Etafeni Project

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

Cape Town Adventures!

Once again I have left it too long between posts, but there has just been too much fun being had! I had a beautiful Christmas and Boxing Day in Gordons Bay and then have been in the amazing city of Cape Town since!! It is such a wonderful city with the most beautiful scenery, mixture of people, things to do and places to see. Have been doing all the touristy things:

* Took the cable car up and had breakfast on Table Mountain which was absolutely stunning.

* Been down to the V&A Waterfront various times to listen to live music, look around the shops and the harbour.

* Had a massive Braai and then watched the New years Eve fireworks at the Waterfront before hitting the clubs in Long Street for an enormous New year celebration.

* Did a tour of the Cape Peninsula. Well actually just jumped into a hire care with two other Aussie guys i met in our dorm. We had a map but its only functional use was as a fan for my face. We did get lost, well we called it 'detouring' various times but saw everything we wanted to see and even had time to stop off at a pub for a few drinks.

* Visited the gorgeous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Stellenbosch for coffee and lunch and had my face painted in traditional Xhosa way.

* Lazed on the beautiful beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton. Didnt swim because the water is flippin freeeeezing!! There are seals and penguins in the water, thats how cold it is.

* Took walks through the gorgeous city and danced to the beat of street performers drums.

* Bargained my way through all the amazing African craft markets

* Had various Braai's (South African BBQ's)

* watched the Cape Minstrel parade through the city.

* Climbed Lions head and had drinks and nibbleys at the top and walked down as the sun set.

But apart from all the touristy things I have had some of the best nights/days out of my life!! The party scene in CApe Town and especially Long Street is constant and ever pumping!! I have been staying with numerous other people that i have met on my travels down the coast so there has always been a big bunch of us keen to hit the town. Plus i have met so many amazing locals who are always rearing to show me the places to go! The backpackers i have been staying at is right in Long Street with the balcony that looks out over the street. Thus the party starts there and then you can wonder down and stumble home very easily! The music at the clubs here in Africa is sooooooooo gooooood!!! The best music and dancing i have ever seen. I am totally in my element! Haha. Have been to various different scenes- irish bars, niteclubs, reggae bars, trance parties, hiphop clubs and the ever-pumping house. So much fun! My Cape Town experience has been so so so much fun. Have been with the best people and met the best people from all over the world as well as wonderful locals. I am going to miss Africa sooooo much. I am definately coming back....various times.....even to live! Hahah we will see....