Nkomazi East Blogs 2008

Blog 1

Blog No.1 - Nkomazi east

On the day Nelson Mandela turned 90 the twelve Nkomazi East

volunteers arrived in Johannesburg for the start of their volunteer

placement in the Rainbow Nation. The Nkomazi area is in the border

region of Mpumalanga province, situated to the east within striking

distance of Mozambique, Swaziland and the Kruger national park.

Our placement schools are in Block C and Naas, a township conurbation

half an hour’s drive away from the Spice of life hostel in

Komatipoort. Our first week in Mpumalanga was focused on training and

getting to know each other. In particular there was a focus on

Tenteleni’s aims and values and developing useful skills that will be

applicable when assisting inschools.

For the few first days we were fully occupied by the action Adventure

team. Divided into The “Baboonas” and “Yebo gogo” (yes grandma!) we

played a series of logic, team building, athletic and local

children’s games. Whilst we all learnt to co-operate there was a

substantial amount of friendly competition going on. Particularly

when it came to perfecting the team war cries! As a “Yebo Gogoite”

for a life, I am positive we just edged it!

The Spice of Life hostel is just off the N4, the main highway

connecting Mozambique and Johannesburg. It is run by Kam, Yolandi and

Josh their little tear away two year old, who is absolutely delighted

to have gained 14 new playmates. Out in the expansive grounds lives

Uncle Dave and Rob, two semi- permanent residents. Dave the senior

figure in the Hostel is a useful fountain knowledge for life in

Southern Africa having lived in South Africa, Swaziland and

Mozambique. Having friends on the border point just two kilometershe

is also a handy ally to have. Rob, unlike Dave has a rather

surprising accent. Upon meeting him I was expecting him to have a

gruff Afrikaner accent only to be greeted by a soft South- West

accent. Sensibly Rob escapes England for warmer climes for a couple

of months every year.

The most significant day of week one was the teacher observation day

on Wednesday. This was the first time that we visited the township

and had the opportunity to see our schools and meet our various new

colleagues and learners. We were picked up by Temba in his beats

machine, a white Kombi which will be our transport throughout the

placement. With Afro beats blaring we shot off. Left off the N4, past

the border ridge, along the Koomati river and out into the fertile

plains beyond. As we headed towards Naas farm laborers were already

at work in the Sugar cane and Banana plantations. For those of us who

had never ventured into a township before the whole experience was a

massive culture shock. It proved to be both daunting and

exhilarating.

For the first time since we had arrived in South Africa we were truly

exposed to the reality of the task ahead.

Another significant highlight of the training period was going to

Onderberg Lodge on Friday, the home of the closest Tenteleni project,

Matsulu. As well as accommodating 16 other volunteers it is also home

to three tame resident zebra, the youngest of which is just a couple

of days old. For the days training we were joined by Pienaar and

Kanyamazane for a series of talks by other NGO’s and the education

board. It was good to meet up with the other volunteers, exchange

training week stories and best of all try out the zip wire.

On the weekend we have our own time for relaxation and exploration.

As Kruger is only 20 minutes away we spent our first free weekend on

Safari with Temba and Uncle Dave. An amazing experience before the

real work began!

 

Blog 2

Blog 2. For Nkomazi East

Four weeks into the project and the Mpumalanga sugar harvest is

getting into full swing. As we make our way to school gangs of

workers are already busy slashing down great swathes of cane. This is

in turn taken to the TSB factory, a major source of employment for

Block C/Naas. As harvest gets going all of us at Nkomazi seem to

beginning to get into the routine of life at our various schools.

The typical school day begins with a half five wake-up call, usually

by an alarm clock though Josh often lends a helping hand. After

breakfast and showers Themba picks us up at 6.20 to be at our various

schools for seven.

Emma and I are the first to be dropped off, at Mgubho Combined

School. After initial customary greetings, “Sowubona?”, “Yebo” and

“Unjani?” the entire teaching staff gather to sing. Maria a senior

matriarch of the school will spark up the opening chord of a siSwati

hymn. Soon all the teachers are responding in perfect harmony. Every

morning without fail this proves to be a truly uplifting start to the

day. A vastly different experience to anything I have witnessed in a

British staff room. I often amuse myself picturing British teachers,

who I met on work experience, having an early morning sing-song.

After hymns and staff announcements the children gather for assembly.

