Apart from the tourist/partying here I have also spent the last week and a half volunteering at an AIDS resource centre in Nyanga, which is a large township just outside Cape Town. Approximately 30% of the Nyanga population is infected with HIV/AIDS with approx. 70% of the population being unemployed. Hence, the conditions here are very very tough. This centre is called Etafeni and is a community based care center for AIDS-vulnerable children and their caregivers. It offers a preschool, afterschool care, nutrition program, skills training program for the youth, an income generation program, counselling, homecare visits and testing for the local community. It is truly an absolutely fabulous centre!! I have had such an amazing time working there and have been so honored to have been involved in such a wonderful project. All the staff have such a great vision for the future and the kids are really to die for! Words cannot describe how gorgeous they are! It has really inspired me and hence I am currently working with various people at the centre to establish some kind of partnership/relationship with Australian businesses and funders. 
The income generation programme is what i am particularly interested in. The centre teaches local women who are HIV+ various skills such as sewing and beading. The women are then given the resources to make different products such as clothing, jewelry, blankets, beaded craft etc and then they are sold with the profits going to the women. The programme aims to provide them with the necessary skills whereby they no longer need to rely on the centre but can set up their own little businesses and generate an income for themselves. The products that they make are brilliant and of such a high quality. They work so hard. Hence I am working with the project and marketing manager here to try and set up a market for these products back at home. They make really beautiful and unique stuff, with ALL profits going to the women involved. This is so vital as I think a lot of people now are hesitant to donate or support the big charity organisations as they are not certain whether the money is actually getting to where they want. But with this project I am planning on fundraising to pay for shipment, then will sell these products hopefully through local businesses and at the markets and then ALL profits will go to the women involved. Etafeni centre is a non-profit organisation and I will be doing this voluntarily and hence can therefore ensure that the money goes exactly where its supposed to. I am very excited about this project and I have huge faith in the local communities at home in offering their support. Once i get home i plan to make a catalogue of their stuff to show people and assess interest and then I can start placing orders. If anyone is interested before hand though please go to their website http://www.etafenitrust.org/. There are a few pictures on there but that is 
not a full list of products that they make. I will be updating this. These women are taught a huge variety of skills and are very talented and hence can almost make anything to order. Everything is made my hand and they put a lot of work into their products. For example, hand made, personalised beaded lanyards which are perfect for conferences/businesses/universities/ even just one with your name on it, takes a whole day to make one. They are really really cool and can be make in any colours and they cost about $13. Can you imagine working a whole day for $13???
As i said I am so excited about this project and really cant wait to get it up and running. Please check out their website or email me if you are interested.
Ill try keep a little more updated on here from now on.
Lots of love from Africa
God Bless xoxoxo
The income generation programme is what i am particularly interested in. The centre teaches local women who are HIV+ various skills such as sewing and beading. The women are then given the resources to make different products such as clothing, jewelry, blankets, beaded craft etc and then they are sold with the profits going to the women. The programme aims to provide them with the necessary skills whereby they no longer need to rely on the centre but can set up their own little businesses and generate an income for themselves. The products that they make are brilliant and of such a high quality. They work so hard. Hence I am working with the project and marketing manager here to try and set up a market for these products back at home. They make really beautiful and unique stuff, with ALL profits going to the women involved. This is so vital as I think a lot of people now are hesitant to donate or support the big charity organisations as they are not certain whether the money is actually getting to where they want. But with this project I am planning on fundraising to pay for shipment, then will sell these products hopefully through local businesses and at the markets and then ALL profits will go to the women involved. Etafeni centre is a non-profit organisation and I will be doing this voluntarily and hence can therefore ensure that the money goes exactly where its supposed to. I am very excited about this project and I have huge faith in the local communities at home in offering their support. Once i get home i plan to make a catalogue of their stuff to show people and assess interest and then I can start placing orders. If anyone is interested before hand though please go to their website http://www.etafenitrust.org/. There are a few pictures on there but that is 
not a full list of products that they make. I will be updating this. These women are taught a huge variety of skills and are very talented and hence can almost make anything to order. Everything is made my hand and they put a lot of work into their products. For example, hand made, personalised beaded lanyards which are perfect for conferences/businesses/universities/ even just one with your name on it, takes a whole day to make one. They are really really cool and can be make in any colours and they cost about $13. Can you imagine working a whole day for $13???As i said I am so excited about this project and really cant wait to get it up and running. Please check out their website or email me if you are interested.
Ill try keep a little more updated on here from now on.
Lots of love from Africa
God Bless xoxoxo
3 comments:
Mum, Dad, Jen and |Graham here. we are presently travelling the Great Ocean Road and doing some of the touristy things. We are cetainly eating and drinking well. Had a few days in Melbourne before doing the trip along the GCR for 4 days then back to Melbourne for a few days before returning home. Again it is fantastic to hear of what you have been doing in Capetown, both with the partying and the volunteering work. We are all so proud of what you have been up to. Enjoy the rest of your holidy before returning back to Jane Furse and then back to Aussie. Love you always,,,,dad.
Hello Carly - All sounds just like good old Cape Town is living up to it's reputation - I thought you would enjoy Etafeni - Enjoy Regards Grant
Tip Rat.
It is fantastic being able to read ur bloggs and know ur havin a ball and are safe and sound. I am going to buy another phone card so i can call you again, when will u be back at Jane Furse?
Miss u truck loads.
Keep up the good work in both the tip rat and volunteer department.I Am constantly inspired by you! Love from the queen Tiprat lou xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
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