Saturday 18 May 2019

One Daily Positive - Week 20 South Africa

I'm back in South Africa for 10 days, our former home of 4 years, before moving to Dubai. We made lifelong friends when we were here and I go back to visit once or twice a year.

I'm staying with 3 friends and their families this week, with use of a car so I can get out and about during the day.

When we lived there, I was involved in working with several charities, although I have no direct link with these charities anymore I do support the work my friends do throughout the year. I work behind the scenes online to help out, raise funds and when I'm visiting I get involved hands on in with a Christmas box initiative and visit facilities in townships to support education.

You can read about my last visit in December by clicking here.

132 Sunday Landed in Johannesburg around 5.30am, had 5 hours sleep on the flight, got changed, had coffee, sorted out local sim card. Collected by my friend, back to hers for a natter, wine, food, then over to Pretoria to the family I'm staying with while I'm here, another friend came over for the evening.

133 Monday Woke at 6.30am to the sound of the hadedah's, they're the size of a chicken and sound like someone is being murdered. Spent the morning washing teddy bears that were left over from a flamingo project that you can read about here. Took myself off for a walk, had coffee, spent time in the garden reading and blogging.
These are Jacaranda trees and in Autumn they turn purple.

134 Tuesday Visited the Irene Mall and had lunch with a friend then off to Rietvlei Nature Reserve for a mini self drive safari.

135 Wednesday Off to Menlyn Mall for the day, some shopping, walking around and coffee. Spent the afternoon sweeping out the storage unit, sorting through donations since I was there last in December and flattening boxes.

136 Thursday Met a friend for breakfast with her mother and baby. Spent the afternoon typing up name lists for the Christmas gift website and off to Ridgebacks for dinner and jam jars with friends.

137 Friday Visited Brooklyn Mall, in Pretoria, then back to the storage unit to finish cleaning it up. Was collected by my friend to spend the weekend at hers.
This is Grace, she's 4 years younger than Bob, but rescued from the same area, she has to be related.

138 Saturday Up early and off to a rural town in North Pretoria to deliver rape care kits. These kits aren't for women who have been raped, but for when they get raped. Statistically 1 in 3 women will or have been raped in South Africa with around 150 cases reported daily, many don't report for fear of reprisals. On a lighter note the afternoon was spent at Hartbeesport markets and lunch out.

On the blog this week:

How the Mike Bolhuis Flamingo Project is supporting orphans in South Africa

Safety and Security differences between Dubai and the UK


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20 comments:

  1. It looks like you have been having a lovely time back in South Africa and sounds like you've been kept busy.
    I love the photos with the jam jars. Once I drank cocktails from them on a night out, never again! I was a tad drunk.
    Oh gosh! Those rape care kits. :( That is so sad. What a scary statistic!

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    1. I had a fantastic trip, I can drink jam jars till the cows come home

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  2. It looks like you're having a brilliant time in South Africa, but I'm in awe of how hard you work for the charities. Even clearing out the storage unit looks like hard work! Those rape kits are heartbreaking. I can't get my head round a culture where the rape statistics are so high. What is wrong with men who clearly think it is perfectly fine?!
    Grace the dog looks lovely and looks so much like Bob!

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    1. Grace and Bob have to be related. The charity work is hot and hard work, but so rewarding to feel i've contributed something

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  3. I know that South Africa holds a special place in your heart. It's lovely to stay with your friends and catch up on the latest developments. I've never heard a hadedah, will google it.
    Grace looks very much like Bob.
    Those rape kits are chilling, the rape stats are horrible. It's scary to be a woman in a culture like that.

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  4. sounds like you are having a fun and productive week. The world is a better place because of kind caring people like you.
    Do those boxes have donations in them?
    The rape kits are a horrible thing for people to need but 1 in 2 being raped is a horrible statistic. How are they distributed? Disgusting many are not reported, but then with that amount of woman reporting it daily I don't suppose many rapist get caught or jailed. Sadly the men need educating to learn rape is not all right.

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    1. Thank you Elaine, yes it's so sad that rape is just a part of life there, imagine how many rapes aren't reported

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  5. I love seeing the South African Suzanne, running around like a dervish doing good deeds. It's lovely to have made those friendships and sustain them wherever you go. Those are my kind of jam jars!! #365

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    1. Thank you Mary, I feel very lucky to have so many good friends

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  6. It certainly sounds like you have been brilliant at helping out a number of charities. #365

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    1. yes I did and I'll be back in november for some more

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  7. It looks like you have been having a lovely time back in South Africa. I love the photos with the jars they are gorgeous. Those rape care kits. That is so sad. x

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    1. Yes so very sad Susan. But apart from the sadness it is great to feel like I've something of importance to contribute

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  8. I have always wanted to visit South Africa. It sounds like you are doing a lot of great work while you are there. Looks like a good night out with the jam jars. Hope you enjoyed your last few days x

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    1. you really must visit at least once in your life, such a beautiful country

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  9. Those trees must look amazing in Autumn.

    So sad that those rape kits are needed. But good on your for your work in delivering them. Those statistics are horrible.

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    1. you're correct, it's frightening the level of rapes that occur and there are so many more that just don't get reported

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  10. I have a family member in SA who was raped. Although nothing can make it better, the care sets make a real difference but society needs to do more to protect women. #project365

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