How long is long enough?

Recently one of the caregivers in a family we have been working with since 2007 approached her Family Facilitator and LETCEE's Community Development Facilitator and thanked them for the input they have given her and her family over the past 2 1/2 years. She went on to tell them that she feels her family is able to care for themselves and believes that LETCEE should move on to help another family just like they have helped her.

WOW! What an encouragement!!! It is encounters like these that remind me why we push through many difficulties and continue to walk alongside families and communities as they rediscover hope and begin to run with the many resources they already have.

It's stories like this that make me smile...

The road lies that lies ahead...

Last week I had the opportunity to drive some of our training team to Nquthu to do some visits and assessments for training which we have done in the area, for the Aids Foundation.
It was really good to be back in the field. Doing home visits instead of pre-schools and sites, reminded me of some different aspects of the work we do- particularly the poverty, extreme conditions which people live in and the incredible hunger for education.

Driving to one of the households, we picked up the Community Motivator to save her walking the +-8km to get to there. I asked her to direct me- which she did... until I came to a halt- not seeing a road in front of me, but rather long grass.

My question was "where to now" - her reply "just go straight"
I laughed- but realised she was serious.... she said she thought there was a road underneath the grass- but not many cars go on it.
Saying a little prayer and hoping that I wasn't about to put the work vehicle in jepordy, we slowly moved forward. Arriving at our destination- I realised that I had just been taught a great lesson, an analogy for our work in the ECD sector...

sometimes we have a desired outcome- but aren't sure how to get there. sometimes we need to step out in faith and 'make our own road' - it might be that we are going where few have gone before, or perhaps revisiting an old path... but if we don't try- we would never know. Perhaps, if we are daring enough to set a new path, others might follow.

It was wonderful to visit the various households and see home based ECD in action, and the difference it's already making in the children's lives. We have been priviledged to train the 15 Community Motivators, as the Aids foundation start a project based on our Siyabathanda Abantwana model which was researched, written up, and been given best practice status by UNICEF.

All you need is love...

An experience today left me with the lyrics from the Beatles song, "All You Need is Love" echoing in my mind.

Today we had the privilege of taking one of our funders into the community to visit a family involved in the Sikhulakahle programme. When we were standing outside waiting for the mornings activities to begin, one of the children (he is almost 3 years old) came and stood next to me and grabbed a hold of my hand. He did not want to join the others this particular morning and climbed up onto my lap. Upon being asked whether he would like to play he simply said no and was quite happy to sit quietly. This little boy today just needed some love and attention.

This incident again reminded me of how important our Family Facilitators work is. Many of the children we work with do not live with their parents and their caregivers are burdened with caring for many children with minimal resources. The visit by the Family Facilitator provides these children with a couple of hours with an adult who sees the children as their main priority and provides them with love and care that they so desperately need.

One does not need unlimited resources, fancy toys or a lot of money to make a difference in another persons' life. Time, attention and a willingness to give of yourself to another...so, All You Need is Love.