At half seven the school day begins in earnest. By now each volunteer

has identified which teachers they would most benefit from working

alongside. At Mgubho during the day I have tended to work with the

Social Science department helping to prepare activities for children

in their History and Geography lessons. As native English speakers

many of us have been heavily involved in taking language lessons.

However one problem that we have encountered is that British accents

often make it harder for the children to understand what has been

said. Nonetheless, across the board we have also been able to

concentrate in areas where we have the most skill or interest. Dave

at Tindzaleni has gained quite a reputation in science - particularly

with his gizzard demonstration - and Laura and Nic are honing the

children’s more creative talents, working more in drama and art.

Lunch is served early at 10.30. It tends to be Pap and chicken leg.

Pap is maize porridge, a staple carbohydrate for much of southern

Africa. Though not offensive on the palate a huge white mass of bland

can often be a daunting task at such a time in the morning. Just as

the day is at it hottest school finishes at 1.15. The volunteers have

a window between lessons finishing and Themba arriving to run after

school clubs, help with sports or just generally chat with the

children. Additional meetings aside we tend to back at Spice of Life

some time around two thirty giving us a chance to chill out before

preparing for tomorrows lessons and cooking the communal evening

meal.

 

Blog 3 

September and spring is here. Formerly mild Mpumalanga is now sweltering and the last lessons of the day are increasingly arduous for volunteers and learners alike. The heat makes our work load all that harder and with only two weeks to go we are beginning to take the strain.
 

In our previous six weeks we have been working hard in school, assisting in lessons and running after school clubs. On the 28th of August Tenteleni hosted its annual sports day, running both soccer and netball tournaments in tandem. It was a highly successful event and after a number of close encounters and spirited comebacks Mgubho came out the winners in soccer whilst Tindzaleni triumphed in Netball. Nonetheless, despite all our hard work more must be done in the final stages before we leave on the 12th.  We are still to host the Arts and Culture Festival, which will be held in the township’s central plaza, and assist the external speakers who are coming in to talk to learners of Mgubho and Zamakukhle combined schools.
 

Our time at school has been tough but interspersed with numerous moments of joy and deep satisfaction. Whether it is listening to the staff and pupils sing or witnessing that moment when something clicks in a child’s mind, we very rarely come back to Spice without something positive to take from the day. However a week at school can be exhausting and progress can be slow. Each Friday we are all ready for a chance to unwind and explore a bit more of Mpumalanga, “The Place where the sunrises” and its immediate neighbours.
 

At Nkomazi East we are blessed with a number of major attractions within easy reach, most notably the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Our first weekend was spent exploring its most southerly extremities. Guided by “Uncle Dave” and chauffeured by the ever suffering Themba we entered the Crocodile Bridge gate at dawn and headed north. Within a few hundred meters of entering park we had our first sighting, a white Rhino, appearing black against the early morning horizon. Our good luck was repeated throughout much of the day and we left having seen and photographed four of the “big five”, the leopard seemingly one of the more reclusive animals in the park.
 

At the end of week five we also visited Mpumalanga’s Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window both situated to the north of the province. This weekend turned out to provide some of the group’s most surreal moments. At our first kombi stop we came across a BBC film crew who were keen to find out our opinions on South Africa. Naturally being the quiet camera shy type Laura readily agreed. After a lengthy interview we were asked to sum up an immensely contrasting and confusing country in a few words. No problem… “Shap Shap!!!”
Nor was that the end of our group’s notoriety, at the Potholes we were confronted by a school trip of South African teenagers. They were armed with cameras and determined to get a souvenir photo with the umlungus. Again, we obliged and as I write my image will be being shown to family, friends and possibly randomers in Limpopo. When in Africa…!
 

As well as travelling within South Africa we also had a chance to further add to our passport stamps with trips into Mozambique and Swaziland. A personal highlight of my time away was the weekend away in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital. Though less than 100km from the South African border the differences between the two countries are pronounced. The legacy of colonisation by the Portuguese and the subsequent two decades of civil war have helped to shape the country’s Latin outlook, leaving them with the envious ability to savour life. Maputo though falling apart at the seams is a place with immense charm. Dilapidated concrete apartment blocks and old colonial mansions line the broad avenues. Whilst downtown the cracked pavement is home to the buzz of street traders selling fish and fresh fruit.
 

Southern Africa truly is a place of wonder with so much variety within such short spaces. Many of us were so sold by Mozambique that we have decided to travel back after the end of the project.