Handing out formula to a mother and her childMother and Child ........ Triplets that Christa has been helping for some time
Mothers Lining up for soap/clothes.....more babies and mothers
Christa Counselling....
Christa Counselling....FOOOOOOOOD!
MORE FOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
FORMULA!
FORMULA!
Sister and Brother Carrying Water from the pump... Notice the trail of water.. they had to keep walking a little while down and up the hills. This is a new water meter that has been put in, but has not been turned on. They took out the old one and replaced it with this but the people cannot use it and have to walk to another pump that is a far distance from this one... New but not functional?????????
Today is Sunday, what most people call a day of rest. But to millions of people out there struggling to find food and water for their families it is anything but a day of rest. It becomes another day that is filled with hunger, another day filled with despair and sickness. It is not easy to sit here in my quiet guest house that is only less then 10 miles away from some of the worst poverty that inflicts this world. There is no welfare system here, let alone a viable excuse of why people are living in such conditions especially when you see ministers driving around in Mercedes Benzes and a second state house that could fund an entirely new health care system that would provide basic assistance to the majority of the people living in poverty here. The gold gates that guard such a place are there in vain: they represent the greed and inconsideration of the Namibian government that ignore the many social problems that plague their beautiful country. It is hard to sit here and witness what is actually happening on the ground and try to compromise it with the inactiveness of the government although the promise to try to reduce poverty and all that it entails (access to education, health care, work, water, food etc…) The misinformation rumoring around among the people who should have the exact facts straight in the first place is a travesty especially when it has to do with such life threatening issues such as access to water.
One thing that is hopeful (which is important to include) is how I have met two region council members that have close relationships with both Christa and Abigail. It is nice to know that there are some people that care and the bureaucracies that plague this government have not yet infiltrated everyone. At times, it is important to keep a professional demeanor when one is a government official, but it is also equally important to be able to sympathize with your people. If this cannot be done, one can get wrapped up in the perks that come along with such a job. That is why, I believe, that corruption is many times overlooked in this country (and in general). “I scratch your back you scratch mine.” Well, what happens when I don’t have the fingers to scratch your back?? I suppose you wouldn’t even look my way would you? So what then happens to the fingerless people of this country? They sit there and continue on with what the have, which is very little. And who is the one paying for this? The children who are suppose to have a free education (according the constitution), the mothers who can’t afford to pay the N$40 a month for their ARV treatment as well as the much needed food they need to take such meds and to stay healthy. Christa starts to pay out of pocket to keep her program alive and continues to go further into debt, while the MP drives around in their fancy car with the air conditioning on full blast never having to roll down the window to smell the urine and feces that fill the air when passing the informal settlements (if they even pass them in the first place). So when you have regional council members coming to see what is happening with such programs, it gives me a little flicker of hope that something can happen. It is good to have people on your side that can somehow have a slight influence on the policies decided from above. But, if the policy makers are content with their life then it is hard to get through to them the imperativeness of the situation, unless, if for an instance, they will step out of their comfort zone and maybe, just maybe, roll down their windows so that they can feel the reality of the situation and not continue to go through life comfortably cool.
Last week we did many things. We bought a lot of food for both programs as well as a bunch of formula for Mt. Sinai. The mission is strong and I got to see first hand the effect of Christa’s hard work and determination. The area surrounding the outside of her house was already filling up with mothers when we arrived at just before eight in the morning. Women and their children, babies as well as toddlers, lined up and waited for their files to be passed out to them. After they received their files, the children were weighed and it was recorded by the volunteers as the mothers moved forward to receive soap and clothes. After that another line was formed outside the door that entered in the house and I as well as a few other volunteers sat on Christa’s couches while the mother came, we stamped their membership cards and determined if they needed formula or a food parcel. This is when I wish that I knew all the languages of the world so that I could thoroughly talk with the mothers and see how they are doing. It is very apparent by experiencing this whole process why Christa needs an actual center. Yes it works out of her house, but if there were to be a center to go along with her mission then this wondrous program would have a center where women could go for counseling and what have you, rather than having to wait until the food and formula hand out is done so that there is a space for them and Christa to sit down and chat about any issues they are having. It is going to be a great day when there is finally a center where women can go ANY time for a safe place, for counseling, food, formula and whatever else they deem necessary-even just a place to hang out and chat with other mothers who are going through the same thing.
