial gives examples of the warnings, or yellow cards of TB, such as coughing for more than 2 weeks, or constant exhaustion. The commercial then states that people must notice these warnings and take action. To “give TB the red card”, one must get tested for the disease. This commercial sends the message that to take strong action, such as giving a red card to a player in a soccer game, one must know his or her TB status
With the World Cup coming soon, media is using the soccer appeal to communicate health advisories to the South African people. In a commercial that I have seen constantly on the TV and hear on the radio, the World Cup is the theme to send the message of the importance of being tested for TB. This commercial starts by explaining that in soccer, yellow cards are given as a warning. TB also gives yellow cards. The commercial gives examples of the warnings, or yellow cards of TB, such as coughing for more than 2 weeks, or constant exhaustion. The commercial then states that people must notice these warnings and take action. To “give TB the red card”, one must get tested for the disease. This commercial sends the message that to take strong action, such as giving a red card to a player in a soccer game, one must know his or her TB status
Friday, March 26, 2010
"Twenty-Ten"
There is exactly 76 days until the 2010 FIFA World Cup begins. At any given day I believe most people could tell you the count. The World Cup has taken over South Africa! It is referred to simply as “twenty-ten’. As Rustenburg is hosting games, the madness is certainly all around. The World Cup has really taken over. As South Africa prepares for the games, many of the roads are being redone, forcing people to find new routes. It seems you can’t turn on the radio or television without hearing about the games. Most of the commercials and promotional material is centered around the games. Today I experienced my first “Football Friday” on one of the radio stations, where people called in and said what color jersey they were wearing and discussed the players.
“Twenty-Ten” seems to really be giving South Africa a source of pride. From what I have heard on the radio, TV, and from talking to people, the games are going to give South Africa an opportunity to share their heritage with the world, and show their hospitality to the visitors. I look forward to reporting more about “twenty-ten” and it draws closer and the fans get crazier!
Peace, Love, and Football Fridays,
Lily
“Twenty-Ten” seems to really be giving South Africa a source of pride. From what I have heard on the radio, TV, and from talking to people, the games are going to give South Africa an opportunity to share their heritage with the world, and show their hospitality to the visitors. I look forward to reporting more about “twenty-ten” and it draws closer and the fans get crazier!
Peace, Love, and Football Fridays,
Lily
The Reading Room
Our main project of the week has been to create a reading room for the children in the OVC program to use. The OVC program had a storage room full of donated books. Yesterday we went through them all and sorted them into subjects, reading levels, and languages. We could tell that those books had been sitting in the storage room for forever. They were covered in dust, rodent pooh, and bugs. Gross. Hello hand sanitizer.
Today we cleaned out the room that will be used for the reading room. Next we cleaned off all of the books—what a task! We then set them up on tables. Through the whole process today, I made some very adorable friends! In the morning while I was walking some books to the room I saw a group of five or six year old children who were waving at me, and so I smiled and waved back. A little later on, the same children were hanging out closer to our room, then eventually they were peaking their heads in. They looked so curious. I gestured them in and pulled a picture book of a table and handed it to one of them. They darted for the middle of the room and sat down in a circle, all hovering over the book. A few minutes later when they looked bored with that book, I handed them another, and they all got so excited. They eventually started walking around and checking out the books for themsevles. As I was walking back and forth from the reading room and the storage room transporting books, I found one little boy follow me into the storage room. He watched diligently as I started picking up the books and copied me. This tiny boy insisted on carrying over the biggest and heaviest textbooks. When we returned to the reading room with the books, the other children had seen what he had done. The next trip back to the storage room, the other children followed. They all started carrying over books. They looked so proud. Their smiles lit up their faces when I would say “thank you”.
They disappeared for a little while, but came back and continued helping us by organizing the books onto the tables. Work time soon turned into playtime. Although I could not communicate to them through language (they only know Setswana), we sure could give high fives. More children flooded in. It eventually became the playroom. There was one little boy who was organizing all of the games. I had no idea what was going on, but they just pulled me around and put me into my positions. They kept coming in and out of the room, but whenever they would walk by, they would stop for high fives. At one point they each had some cookie type of treats and they were very generous to keep putting them in my hands. What started off as three children waving at me from across a distance, turned into about ten children hanging on me. What a day. Best day I’ve had here. Oh yeah, we got the reading room set up.
Today we cleaned out the room that will be used for the reading room. Next we cleaned off all of the books—what a task! We then set them up on tables. Through the whole process today, I made some very adorable friends! In the morning while I was walking some books to the room I saw a group of five or six year old children who were waving at me, and so I smiled and waved back. A little later on, the same children were hanging out closer to our room, then eventually they were peaking their heads in. They looked so curious. I gestured them in and pulled a picture book of a table and handed it to one of them. They darted for the middle of the room and sat down in a circle, all hovering over the book. A few minutes later when they looked bored with that book, I handed them another, and they all got so excited. They eventually started walking around and checking out the books for themsevles. As I was walking back and forth from the reading room and the storage room transporting books, I found one little boy follow me into the storage room. He watched diligently as I started picking up the books and copied me. This tiny boy insisted on carrying over the biggest and heaviest textbooks. When we returned to the reading room with the books, the other children had seen what he had done. The next trip back to the storage room, the other children followed. They all started carrying over books. They looked so proud. Their smiles lit up their faces when I would say “thank you”.
They disappeared for a little while, but came back and continued helping us by organizing the books onto the tables. Work time soon turned into playtime. Although I could not communicate to them through language (they only know Setswana), we sure could give high fives. More children flooded in. It eventually became the playroom. There was one little boy who was organizing all of the games. I had no idea what was going on, but they just pulled me around and put me into my positions. They kept coming in and out of the room, but whenever they would walk by, they would stop for high fives. At one point they each had some cookie type of treats and they were very generous to keep putting them in my hands. What started off as three children waving at me from across a distance, turned into about ten children hanging on me. What a day. Best day I’ve had here. Oh yeah, we got the reading room set up.
