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Feedback from Stuart Neath Newsletters » May/June 2008 » Feedback from Stuart Neath Stuart Neath from the UK visited our projects in Mozambique recently and here is some of his feedback "With Christmas approaching I felt frustrated knowing that this would mean another round of eating too much, drinking too much and buying presents for children who don’t need them and, after a few minutes, will not really appreciate them either. It was with this in mind that I determined that I would like to start 2008 by doing something worthwhile. The idea of going to work for a charity came up in discussion over dinner with friends and, the following day, I started searching the internet for a worthwhile cause. My search led me to African Impact, a voluntourism organisation which sponsors 16 projects throughout Africa which cover a range of activities from returning animals to the wild to working with orphanages and schools in disadvantaged areas. In discussion with them we identified that the Mozambique Community Project was one which would offer a combination of variety and challenge which would keep me on my toes, and let me see some of the very real issues faced by the local community. The whole experience was absolutely incredible. It was uplifting, rewarding, challenging, grounding, heart-breaking and soul-destroying in equal measure. To see the absolute joy on the faces of the children when we arrived to spend time with them, or their excitement at being given some new clothes, a piece of chocolate cake or the opportunity to do something creative, was incredible. To see someone’s new home taking shape was fabulous. To see the way the community lives and cares for each other, the hardships they face each day, the illness that pervades the society and the lack of resources available to them was very upsetting. For example: the current orphanage is nothing more than a wooden frame approximately 15 metres by 8 metres, wrapped in heavy plastic with a corrugated iron roof. This houses 24 children, all sleeping on the floor, with no access to running water or a toilet. It is awful! To see how they accept what they have, are content with it and essentially happy with their lot was a major lesson for me, and certainly changed my perspective of my life and the things that I take for granted. It is one thing to see this scale of poverty and hardship on television (e.g. on Comic Relief), it is quite another to stand there holding a 6 year old boy who has cerebral palsy, has open infections on his arms and legs, lives in an environment totally unable to deal with his special needs, and yet is happy and excited about you being there to help and entertain him, even for just a few short hours per week. This is the reward. Moments like this make it one of the most amazing things I have ever done. This is why I WILL do it again and why I would encourage anyone who is thinking about doing this sort of thing to stop thinking about it, and go and do it. In January we hosted a group of 17 students and 3 teachers in Mozambique from the Ross School in New York. You can visit their incredible blog at http://ross-mozambique.blogspot.com/ Here are some comments from people who were part of the group: “For the past two days, we have been building four different structures that will form two living huts, a kitchen, and an eating area for the orphanage. It has been very hard work in the heat but it has also been incredibly rewarding and all of the Ross students have been absolutely amazing. They have been digging postholes, cutting with machetes, weaving with sticks, etc., and all with the greatest attitude. As we do this work, we are slowly meeting some of the kids from the orphanage. We will try to send some photos along but be patient if it doesn’t work and trust us that the images will make you cry” Mark Frankel, Headmaster, The Ross School. Posted to the Ross blog on February 29th 2008. Other news this month... Update from David Youldon on our ALERT Programme Join us on the tropical East Africa Island of Zanzibar! Update from Anna Burn on the rural pre-school in Vilanculos Feedback from Stuart Neath (UK) on one of our Mozambique project Special offer on our Zimbabwe Big 5 Conservation Experience! Hwange National Park Elephant Research and Conservation Project News snippets Subscribe to our free newsletter Africa volunteer opportunities       print this page | bookmark this page (CTRL-D) | send to a friend back to top