WHAT'S HAPPENING IN KNYSNA, a Diary of News and Events related to our Projects

The on-going stories from our In-Country Volunteer Liaison, Sharon Dreyer, who took over from the delightful Pauline Visser who has now moved down to Cape Town.

Travellers volunteers in their droves have been and still are helping the local township communities in many different ways - they have really made a difference! For them and for future volunteers, here are some little tit-bits about what's happening in Knysna.

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Sharon

The beauty about the whole excursion was that not only did the pupils and their teacher get to enjoy the production, but the disadvantaged youths did too. The aim of the play was to make children aware of whales and the important part they play in the eco system and although the production was extremely educational and played a lot on conservation, it was extremely entertaining with lots of laughter and interaction between the two actors, Stuart and Mncedisi (from Lunch Box Theatre), their prop on stage, Wanda the Whale and the kids!

After the production was finished, Lunch Box Theatre group initiated a drama workshop which after a little bit of initial shyness, all the children- including the teacher and volunteers- joined in! Although very noisy, as one can imagine, it was so great to see how much fun everyone was having, adults included, and how involved everyone got in their freeze frame sketches.

I hope that we can initiate an event like this again in the future as apart from the children learning something in a fun way, it helps so with their confidence and the interaction between everyone involved can only be a positive influence! Sharon

Here is a photo taken in the staff room at Thembelitsha with 14 of the 16 soccer boots we sponsored for their U13 football team!

The local Primary School in the township do so well in the local school football tournaments DESPITE some of the children not having any shoes or playing with just one shoe on! How they do this we don't know, but it shows the level of enthusiasm they have for football.

The school were desperate for football boots so Travellers thought it would be a great idea if we could assist them and supplied football boots for the whole Under 13 team and their reserves!! This was even more important as they had a really important game coming up.

We managed to supply 16 of the team members with new football boots and the children and school football coaches were absolutely overjoyed! Sharon

First thing on this beautiful South African winter’s morning, I set off for the prize giving assembly at one of the local Primary School.s that we work with. Two of our volunteers, Michelle and Helen, had organised a writing competition with the three Grade 6 (approximately 11 years old) classes. The theme was ‘Why I am proud to be a South African'. The essay had to be at least one page long.

Michelle and Helen spent the whole weekend marking the essays, as they are contributing to the children’s term mark, and finally had chosen a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winner with 5 runners up prizes for each class. All in all, that meant 24 prizes were handed out. The school that Michelle works at in the UK, St Marks Primary, has kindly donated 100 pounds so we went and bought lots of prizes from R100 shopping vouchers to stationary sets and beautiful journals.

I had put together some certificates to be awarded with the prices, and the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prize winners read their prize winning essays out to the whole assembly and I must say it made me very proud of them ... and proud to be a South African!

The whole idea for the competition and prize-giving came from Michelle and Helen, who have both been actively assisting with teaching the children (Michelle is a teacher in the UK). They are also both lovely girls who are really proving their worth in a very short time at the school.

I will be sending through lots of photos and some videos of the event and these will appear here very shortly. Sharon

Today I decided to have a break from the office and see what is going on at some of the projects. First stop was the Youth Development Centre in Khayalethu South to see how one of our current volunteers was coming along.

On arrival all the little children from the crèche ran screaming with joy and excitement towards her, hanging off her every limb so that she was virtually grounded! Within in about 10 minutes I also had the same treatment with the kids virtually queuing up to be picked up - totally exhausting - and their energy levels don’t wane for a second. Next it was time for their breakfast which was a bowl of ‘pap’, a form of porridge made from maize meal which is a staple of any African diet, and onto their lessons.

One of the Travellers volunteers (who would prefer to remain anonymous but who I would like to thank nonetheless - you know who you are) had paid for their classroom to be carpeted and it was the first day that they got to ‘christen’ it. Surprisingly enough when their teacher, Nomphu, walked in the room, they became silent and all 11 little maniacs magically turned into little angels!! They sat so obediently and listened while she gave them a lesson on ‘my family’. So sweet to watch, unbelievable change from just 30 minutes earlier. While they sat down to draw a picture of their families, it was time to say goodbye.

My next ‘port of call’ was the Child and Youth Care Centre, literally two blocks away. A past volunteer had come up to visit them so I decided to join her. After greeting all the staff, who, despite having the daunting task of caring for 46 children, seem to be permanently in a great mood and welcomed us with big smiles, we went through to the activity room to see the babies. There are only 5 babies at present there in the mornings, with 19 toddlers away at crèche during this time and the rest attending primary and high schools. We sat and played with the little ones until they got tired and it was time for their naps.

We, at Travellers Worldwide, had been lucky enough to receive a rather large donation from a past volunteer so we had put it to good use by donating all the school uniforms and some stationary for all 22 children attending school.

Again I would like to thank the Travellers volunteer who made it possible for all the children to get new school uniforms; you know who you are, too! The children and all the staff were thrilled!

