Expanding our Orphanage Work – Fish Hoek
On our Cape Town Orphanage Program we have just started sending volunteers to a third location. Just last week I paid a visit to find out how things have started off – ‘very well’ is the short answer.
Whilst the volunteers live in the small and pleasant coastal town of Fish Hoek, situated about 25mins out of Cape Town south along the peninsula, the main focus of the project work in this area is in the West Lake Township. Here there are three nurseries typically trying to care for 60 to 70 children with only the smallest amount of regular help. Some of these children are orphans, while a lot are there for the day as it is a 'safe-house' for them. Their families are often destitute and extremely ‘disrupted’, for want of a better expression. Without the existence of these nurseries, the children would usually be left on their own during the day to fend for themselves. Ranging from newborn up to seven years in age, this is a very poor situation. All these children are in need of love and care, and someone to give them the attention they require and deserve. A lady by the name of Cynthia is trying to provide this for them but is in desperate need of help from volunteers.
So when I went to find out how our first group of volunteers have been finding things, it was fantastic to see so many happy, smiling faces. It is difficult to express how excited these children were that they had someone to play with them, to interact with them and to teach them. The value of GVI’s assistance there is clearly evident.
On a personal note, as it is my job to encourage volunteers to take that step and make the commitment to come and join our project work out in Cape Town, my job satisfaction soars every time I go and see not only the difference that is being made to these children’s lives, but also how glad the volunteers are they decided to come and help. It gives me great pleasure to connect those who need the help with those who want to help.
Jim Bacon
Regional Coordinator – South Africa
Whilst the volunteers live in the small and pleasant coastal town of Fish Hoek, situated about 25mins out of Cape Town south along the peninsula, the main focus of the project work in this area is in the West Lake Township. Here there are three nurseries typically trying to care for 60 to 70 children with only the smallest amount of regular help. Some of these children are orphans, while a lot are there for the day as it is a 'safe-house' for them. Their families are often destitute and extremely ‘disrupted’, for want of a better expression. Without the existence of these nurseries, the children would usually be left on their own during the day to fend for themselves. Ranging from newborn up to seven years in age, this is a very poor situation. All these children are in need of love and care, and someone to give them the attention they require and deserve. A lady by the name of Cynthia is trying to provide this for them but is in desperate need of help from volunteers.
So when I went to find out how our first group of volunteers have been finding things, it was fantastic to see so many happy, smiling faces. It is difficult to express how excited these children were that they had someone to play with them, to interact with them and to teach them. The value of GVI’s assistance there is clearly evident.
On a personal note, as it is my job to encourage volunteers to take that step and make the commitment to come and join our project work out in Cape Town, my job satisfaction soars every time I go and see not only the difference that is being made to these children’s lives, but also how glad the volunteers are they decided to come and help. It gives me great pleasure to connect those who need the help with those who want to help.
Jim Bacon
Regional Coordinator – South Africa
1 comments:
I am looking forward to SA to work alongside my son Erik Davidson, who is in Paarl, right now....
My husband would like to visit as well.....
We love seeing all we can, of the wonderful work at the hand of the volunteers for GVI.
KimMarie Davidson
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