It was with mixed feelings that I returned to work on the Thoughtful Path project after the Christmas break. I was re-energised by the time off, and looking forward to coming back and working with people again, capitalising on the momentum we have created with the Tshepo festival. However, I'm acutely aware of time running out, with just 7 weeks (now 6) left before I end my assignment, and lots to accomplish before then. These time constraints only apply to me and Michelle so our first challenge is going to be motivating people and moving things along a bit quicker than on just regular African time.
The second challenge is to ensure everything we set up can continue after we leave. I'm especially conscious of this for two of my major priority projects: the Connecting Continents Schools Exchange programme and the Youth Voice Journalism Academy. The former has started with kids' writing pen pal letters to their peers in UK and US. Reading the Grade 6 letters from Munsieville has really reinforced the need for the Thoughtful Path project, as amongst the normal likes and dislikes of a 12 year old, you find them confronting issues of rape, violence and alcohol-abuse from adults in their daily lives. The journalism project is going from strength to strength and some of the films and newsletters already produced are truly inspirational. We now need to build this into a longer-term project and have a film event planned for the end of this month to showcase their work and recruit new members.
For our first full week back, we've had an amazing number of early successes. Solomon, one of the young journalists, started an internship this week, working at Highveld, the radio station we visited in November. After his first day, he impressed them so much, they have offered him a permanent job! So this is at least one person I can say I have helped lift up, even a small bit. Michelle's 5000+ books collected by her daughter and friends in Arizona have set off, kindly shipped by a company called Courier IT at no charge. Michelle is also leading on Project HOPE UK's first fundraiser on African soil, on March 3rd at the Silverstar casino. It's really nice to see that some of the relationships we have been nurturing with corporates are really starting to pay off, as tables for the event are selling like hot cakes! Munsieville will be well represented too: we have a Munsieville's Got Talent event planned for February and the winner of this competition will perform live at the fundraiser. I even got my own 90 seconds of fame: our television coverage of the festival has been broadcasting all week on the Supersport channel, shown right across Africa.
Even just writing this has got me excited about the challenges of the weeks to come. However, it's all relative to the struggles that people face here on a daily basis. I found out this week that someone close to me is HIV positive. A single mum, with two young kids, the future is undoubtably going to be tough. Yet her viral load is low, she is healthy and dealing with it pretty well. But it's an example of hardship that I, and I suspect many people in the West, have little concept of. It's an important reminder for us all to reflect on our own lives and remember to be grateful for how lucky we all are.
Thanks for reading.
Neil Davidson, GSK PULSE volunteer
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