I am so proud have been able to have been a part of this, it has made a huge difference to the children’s lives and they all look so sweet in their new uniforms - although I can’t say how long they will appear new!! LOL Sharon

Recently, Travellers Worldwide and Sunridge Primary played host to two volunteers from Calgary, Canada, Adele Campbell and Jacqueline Smith. Adele and Jacqueline spent 4 weeks assisting Sunridge Grade R teacher, Crystal September, with her learners.

They became so attached to the Grade R children that they decide that they wanted to do a little more to brighten up their lives and their classroom so with Travellers Worldwide helping to donate the paint needed, the girls painted a fantasy mural on the back of the Grade R classroom wall.

The children also managed to get their faces painted once the mural was complete and insisted on painting the girls faces too. What fun! Well done girls for putting so much effort in to making a difference to the little ones. Sharon

There has been some excellent news this year for the street kids project in Knysna!

Over the last few years they have had great success with their work, but nothing can compare to their success this year. The project re-opened last week from the Christmas break and the group of children that were at the centre last year decided to go back to school this year, this is amazing progress indeed! Michael who runs the centre says 'We had 14 children on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, we registered all 14 of them at different schools in the area. On Wednesday we started with our after-school program and I fetch them every day from 14h00 at the different schools so that they can join in on the after-school program. I'm so excited about all of this.

One of the cases that stands out the most, is a young boy of 12 years old turning 13 this year and has never been to school in his life! This is due to a lack of proper parenting. He is now at a school and we are now negotiating with the Education Department about his placement in an appropriate level. I couldn't ask for something better. In the morning we have now 7 youth but slightly older than the ones that went back to school.

We are already focussing on life skills such as beadwork, pottery, recycling and gardening. What a great start to 2009!

Read more about this placement and how you can get involved.

BIG CATS ... AND MORE BIG CATS! - Knysna October 2008

Wow, did we do something incredible today or what!?!

After spending a few hours at the Love Life Centre up in the township watching the football tournament between Sinethemba and various other street children foundations (some as far off as George), which was great fun- lots of sun, soccer and a live DJ with a lot of dancing, we headed off to the Wildlife Awareness Centre just outside of Plettenberg Bay, to take part in their ‘Wild Cat Experience’.

We first got to watch a presentation which unfortunately I didn’t pay much attention to as I was totally side tracked by the two 8 week old cheetah cubs playing at our feet! They are undoubtedly the sweetest, friendliest balls of fluff you have ever seen!

Then we started the tour. First we went to visit Chester, the 17 month old male cheetah and his female feline companion, Zimbali. He’s beautiful! Magnificent ... and he knows it! We then went to see the smallest wild cat (weighing in at 1 ½ kilos) and one of the sweetest, the Black Footed Cat or Anthill Tiger as they are otherwise known. She wailed when we left her and her father as she loves human companions.

Then it was off to the Serval enclosure. This amazing wild cat is a lot shyer and was so well camouflaged by its coat in the shrubs it was quite hard to spot it! Next were the two playful 6-month-old male cheetah cubs. One of them was totally obsessed by the bows on Siobhan’s (a volunteer staying with us) shoes, that we had to sneak out before he tried to grab them again! Then it was off to see the beautiful Caracal family, father, mother and son. They are so majestic and have the most incredible colouring and appearance - just like painted ladies – beautiful! Last but by no means least were the two African Wild Cats who, as they were just being fed, were not too interested in our presence! What a wonderful afternoon!

Many thanks to Len and Sandra from the Wildlife Centre for a truly wonderful ‘Wild Cat Experience’. Sharon

Frame by Frame Art Gallery  - Knysna October 2008

Young Miss Sunridge 2008 - The 21st Anniversary Celebrations

Dorothy Broster Children's Home , Knysna, March 2008

Just a happy story!

"Poppie" (Rolishia Lamini, 'Poppie' means 'little doll' in Afrikaans)

In 2007 Travellers volunteers Sarah-Jane Green and Elizabeth Elster were volunteers in Knysna, and spent many afternoons at the Dorothy Broster Children's Home.   They fell in love with Poppie, her little sister, Geraldine and baby brother, Tabang.  

Sarah-Jane has made it her project to sponsor Poppie's school fees at Knysna Primary School for the rest of her schooling, and Liz will take over Geraldine's fees when she starts school in Grade 'R' in 2009. 

As she had had no formal pre-school training, Poppie struggled a bit in Grade 1 last year, and as a result her teacher has decided that she should repeat Grade 1. She is much more settled this year and coping better too, gaining confidence all the time.  

Poppie has this year started ballet lessons with a private teacher, Sidwell Roman, who is a professionally trained ballet dancer, and has been running a ballet school for children of all ages for many years.

He is very kindly sponsoring Poppie's lessons. Sidwell organises wonderful shows every second year, which are well attended, so hopefully Poppie will be part of the next production! Sharon

Knysna, February 2008

The efforts of our volunteers are always rewarded, particularly in the case of little Luvuyo (nickname Siya) who you can see pictured on the right.

Siya was involved in a playground accident in December which caused him to suffer a stroke.  He was left unable to speak, his vision severely impaired, and partial paralysis caused him to loose the use of his right arm. 

