Taking things to a new level!

This past week was an exciting one for the training team, we started our brand new Level 5 group. Venturing into something new has been a daunting but positive experience for all of us!

Training at Level 5 was not an intention to begin with- however having developed a good relationship with so many women who we have trained at Level 4- they came to us asking when and whether we would consider helping them develop further. We knew that we couldn't let them down!
We decided that we would pilot a small group of 15 for 2010 in order to try the new curriculum.
The opportunity has been filled with many learning experiences for all.
We have been attending training, in order to facilitate the curriculum. This has been a good reminder of what it's like in to be back in the classroom on the receiving end!
Offering this course has also given 2 of our fieldworkers the opportunity to join, so they can further develop themselves and get a higher qualification.

The ladies left module 1 feeling challenged, yet excited about whats to come. We are all interested and looking forward to continuing the journey.

When you hit the dirt road just stop and ask for directions...

There have been many occasions whilst managing LETCEE's community projects where I have had to go out into various communities on my own to find a place I have never been to before. This is often a daunting task with a limited Zulu vocabulary, however I am always astounded at how the task is always completed.




Just this morning I had to drive out into a community I have not been to before to fetch a letter from the Inkosi's home. The directions I was given were: drive to Dalton...check, then take Fawn Leas road and drive until you hit the dirt road...check and then stop and ask someone how to get to the Inkosi's home...what?


However, yet again I stand amazed at the friendliness and helpfulness of a community who do not know myself or LETCEE. A lady who had been waiting for a meeting to start took me right to the Inkosi's house just to ensure I got there safely. These experiences always remind me to take a look around and see how I can help the people (friends or strangers) that I come in contact with everyday.

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.

Finding inspiration

Sometimes when you're feeling disheartened; a little encouragement is all you need. Sometimes you find that bit of encouragement in the strangest of places...
Whilst sitting in a waiting room, paging through a jewelry catalogue I stumbled upon this quote:

"You never stand so tall as when you kneel to help a child."

What an awesome image and how true!

At LETCEE, all our work is about helping children is one way or another - sometimes it seems difficult, complicate or overwhelming...this quote came as a reminder and inspiration- we need to remember to stand tall, believing we are making a difference to the future!

What makes you smile??

There has been some discussion in the LETCEE office as to what are the kinds of things that happen during the day or week that make one stop and smile and give a sense of, "This is why I do what I do!" Working in the education sector and in communities one often gets wrapped up in all the challenges and the 'next step', that one can become very disheartened amongst all the difficulties.

So this discussion has made me stop and ask, what has happened in the last couple of weeks that has made me smile? This reminds me of the well known story of the starfish by Loren Eisley where there is a boy on the beach who is throwing starfish back into the sea to save them. A man asks him why he is doing it because he will never be able to save them all. The boy replies, "No, but I can make a difference for this one....and this one." He says this as he continues to throw the starfish one by one back in to the sea.

Many days I feel like the man who thinks that the boys' actions are futile BUT when you can help one family access healthcare, education, documents and provide support and see how the family is transformed, then I feel like the boy who says, "No I can't save them all, but I can make a difference to this one."

So one of the things that makes me smile is to stop and think about the individual lives that I have had the privilege of being a part of and where we have been able to facilitate some kind of positive change. I am reminded once again that it is not only about the large scale impact or number of people we are reaching BUT about the sustainable changes that affect the quality of life of individuals and families.