South Africa:
Robin Schmidt, Delta Airlines
Flight Attendant and
Airline Ambassadors' Volunteer,
Lives in the States
but Her Heart is in South Africa
For me, spending time with the kids, building trust, and just "being there" is a huge deal.
Allowing them to touch my skin (the small children crave affection), stand in the middle of the room with them when they are singing songs, take pictures of them, it's all relevant in my mind.
When we went to the creche at Maria's, I noticed some of the children did not have small back packs. If some volunteers could take a few for children that are about 5 years old, that would be great.
 The kids were so excited we were giving them chocolate bunnies (from Easter) and a couple of handfuls of food to take home. Most of them live in the squatter’s camp, and the only food they receive is when they are at Maria's. They loved having their picture taken and seeing it on the camera. Somehow, they find value in the fact that their picture is being taken and it gives their life value.
My knowledge of the abuse and extreme hardships each of those children have gone through, helps me to know how to interact with them.
Grant and Sharon have brought 20 children in off the streets, that would not have had another opportunity to survive. They are being taught social skills, life skills, and the ability to transition from abusive situations in order to become educated and viable in the work field.
Some of them go to counseling on a regular basis, to overcome the issues that weigh them down. Some of them go to different schools than the other children. Imagine having 20 school aged children under one roof, so there are transportation issues every single day.
It is Africa, and there is not a bus system. Petrol alone would be enough to keep them home on a regular basis. But Sharon and Grant are committed to these children, so they find a way to make it work. Robin with most of Sinethemba Family
They never know from week to week where the food is going to come from -- which is a challenge. When I offered to make dinner one night that I was there (easily $100 in groceries), it was a tremendous relief for them. They didn't know where the food was going to come from that night. To some, it may not seem relevant, but to know how this family functions on faith it is everything.
Sharon and Grant told me that when they started, the floor was dirt, the walls were cracked, and they literally gave up everything they owned in order to provide a home for the homeless. The kids that have the opportunity to live under the McGill's roof for a day, month, or years, have been subjected to love, acceptance, God, and forgiveness.
 It is wonderful to see the way the older children help to take care of the babies. They read together, play games together, and talk as though they are friends. Certainly there are challenges with a lot of teenagers under one roof, of opposite sexes. But I believe Sharon and Grant are instilling in them the "brother" and "sister" roles.
Many of the children have been abused, and that is all they know. Sharon and Grant are trying to break those habits and teach them what is right, and how to act in today’s society. Their house is more of a home than mine is that is for certain. If someone asked me what to give these children or the family, on a small price level, I would say board games, pictures for their walls, hair coloring, tampons, books, bibles, and of course, food.
The creche at Nkundusi has needs as well. The children need food, stimulation, and attention. It is difficult to describe to people in America that these children that go to the creche's are walking sometimes for miles, and they are generally no older than the age of five. They go to this "day care" because they know they will get one hot meal a day, and some attention. They crave both from what I have seen.
The AAI team at Senzokule with the Hluhluwe team
 When I spoke to Janine Reed (an AAI volunteer from
a previous South Africa mission) prior to the trip, she
told me that the Reed's had purchased a swing set for Senokuhle Creche, but that it did not come with
swing seats.
Swinging on Chains
So I went to Home Depot and purchased four swing seats to take in my luggage. That required an additional suitcase, because of all the homemade hats and scarves I had crocheted for the children at Sinethemba.
Swings with SEATS! WOW!
I was a little concerned with the excess baggage and the potential for fees. But the base manager in Cincinnati put notes in my travel confirmation, so there would be no fees or problems with customs coming or going from the USA. What a relief that was when I got to the airport, his kindness actually made me cry.
The swing seats were a HUGE hit. The kids didn't know what to do at first, so we taught them how to swing and the smiles on their faces said it all. You can see that from the pictures. Imagine if all you ever knew was to sit on a chain and supposedly use that as a swing... and someone actually giving you a seat to make it comfortable. All of the sudden, rather than having something uncomfortable to sit on, you were flying through the sky on what seemed like a magic carpet. It must have been  amazing for those children. Gavin has asked me to send 4 more seats.
Sheila and Kathy both spent at least $100 each for items needed at the creche, including food, crayons, paper, rubber balls, and plastic dishes. It was beautiful to see the reaction of the care givers to each item given, and the children playing on the property with the balls and swing set.
Gavin and Bridget Dickson, Hluhluwe River Lodge
Robin, with Maria, at the Mpumelelo Day Care Centre
As I mentioned earlier, the kids are
craving human contact. So I was teaching them how to hit their hand against mine (Patty cake, sort of). High five, low five, too slow five. When I did the low five, too slow and my hand got away before they could hit it, they would laugh. It was so funny. And it just touches me to think how they all spoke Zulu and
we spoke English, and yet it wasn't an issue.
Robin, with children, at Mpumelelo Day Care Centre
That was such a rewarding day, teaching the kids how to play catch with the balls (they resisted when we first gave them the ball. It was as if they were saying "you just gave this to me, why are you taking it away?" Until they realized, we were going to give it back. These kids are learning what it is like to have their first toy at the age of 5 or so, which just doesn't happen in America or other parts of the world.
Some of the children were eating with their fingers
(the creche didn't have enough teaspoons for everyone when we arrived).
So we purchased enough spoons for everyone.
And the kids that didn't know how to eat with anything other than their tiny fingers, we taught them how to eat. Well, I don't eat meat, so I was just showing them how to put the food on the spoon and in their mouths, without actually putting it in my own.
Again, it was a fun exercise and it probably changed the course of their lives. I'm not sure if they will continue to eat with silverware or not, it might be part of their culture to just eat with their hands. But we tried...
 The game drives were wonderful, I was happy to see the animals in the wild again.
The needs are so vast, it is like nothing you have ever seen in America.
What is most important to me, is to share with the rest of the world how much desperate need there is, in a country that is so incredibly corrupt.
Robin with child at Senzolkuhle
Please read about the needs of the children in South Africa. You can help!
Mpumelelo Day Care Centre - Windmill Park - Boksburg Squatter Area
Robin,
Thank you for sharing the stories and needs of the children of South Africa!
Thank you for sharing your time, generosity, and heart! Stories From The Field
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