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October 15, 2004 posting, by Tim
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| Moving Boulder to Dam. |
Our work remains focused on construction of the community centre. Having now
worked with several crews, I can say that it is a joy and an honor to be among
the people of Ndawana. Occasionally I have to correct someone when I'm addressed
as "Sir" or "Master." The roots of apartheid are deep and
we have the opportunity and responsibility to show great respect to these people
who were so unspeakably oppressed for many decades.
Much has happened since the last update. Here are the details: We've worked
hard to cover and protect our 32,000 bundles of thatch before the spring
rains come. (It seems the August winds came in late-September and they blew
our first cover sky-high. Lessons learned, and the thatch is now well protected.)
Eucalyptus (gum) poles have been transported to the village and are now being
treated to protect against insects. Topsoil at the site has been removed
and excavation has begun. We will start pouring the foundation soon using
sand and gravel from sources in the village. The dam is complete and the
pipe has been trenched to the site. Within a week we should have the pump,
generator and water tank installed and functioning. Our (red!) tractor has
been purchased and delivered to the village, and just yesterday we took possession
of our new block-making machine. It will create inter-locking blocks that
will form the walls of the community centre.
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| Hydroform Block-making Machine. |
There is so much excitement in the village and Chief Zala (jokingly)
says he has high blood pressure because he is so excited about the
centre. The number of people Edzimkulu has employed in the village
is well over 200. The desperate need for jobs is clearly evident.
While community centre work proceeds, we also continue our census of the village.
We are finding that a typical family might look like this: Three adults and
five children in the household. Family income of R600 (about $120) per month
from the Father's temporary work at nearby farms. Monthly expenses of R500
($100) for food and R240 ($48) for firewood, or a total of R740 ($148) per
month. Annual expenses include R600 for school uniforms, R720 for school
fees and R700 for health clinic visits, medicine and transport. In Canadian
dollars, the family earns $1,440 annually and spends $2,180, so ultimately
many people can’t afford school for their children, or health care.
The family is eligible to receive a child support grant (R170 per month)
for four of the five children, yet they receive nothing because the children
don't have birth certificates (which are needed to apply for the grant).
Many families are unaware of the grants or lack the documents or means to
apply for them. We look forward to assisting families to get the official
documents they need and the government grants they are entitled to. Aside
from AIDS, there are many other family tragedies. Recently, two sisters in
a group of five children were struck by lightning while walking together.
Sadly, one died.
While working with a crew to cover the thatch I talked with Mdingy, a villager
who can speak relatively good English. Most native South Africans have both
African and English names. (They were "given" English names because
the white people had difficulty pronouncing the African names.) Each African
name has a meaning, and Mdingy tells me that his name means "person
with very little." He says that he is poor. I ask him "Are you
poor, yet happy?" He says, "Yes, I think that I can say." We
have so much to learn from the people of Ndawana.
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