It’s Green Outside and Things are Lookin’ Good
Posted by Saul Garlick, Executive Director
I got out to South Africa on Saturday with our team of Global Development Ambassadors. It’s been a whirlwind of exciting development and progress. The group arrive to the Uta community on Sunday where we saw a remarkable new structure, complete with a beautiful red roof at the site of the new health clinic that will serve 50,000 people! The clinic, built by our partner The Buffelshoek Trust, who is working closely with the Mpumalanga, Department of Health, have devised a plan that will ensure at least 160 people every day (likely much more!) will receive high quality medical care for their HIV/AIDS, bone fractures, diabetes and other need. Accompanied by the clinic will be an outstanding outreach program to educate the community on this new resource that they have been dreaming of for decades.On Monday we met with DreamFields director John Perlman and area Sports Coordintor, Ralph to visit sites for future soccer fields (picture to all of this are forthcoming) in Hluvukani and Welverdiend. We are delighted that are partners are answering the pressing need to build community spaces that provide pride and support to local youth.
We enjoyed visits that afternoon to Mahlathi Primary school, where we visited a well worn library and met with the acting principal there named Winnie. More action followed, when we went to Samson Sibuyi Primary School in Makrepeni and the Community Center in the village. We saw dozens of children in the courtyard, a tank full of water from the rainwater catchment system built by Michael Oyler during last year’s GDI, and an agriculture project on the grounds.
We visited Shiviti Primary School where children were, by the dozens, reading from books in the Jackie Craven Library SMRC helped build with the local community. We met with folks at the Bakery project and explored possible product diversification as well as discussed future market opportunities. Currently, hundreds of loafs of bread are made and sold in that bakery, but they are just getting started. The work here is remarkably exciting, and that is only a small taste of what is going on. We will share more when we are back in the states. Get ready to see pictures, videos, and more!
