Project Hero visits projects. It is essential to visit our projects regularly. This strengthens the relationship and facilitates cooperation. The request from one of our sponsors to visit Mozambique and South Africa together was a blessing for both sides.
No sooner said than done. June 14th was the day. A two-week trip was planned. After a tiring but successful flight we arrived in Johannesburg.
Corrie Ockhuysen from the Iris Min. project in Matola also landed in Johannesburg a few hours earlier and was already waiting for us. Not much later we were able to go to our accommodation together where we could rest from our trip and get to know each other a little (Corrie and traveling companions).
The next morning we had to get up early, because the bus to the northeast of South Africa left at 8 am. A journey of more than 6 hours with breaks across South Africa. We would stay in a Lodge for the first few days where we would spend a few days together and discover the beauty of South Africa. After a few days we traveled to Tzaneen, a small town about an hour and a half drive from where we were. Tzaneen a place where both wealth and poverty are close together.
We support in South Africa Tshega , a Christian movement in which a school, assistance to the elderly and assistance to the nearby village are the main pillars. With Project Held we support the food program there. These are children who live in the nearby village, are very poor and whose father is often out of the picture. The children can go to school, but they do need school materials for that. This is provided by Tshega. There is nothing besides school.
Thanks to the food program, these children receive a hot meal every day, they meet together and they receive help with homework. Fun activities are also organised. The children receive a gift twice a year (Christmas and Easter) and every year they receive a costume and books that they need for school. Without this help, they cannot participate in education because these items are mandatory.
During the days we were there, our team went to a bread factory with these children. There the children received education about hygiene, what it takes to bake bread and how a factory works. Before we reported to the factory, we went to KFC with the 40 children to eat an ice cream and order food for the afternoon. For the children something they had never had before. Some had never even been to the city before. Even the toilet was an attraction for them and a large queue emerged in front of the toilets. Running water from a tap and a toilet to sit on was something that was completely new to many. Then on to SUNBAKERY the company which would give us an insight into the factory. The children were welcomed like princes and princesses and at the end of the ride they all received a fabric bag with a water bottle, bread, cap and much more. The children were so happy and surprised and the KFC made the day unforgettable for the children. We ate this somewhere near a park.
We also brought items for the children from Project Held, which we brought the next day, as they had already received so much. When we arrived at the village, the first children quickly gathered and the fanfare went quickly, so they were in front of us in no time (after all, it was holiday time).
First we sang together, presented a piece of gospel and then gave everyone a Hero package with socks, underwear and something tasty. It is now winter in South Africa and it can be around 10 degrees at night. A pair of warm socks would be nice. Then we went to a group of elderly people in the neighborhood who, despite their physical complaints and hopelessness, come together every day to sing, dance and socialize, after which they eat a hot meal together. (The “cuisine” was given by Tshega). We sang together, danced and at the end prayed for them using a fire tunnel.
After this wonderful time, including a tour of the school, Basadi the sewing project for the widow and wonderful conversations with Ellanie and her team, we headed back to Johannesburg to take the plane to Maputo the next day. We leave behind us a time with a golden edge.
After a short flight we land in Maputo around 3:00 PM. After purchasing our visa at the border with Corrie as an interpreter, we could go straight to Iris Min's bus. Matola who was eagerly waiting for us. A beautiful one-hour drive follows in which you can clearly see the difference between South Africa and Mozambique. We are not so much talking about nature, but mainly about how people live. Mozambique lives on the streets. Dirt, plastic and waste everywhere, much less in South Africa. It is also winter in Mozambique, but with a pleasant temperature of about 25 degrees for us. When you arrive at the center of Corrie Ockhuysen you will be welcomed by all the children present with an unambiguous VISITA!!!! They absolutely love visitors and you will be welcomed with great joy! After giving everyone a hug and seeing recognition in children who are now young adults, we retreated to our guesthouse for a while.
About the guesthouse. The Corrie team worked very hard for 30 days to build a pleasant house on a piece of land. Since the house is still bare (no cupboards and/or hooks for clothing and belongings), you can see that a lot of hard work has gone into. There are curtains, a mat on the floor and a nice bed has been prepared for us. Of course with mosquito net. Big thanks to everyone who worked on this.
