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September 20, 2006 posting

Busisiwe, Zanele and Matukiso arrival

To see photos of the visit to Canada of our friends from Ndawana, click here.

Summer 2006 marks the culmination of a dream. Since the beginning, Chris and Jim Newton have had a vision for Edzimkulu, and a great sense that what sits in the realm of possibility is much, much more than what would be described by words like "assistance," "aid" or even "compassion." To them, the essense of the project could be described with words more like "growth," "mutuality," "exchange" and "sharing." It's about two communities ignited to make the whole world a better place by creating more joy within the hearts of people.

The Edzimkulu team in Ndawana is comprised of six people from the village and any Canadian volunteers who are there to contribute. On July 7th, 2006, three long-time team members from Ndawana set foot on Canadian soil for the first time. Zanele Mhkwanazi, Matukiso Mahlaodi and Busisiwe Duma were in Edmonton and area for five weeks and then attended the AIDS 2006 international conference in Toronto before returning home to Ndawana.

While we "Canadians" are always warmly welcomed into the homes of people in Ndawana, it is only appropriate that we reciprocate here. Sure, this trip was a wonderful opportunity for the women to experience our culture and landscape, but it also fulfills Chris's dream to show them our homes.

The women's time here was filled with:

• events and activities to help raise Edzimkulu awareness (e.g. presentations at Rotary Club meetings, Edzimkulu's AGM, media interviews, etc.)
• learning opportunities (e.g. various workshops, tour of HIV Edmonton, etc.)
• community gatherings to meet and share with people here
• recreation (e.g. WEM, trip to mountains, shopping, etc.)

Prior to coming to Canada, the women had not left South Africa and some had very little exposure to life outside their village. We acknowledge the great courage they had to make the journey here. We continue to learn from them and their people and remain grateful that Edzimkulu has brought our two communities together.

Women speak and sing at community gathering

We extent a heartfelt thank-you to all who helped make the women's visit a success. Thank-you to the hosts, to those who helped plan and coordinate the visit, to those who opened their homes to welcome the women, to those who hosted events and accompanied them to see and experience new things. Thank-you to Lark Clark and the members of Juba for inviting them to sing, and to Terry Wickham for arranging for them to perform at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Thank-you to those who conducted and participated in the various workshops, in particular:

• Palliative care workshop: Dr. Fainsinger, Gary Frank, the staffs of the Grey Nuns Palliative Care Unit, Kairos House (HIV Hospice), Norwood Hospice, South Palliative Home Care, Edmonton General Hospice, St. Joseph's Hospice and the University of Alberta Hospital
• Felting workship: Carla Costuros
• Peri-natal workshop: Kathleen Paton
• Womens writing workshop: Eunice Scarfe

A special thank-you, also, to Doctor William Sharun and his dental team, members of Kindness in Action. Zanele, Busisiwe and Matukiso were treated to their first ever visit to the dentist and were well cared for by Dr. Sharun, Joyce Acheson, Brandy Morrow and Brenda Nobles.

Edmonton and area is truly a warm community with a loving spirit. Thank-you.

We include here, also, words of thanks from the women and Executive Directors Jim and Chris Newton.

Letter from Matukiso and Busisiwe here.

Letter from Zanele here.

Letter from Jim and Chris Newton here.

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