Our Purpose
Lebby and I have decided to go on an independent study abroad program to South Africa, through Union College, so that we can volunteer at Tapologo Hospice. Tapologo is an NGO that receives all of its funding through fundraising and donations. It is an impressive organization. Tapologo has an in patient unit on site that provides medical care to people suffering from deficient health. There is also an onsite blood laboratory. Because the major cause of death in South Africa is currently HIV/AIDS, Tapologo’s focus is on HIV/AIDS. Although Tapologo is a hospice organization, it does not just focus on end of life care. Tapologo has many programs dedicated to prevention, treatment, and empowerment.
Tapologo runs programs at a place called Freedom Park. Freedom Park is a squatter village located in the Bafokeng region of Rustenburg, close to the Impala platinum mine. There is a center area in Freedom Park where Tapologo runs HIV clinics where people can get there health status checked once a week, and an Orphan and Vulnerable Children program (OVC). These services are free of charge and open to all the residents. Because Freedom Park is a squatter village, and the land is not owned by the people, Tapologo can not put up permanent structures. Instead their programs take place in trailer type of buildings. The structures are in very poor quality, as I have seen construction work being done all week in the buildings. I have been at Freedom Park all week helping out the OVC program.
The OVC program is run by about seven women who come every morning to discuss the status of the children and plan the lessons and activities for the afternoon. When school is let out, the children come to the OVC program to learn life skills. The women who run this program are very kind. They have been teaching me simple words in Setswana and always give me a grin when I speak the words they have taught me.
It appears that we will be spending a majority of our time at the OVC program in Freedom Park. This week has shown me that it will take a lot of initiative to be useful. Tapologo does not have a formal volunteer program, nor the extra resources to waste time giving us instructions. We have had to be very observant to find jobs to do. Our first full day at Freedom Park we arrived before our supervisor. While we were waiting, we saw two women folding clothes outside of the clinic, so we went over and asked if we could help. We took the donated clothes out of the boxes and organized them into outfits. Afterwards, we handed the outfits out to people waiting in line for the clinic. Most of the clothes were for young children. During the week we have made ourselves useful by doing odd jobs such as doing dishes and mopping. It is a great environment. I am so happy to be here!
Tapologo runs programs at a place called Freedom Park. Freedom Park is a squatter village located in the Bafokeng region of Rustenburg, close to the Impala platinum mine. There is a center area in Freedom Park where Tapologo runs HIV clinics where people can get there health status checked once a week, and an Orphan and Vulnerable Children program (OVC). These services are free of charge and open to all the residents. Because Freedom Park is a squatter village, and the land is not owned by the people, Tapologo can not put up permanent structures. Instead their programs take place in trailer type of buildings. The structures are in very poor quality, as I have seen construction work being done all week in the buildings. I have been at Freedom Park all week helping out the OVC program.
The OVC program is run by about seven women who come every morning to discuss the status of the children and plan the lessons and activities for the afternoon. When school is let out, the children come to the OVC program to learn life skills. The women who run this program are very kind. They have been teaching me simple words in Setswana and always give me a grin when I speak the words they have taught me.
It appears that we will be spending a majority of our time at the OVC program in Freedom Park. This week has shown me that it will take a lot of initiative to be useful. Tapologo does not have a formal volunteer program, nor the extra resources to waste time giving us instructions. We have had to be very observant to find jobs to do. Our first full day at Freedom Park we arrived before our supervisor. While we were waiting, we saw two women folding clothes outside of the clinic, so we went over and asked if we could help. We took the donated clothes out of the boxes and organized them into outfits. Afterwards, we handed the outfits out to people waiting in line for the clinic. Most of the clothes were for young children. During the week we have made ourselves useful by doing odd jobs such as doing dishes and mopping. It is a great environment. I am so happy to be here!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Good Day from Rustenburg
Dumela! I would like to start by telling you about my surroundings. I am living on the most beautiful farm I have ever seen. Rainhill Farm is located at the bottom of a large mountain range. The view is breath taking. There is a path close to my cottage that leads right up the mountain. You can guess what I’ll be doing on the weekends! Rainhill is a family place. The Hartley’s have owned and lived here for at least a couple generations. The extended Hartley family is currently living on the farm. There is every kind of pet here. The family has dogs, snakes, horses, llamas, hens, roosters (which happily announce themselves as the sun is coming up!), cats, baby squirrels, and more that I don’t even know about! This might give you an insight on the Hartley’s hospitality. They are so kind and really help me feel at home here on the farm. We are in the beginning of South Africa’s Fall. It has been gorgeous since I’ve arrived. Sunny and 80’s. No complaints! In these parts there are three main languages spoken: English, Setswana, and Africaan. Most people know how to speak English, and it is the mainstream language (the road signs, media, and businesses use English). However, English does not seem to be the language of choice. People mostly speak Setswana or Africaan while in conversation. It is very interesting to hear the differences between the languages. I believe I can distinguish the languages based on sounds, but also by who is speaking. It seems that the black Africans speak Tetswana and the white Africans speak Africaan. Another random observation—there are goats everywhere! While I was at work yesterday I saw a goat who appeared to be in labor. I was on a break so I was watching carefully, hoping she would giver birth. I couldn’t stay and watch any longer, but when I returned to work the next day there were two tiny baby goats! Very cool. One more observation—driving on the left side of the road! Or as I have heard it called “the correct” side of the road. Yeah, sure South Africa, whatever you say!
Peace, love, and baby goats,
Lily
Peace, love, and baby goats,
Lily
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