One thing that is hopeful (which is important to include) is how I have met two region council members that have close relationships with both Christa and Abigail. It is nice to know that there are some people that care and the bureaucracies that plague this government have not yet infiltrated everyone. At times, it is important to keep a professional demeanor when one is a government official, but it is also equally important to be able to sympathize with your people. If this cannot be done, one can get wrapped up in the perks that come along with such a job. That is why, I believe, that corruption is many times overlooked in this country (and in general). “I scratch your back you scratch mine.” Well, what happens when I don’t have the fingers to scratch your back?? I suppose you wouldn’t even look my way would you? So what then happens to the fingerless people of this country? They sit there and continue on with what the have, which is very little. And who is the one paying for this? The children who are suppose to have a free education (according the constitution), the mothers who can’t afford to pay the N$40 a month for their ARV treatment as well as the much needed food they need to take such meds and to stay healthy. Christa starts to pay out of pocket to keep her program alive and continues to go further into debt, while the MP drives around in their fancy car with the air conditioning on full blast never having to roll down the window to smell the urine and feces that fill the air when passing the informal settlements (if they even pass them in the first place). So when you have regional council members coming to see what is happening with such programs, it gives me a little flicker of hope that something can happen. It is good to have people on your side that can somehow have a slight influence on the policies decided from above. But, if the policy makers are content with their life then it is hard to get through to them the imperativeness of the situation, unless, if for an instance, they will step out of their comfort zone and maybe, just maybe, roll down their windows so that they can feel the reality of the situation and not continue to go through life comfortably cool.
Last week we did many things. We bought a lot of food for both programs as well as a bunch of formula for Mt. Sinai. The mission is strong and I got to see first hand the effect of Christa’s hard work and determination. The area surrounding the outside of her house was already filling up with mothers when we arrived at just before eight in the morning. Women and their children, babies as well as toddlers, lined up and waited for their files to be passed out to them. After they received their files, the children were weighed and it was recorded by the volunteers as the mothers moved forward to receive soap and clothes. After that another line was formed outside the door that entered in the house and I as well as a few other volunteers sat on Christa’s couches while the mother came, we stamped their membership cards and determined if they needed formula or a food parcel. This is when I wish that I knew all the languages of the world so that I could thoroughly talk with the mothers and see how they are doing. It is very apparent by experiencing this whole process why Christa needs an actual center. Yes it works out of her house, but if there were to be a center to go along with her mission then this wondrous program would have a center where women could go for counseling and what have you, rather than having to wait until the food and formula hand out is done so that there is a space for them and Christa to sit down and chat about any issues they are having. It is going to be a great day when there is finally a center where women can go ANY time for a safe place, for counseling, food, formula and whatever else they deem necessary-even just a place to hang out and chat with other mothers who are going through the same thing.
Today Monday, we will be going out into the settlments to wrap up our family interviews. After that we will determine who needs uniforms and school fees as well as food parcels and water cards (that is if we even get them!!). We will be buying these things this week.
I am very grateful for the continuation of donations pouring in,especially from friends of mine who should be focused on being able to survive themselves in the US when there is no afforable healthcare or benefits out there for recent college graduates! So thank you to those that continue to give, it means a lot not only to me but to the children and families that are benefitting.
we have one week left here and we are going to do as much as possible and everything we have been wanting to do but haven't gotten to yet in terms of places to go.
Cape town is going to be beautiful, but the bus ride there isn't.. hehe.. Hopefully we will get a good spot on the bus so we can rest and be ready to roll!
More to come on the week as it goes by!
Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the sunshine!
Take care!
Much love to all,
Mary
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