I have had the most amazing summer of my life, I was lucky enough to go to South Africa for 5 weeks with my university.
I spent 4 of those weeks volunteering in an incredible orphanage in Durban and the last week having fun in the Cape.
The orphanage I volunteered in was a unit for 0-18 year olds it was split into two departments, the baby unit 0-6 years and then the elder kids lived in age organised self contained cottages. I worked with the baby unit in the mornings and the cottages in the afternoons.
The mornings were always jam-packed with crazy children, jumping on the trampoline and being used as a human climbing frame... tiring to say the least but we created priceless memories!
During the children's nap time we painted the little tots outside play area with lots of fun and stimulating pictures, we also helped clean the activity centre. We got the opportunity to help with the preparation of the children's medication, this was something that became very close to my heart, there were a lot of sick children and they take a lot of medicine it was quite difficult to see, especially when you create such strong emotional bonds with the kids.
On the first day we all decided on what age group we wanted to help with when at the cottages, I chose the middle aged girls,11-16. Each day we did a range of activities including helping them with their homework... it was heartbreaking to see such beautifully talented kids failing school because they just don't have the kind of support or equipment necessary to keep up. Don't get me wrong the Aunties (carers) do their best to help them, but the majority are actually in a worse off position than the children education wise.
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| After the water balloon fight... I lost |
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| A few Presents that the money I had donated helped to buy! |
There were days that were consumed by homework, trying to juggle 9 sets of different homework all at different levels was a challenge, however we had a lot of aswel, enjoying activities such as baking (BIG FAVOURITE), water balloon fights, face paints, bracelet making and much more. My personal favourite was when the girls taught me the dances and songs that they loved there was A LOT of Justin Bieber.
Down time became challenge myself time, I chucked myself out of a plane and ran off the edge of a mountain. In between that I tried an oyster, climbed Table Mountain, visited the only country within a country Lesotho or Cow country as I like to call it, too many cows too many many cows, went to Robben Island, lay on the beach (paley), stroked a Cheetah, visited the penguins, partied and thoroughly enjoyed myself!!
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| Skydiving |
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| Paragliding |
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| Excuse the face I had just climbed Table mountain |
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| The View from the top AMAZING!! |
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| Cheeeeetahhhhsssssss took around 15 minutes to get this photo one very lively cat |
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| Penguin Beach |
I really have had the best summer of my life and there is a lot of people who I need to thank for getting me there and who made it the experience it was.
The donated money I received was spent on things that the orphanage needed, it helped pay for medicine, medical equipment, their Christmas dinner, homework supplies, games, painting supplies and the biggest hit of all KFC night. Yep KFC for 60 children... they loved it!!
The donated money I received was spent on things that the orphanage needed, it helped pay for medicine, medical equipment, their Christmas dinner, homework supplies, games, painting supplies and the biggest hit of all KFC night. Yep KFC for 60 children... they loved it!!
So here's a MASSIVE thank you!!
Lots and Lots of Love to everyone
Hayley xxx