Before his accident, Siya was a bright and happy child who would always seized the opportunity to be centre of attention.  He excelled at school and loved to play soccer with his friends and the way his eyes now light up when given a ball hides the frustration he deals with every day.

Sarah Davies is one volunteer who particularly bonded with Siya, and, after dropping the other volunteers off at Chris Nissen and Tembelitsha we go to Siya’s house to collect him for school.  Siya is so happy to see us approaching and though he only attends school for an hour and a half a day and cannot take part in the normal lessons, he loves to walk around the classrooms with Sarah and play with the soccer ball as much as his disability allows.  The time she spends with Siya has made such a difference to his days and Sarah will never forget how important this time is both to Siya and to herself. Sharon

TEMBELITSHA SCHOOL, Knysna November 2007

Colin and Wesley are there to help, and Becky Higginson and Kirsty Lomas are really excited to be part of the project.  They have a 'free' day, as their teacher is away until Monday.   

The pale green curtains are washed, and are about to go to Dynamics for a 'tint' to navy blue - all in keeping with the school colours. Once the basic coat is dry, we will get stuck in drawing and painting African designs on the big windowless wall, and then organise the furniture, kitchen etc. Sharon

At last our carefully painted 'Music and Drama room' has been christened! To add to the occasion, over the past couple of months all the broken windows in the school have been repaired by the Department of Education, which is really great.

I attended Nicole's recorder lesson at Tembelitsha yesterday, and was so impressed with her! She was so sweet and patient with the children. By the end of the lesson she had them all playing 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' (well, the first two lines!) quite well together. They are hoping to play at assembly on Monday, and after just 4 or 5 lessons, that will be quite an achievement!!

The children have given themselves the very ambitious name of "The Ghetto Girls Group of Stars"!

Both Temba Bella and Mimi Grootboom looked on, and are both keen to learn the recorder too. Once we can get Temba to play this song on the piano, we will have the beginnings of an orchestra! The Music Department at Tembelitsha has been born!!! Pretty exciting stuff.

Sharon

Newton Street Volunteer House, Knysna

News that is not entirely project related but still without a doubt worth mentioning is Pretty, our 'home executive', who is the unsung hero of Newton Street!  She willingly, energetically and happily keeps order in the Volunteer house, and never complains!

She is a true star!

Sharon

Tembelitsha School, Knysna, September 2007

On Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd September Tembelitsha celebrated its 10th Birthday with dancing, singing, lots of speeches, nail and face-painting for the children, food stalls which included a braai (barbecue!). The volunteers helped out with the nail and face-painting and organised a game called 'Guess the Teddy's name' Sharon

IKAMALETHU CRECHE, Khayalethu, Knysna, September 2007

Ikamalethu Creche is run by Gladys and her sister, Maud, in a small wooden building in the Khayalethu township in Knysna. They look after between 40 and 50 small children, aged 3 – 5 years, in a very small space. Gladys has taken every opportunity to attend training sessions, and she is a very organised person, and all the children are beautifully behaved and obedient.

On the way to the Orphanage one day, we noticed this small building with little chairs and tables outside in the tiny garden, and decided to see if we could lend a hand. Some time ago Travellers purchased a jungle gym/swing, and this has at last found a good home!

Our present 5 volunteers, Kim, Emily, Tess, Karina and Claire spent Monday putting the jungle gym/swing together (the kit came with no instructions or pictures!) and did an amazing job. On Tuesday holes were dug (willingly done by David, a gardener), cement poured in and the four ‘legs’ of the swing firmly bolted into the concrete.

Today, Wednesday, these energetic volunteers painted the outside of the building, which has brightened the appearance up no end. Gladys and the children are thrilled!

They are planning to line the inside of the wooden walls with board soon, and we have promised to come and paint the inside walls after that.

A small article and photograph appeared in the Knysna/Plett Herald today, and all in all the volunteers are very happy and satisfied with this project, and feel they have done something very worthwhile!  Sharon

Knysna News : Aug 2007

At last we have managed to co-ordinate taking Flo Hannaford, a local piano and singing teacher, to Tembelitsha for a first piano lesson with Temba Bella, one of the teachers at Tembelitsha. The plan is to teach the teacher to teach the children, which could take some time!  They have a wonderful piano, which has been dormant for a couple of years.  Flo also hopes to get a choir together, and give them some tuition too. 

Last Monday saw the christening of the new speakers and microphone donated by Travellers;  Temba Bella did the honours, and started Assembly using the microphone, and after a few volume adjustments, children lined up to say poems and read for the rest of the school.   A small group of students was selected to help set up the equipment every Monday for Assembly. 

After school various animals wander around the grounds looking for scraps and crumbs, and these chaps eventuallly made it up the steps, after slipping and sliding now and again!  They found their way into the new garden area, when the fence was not quite complete and are really happy the teachers want to grow vegetables just for them!  

The last photograph of is Anna Visciano handing a cheque for 600 Dollars to Bill at a tea party in the office, as a donation towards fencing for Tembelitsha!  Left to right are Laurie, Emily, Karina, Kim, Jennifer, Tess and Anna with Bill in the middle. Sharon