What more could one wish for? After putting our things in place and walking around the house and grounds of Corrie (on which this guesthouse is located), it was time to eat. We did this most times at the center. Just eat whatever the children and “mothers” eat. Rice with some vegetables was on the menu. By the way, we were very lucky during our trip since it is June and June 1 is Children's Day. This means that throughout the month of June, various organizations will visit these types of centers with chicken, beef, potatoes and gifts to celebrate Children's Day.
To avoid making the report too long, we have highlighted a few highlights. If you would like to read the long version, I would like to refer you to a day-by-day Polarsteps report via this link.
During our stay we got to know the children better, heard poignant stories about children's origins and situations that they still have to deal with, but we also had a lot of fun, playing the same games every day such as peek-a-boo, clapping hands in a circle and others. played games that you can play if you don't really understand each other. Because Mozambique is a Portuguese colony and the children speak little English. We were lucky that our traveling companion spoke a fair amount of Portuguese, which the children thought was fantastic.
*During the trip we visited the garbage dump where we sang together, magnified God and tried to bring hope into the lives of these people. At the end of the morning, 10 people gave their lives to the Lord.
*For example, we organized a children's afternoon at a nearby village with singing, games and a drama about a Bible story in which Jesus was tempted in the desert. These children are also exposed to different temptations every day, how do you deal with them and what are good choices. In it we referred to the Cross and that God as Father takes care of them. Don't be tempted by stealing, drugs or burglary, but watch WWJD or, What would Jesus Do!
*We visited the boys' home for “children” aged 18 and over. In Africa it is no longer allowed to live within a center once you turn 18. For example, a church in Switzerland has placed a house for older boys where these young people form a small community together. They grow their own vegetables, have a chicken hotel (although the chickens are still missing, but it was also recently built), and we brainstorm together how they can become even more self-sufficient, so that they can ultimately support themselves without help.
*We also did various jobs in and around the center. It has been painted, the playground equipment has been restored, mirrors have been hung, a number of toilets have been made (from 3 pieces of toilets to 1 working one again) and some other jobs in between.
*We visited the project in Machava (Iris Min. Machava) for 2 days, also one of the projects supported by Project Held. We had a lovely time. Played games with the children and received a tour of the grounds. Together with Sarah we did some shopping for the children and gave them balls and treats and made it a lovely afternoon.
Everything happens differently in Africa than here in the west, and at a pace that we are not used to. For example, you spend a whole morning in a store doing purchases such as paint. This is mixed outside on the sidewalk by adding small bottles of food coloring to white paint. When the white paint has not really changed yet and more than 10 bottles have already gone into the pot of paint, you discover that all the dye has fallen to the bottom and has not ended up in the pot of white paint. Oh well, you settle for being in Africa and together we poured turpentine (it was removable paint) into the bottles and mixed the food coloring with the pot of white paint until we got close to the color we wanted.
This way you will also understand much better what our projects involve. The internet, for example. Sometimes it does this, sometimes it doesn't. In addition, this is the same with electricity, so if both are working well you can do some things via the internet, but if one of them fails for a while you are forced to pick it up again at another time and you have to remember where you were working on and don't forget it later. This is the same with food, drinks, ordered items, etc. you make appointments and if you are lucky, the appointment goes as discussed, but 9 out of 10 times something does not arrive, is too late or the person is no longer even available.
Yet a lot is going well! For example, the geyser that we purchased so that there would be hot water for the young children to wash themselves in the morning was delivered the next day (as agreed), now the plumber still has to come to pull the pipes so that the dangerous situation of setting up large pans for hot water at 3 am is no longer necessary.
In addition, the older children of the project helped us with cleaning, painting, repairs, etc. It is great to see how eager they are to learn and also want to contribute something to their own center. In short, we had a wonderful, special time and Corrie was completely happy with everything that was done, both in her house and around it, as well as in the center. We have gained great respect for how she has worked for these children for years who would have been left to fend for themselves without her.
If you have been deeply touched after reading and would like to go on a trip to one of our projects, please send an email to info@projectheld.nl and we can look together at how we can tackle this further, so that we provide warm support for Project Held's projects.
