Welcome friends to Books for South Africa
My name is Dorothy Kennett and I live in Bloomington, Illinois, USA. Since early 2005 I have been in South Africa working as a volunteer at a facility for children called God's Golden Acre which is located on the eastern shore of the country near the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzberg. One of my main projects and interests is to help establish a Library for the 90 or so children here who desperately need a chance to learn. Many of my friends have helped and are helping with donations, etc. And progress is being made.
I hope this blog will help me communicate my experiences here so that all of you who are interested can share in understanding. Feel free to contact me... address is below.
Where I am: Cato Ridge is a village half way between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, cities on the East Coast of South Africa. This is a rural area. I arrived April 19th and will be leaving on the 16th of November. The children live here in a cluster of homes which has a name Khayelihle (pronounced, Ka leek lay). If we could "click" like they do in the language used here, the click sound would be in the "leek" part. Try it! It means "My beautiful home."
About Ninety needy children live right here. Those old enough are transported to schools daily in various locations. They have been the victims of many things. Most are orphans, although some have a living parent in the vicinity without the means to keep all of their children.
They are absolutely beautiful children. They have wonderful smiles, come in all shapes, colors and sizes like most kids, and are much healthier than I imagined they would be. Their ages are somewhere between 3 months and 18 years. Most days when they are dressed in old jeans and tee shirts you could not tell them from a group of black American children. Especially the teenagers.
Except for the uniforms they wear to school, their clothes are really worn out, shabby and ill matched. Most children are here because their parents have either died or are ill with AIDS. Some have experienced other forms of abuse and were placed here for their protection. All of them have undergone amazing trauma and sadness. I have heard of cases in the valley where a GoGo (granny) is trying to take care of 8-10 grandchildren alone on no income.
Although GGA has a food delivery outreach program for these families (rice, beans, mealie meal (corn), canned fish, cooking oil.), life is not easy here. I've heard it said that the AIDS percentage in this province among 18-40 year olds is about 35 to 45% and that whole generations of some families have been wiped out. So sad.
My purpose with these posts is to document my experiences in an organized fashion for all who are interested. And, yes, I also want to encourage your donations to help in this effort. Money donations work best but some have also sent packages of used paperback books for children which have been very much appreciated. People need to know though that they are expensive to send, take a long time, and usually I have to pay some duty of this end when they arrive.
The money I get now is being used to help furnish the homework/afterschool room, and to help Majola, one of our residents, go to Junior high and High school next year at Bethel Christian Academy in Pietermaritzburg.
I hope you will monitor this blog as I add further posts and some pictures to describe life here at God's Golden Acre.
Donations of money are being forwarded to me through my husband, Bob. Those wishing to help this effort can send donation to me via. Bob at:
Bob Kennett
2002 E.Washington Steet,
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
To contact Bob call: 309.662.2277 or 309.662.1571.
Bob will then forward your donations to me where they will be used to help improve the lives of these wonderful children who are so in need. THANKS
My email address is: dkenne2@ilstu.edu
My mail address is:
GGA - Dorothy Kennett
P.O. Box 331Cato Ridge, 3680
Kwa Zulu-Natal,
Republic of South Africa
I hope this blog will help me communicate my experiences here so that all of you who are interested can share in understanding. Feel free to contact me... address is below.
Where I am: Cato Ridge is a village half way between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, cities on the East Coast of South Africa. This is a rural area. I arrived April 19th and will be leaving on the 16th of November. The children live here in a cluster of homes which has a name Khayelihle (pronounced, Ka leek lay). If we could "click" like they do in the language used here, the click sound would be in the "leek" part. Try it! It means "My beautiful home."
About Ninety needy children live right here. Those old enough are transported to schools daily in various locations. They have been the victims of many things. Most are orphans, although some have a living parent in the vicinity without the means to keep all of their children.
They are absolutely beautiful children. They have wonderful smiles, come in all shapes, colors and sizes like most kids, and are much healthier than I imagined they would be. Their ages are somewhere between 3 months and 18 years. Most days when they are dressed in old jeans and tee shirts you could not tell them from a group of black American children. Especially the teenagers.
Except for the uniforms they wear to school, their clothes are really worn out, shabby and ill matched. Most children are here because their parents have either died or are ill with AIDS. Some have experienced other forms of abuse and were placed here for their protection. All of them have undergone amazing trauma and sadness. I have heard of cases in the valley where a GoGo (granny) is trying to take care of 8-10 grandchildren alone on no income.
Although GGA has a food delivery outreach program for these families (rice, beans, mealie meal (corn), canned fish, cooking oil.), life is not easy here. I've heard it said that the AIDS percentage in this province among 18-40 year olds is about 35 to 45% and that whole generations of some families have been wiped out. So sad.
My purpose with these posts is to document my experiences in an organized fashion for all who are interested. And, yes, I also want to encourage your donations to help in this effort. Money donations work best but some have also sent packages of used paperback books for children which have been very much appreciated. People need to know though that they are expensive to send, take a long time, and usually I have to pay some duty of this end when they arrive.
The money I get now is being used to help furnish the homework/afterschool room, and to help Majola, one of our residents, go to Junior high and High school next year at Bethel Christian Academy in Pietermaritzburg.
I hope you will monitor this blog as I add further posts and some pictures to describe life here at God's Golden Acre.
Donations of money are being forwarded to me through my husband, Bob. Those wishing to help this effort can send donation to me via. Bob at:
Bob Kennett
2002 E.Washington Steet,
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
To contact Bob call: 309.662.2277 or 309.662.1571.
Bob will then forward your donations to me where they will be used to help improve the lives of these wonderful children who are so in need. THANKS
My email address is: dkenne2@ilstu.edu
My mail address is:
GGA - Dorothy Kennett
P.O. Box 331Cato Ridge, 3680
Kwa Zulu-Natal,
Republic of South Africa
posted by Dorothy Kennett | 1:10 PM
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