Community spirit

Rarely in this day and age does a sequel top the first instalment, but a mere 2 weeks after the local school received a much needed lick of paint, the peaceful community of The Oaks was about to be shattered by a second rank of young, enthusiastic Americans.  Moondance had returned, and this time, with a vengeance.  Armed with nearly 200 litres of excessively bright and vibrant paint, the group surveyed its target: a 46 meter long stretch of marketplace; the focal point of the village.  The stakes had been raised and the pressure was on!

Marketplace before...

Youth however knows no fear, and within minutes of our arrival, the façade of the building was under constant assault from flailing rollers and brushes.  The relentlessness of the attack soon brought the local residents to the scene, and before long, both young and old were helping us apply the initial layer of primer.  The entire expanse of market front was primed in less than 2 hours and after a brief stop to stock up on caffeine, the group (and in fact, the community) wasted no time in applying the colour.  With over 20 market stalls to liven up, the decision was made to adorn each in a repeating sequence of colour to rival that of the ripe fruit shining from their displays!  The market owners had also arrived by now with most of the women ecstatic with the new look and each took great pride in helping spruce up their livelihood!

Getting down and dirty

Who says you can't have fun while working?

Some owners joined in

With all the help at our disposal, the kids had more time to do what kids do best, and before long, their once clean clothes, not to mention any available exposed flesh, were transformed into a cacophony of colour that would rival the tie dye phenomenon of the swinging sixties!  It also allowed time for them to immerse themselves into the community and the whole scene was lit up with the infectious laughter and smiles of small children as they learnt new games ranging from ‘Simon Says’ to ‘Ninja’.  The day had taken on a carnival atmosphere.  It was a perfect cross section of the community, and for hours on end, all language and racial barriers were destroyed by the endearing innocence of youth.

Having some fun with some of the children from the community

Despite the best efforts of everybody involved, the massive project could not be finished in a day and by sunset it was time to pack up and head home for a well-earned shower before returning the following day to apply the finishing touches.

With the pressure off after a very productive day, the kids returned eager to enjoy their last involvement with the local community, and once again chaos ruled.  It was decided to put a few hand prints on to the end walls as a reminder of the collective effort of these remarkable and selfless decorators, but before long the local kids got wind of this new game.  A rainbow of digits now adorned the end wall and clothes become emblazoned with prints of all sizes as the bonds made over the last 36 hours were immortalized in paint on material.

The once dreary brick-faced market place had been transformed almost overnight into a bright, vibrant and fun epicentre of this typical South African rural village.  We even realised that some of the local wildlife had got involved when a goat walked past sporting a red stripe down its side after straying too close to the freshly painted wall!!  I have to be honest, when I saw the size of the task awaiting us I was not sure what we could achieve in such a short time, but thanks to a work ethic dwarfing their young age, and a huge community effort, all I could do was stand back and admire what had been achieved.  The delight on the faces of the market owners was evident as the ladies hugged and thanked us before showering us with free fruits before our departure!

The Marketplace after...

It is people that change lives, not policy or ideas, and the dedication, motivation and selfless nature of the Moondance organisation had now most certainly left its mark in this once dark corner of Africa.  I travel to and from work through this unassuming settlement but from now on I will be reminded of these 2 amazing days every time I see this dazzling stretch of colour.  Thanks to the hard work of a group of school children from America, The Oaks now shines like a beacon amongst its neighbours. 

Students from Moondance after a long day of painting.

Blog and photos by Ben Coley

Making a difference

Tourists spend millions of rand every year to come and visit South Africa.  Their trip is usually wildlife orientated with fingers poised above shutter release buttons to hopefully catch a glimpse of the fabled Big 5 and all the other elements of the intricate ecosystem we call the bush.  High on many’s agenda is also to visit Cape Town, the stunning winelands close by and maybe some other areas of interest such as Soweto.  Unfortunately most tourists spend their time here shrouded in a protective westernized bubble;  fancy lodges, 5* service, private transfers and fine dining.  Few are bold enough to visit true Africa.  This land is the birthplace of man.  We talk of culture, but the culture of man (whatever that may be) originated here; our ancestors originated here and thus we all have an undeniable connection to this magical continent.

Whilst there is no doubt that the world we live in is overpopulated, this does not excuse millions of people, including young children, living in heart-wrenching conditions.  “I can’t make a difference on my own” I hear some of you cry, but there is an old African proverb that says: ‘If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito.’   Every little helps and we as a nation, and a continent, thank all those who have contributed in some way.

Recently, a group of school girls visited EcoTraining’s Karongwe camp to learn more about Man’s place in the wild.  Of course, the major focus of the trip was to view some of the spectacular wildlife on offer, but it was also important for them to experience life in the local community.  At their request, EcoTraining in partnership of Toine Vos (Outreach Manager at Daktari) organised for the group to visit the Maahlamela High School in a small village close to the reserve and help to improve learning conditions for the hundreds of amazing local children that attend it.  Three of the classrooms were nothing more than bare shells with only basic equipment, the walls drab and dreary:  hardly an environment conducive to fun learning.  But that was about to change!

Always time for some fun

Armed with paint, brushes and rollers, we arrived at the school gates eager to begin transforming the classrooms.  For the next day and half, the girls toiled selflessly and by the time they had finished painting the walls yellow and red, the classrooms looked like new!  Admittedly, I think more of the paint ended up on us than on the walls but the whole experience was great fun and very rewarding.  Their enthusiasm for the project was contagious and I was hugely impressed by their desire to get involved.  It is very easy to shun responsibility and ignore the plight that so many rural areas face, but I have to say that the group applied themselves admirably and seemed to relish in the chance to make a difference.   I myself have not had the opportunity to do much work in the local community and cannot speak for all, but I am very proud of what we achieved and the thanks from the principal and local children were a more than sufficient reward! 

Halfway there

Adding the finishing touches

Despite being a public holiday, many children were present and the girls took great pleasure transcending language barriers getting to know the local children and members of the community.  Names and contact details were swopped and many promised to keep in touch.  We would love to have done more but the group also made a very generous donation to the school to aid in the purchasing of better equipment, stationary and books.  Every little bit helps and it is a warming feeling to know that our work, and the group’s donations will have an impact on shaping the opportunities afforded to the next generation.  These kids will inherit the Earth that we leave behind and the more help that we can give them, the better!  

On behalf of EcoTraining, we would like to thank Toin Vos and Daktari for going through a lot of trouble sourcing the project, putting us in contact with the school principal and making the necessary arrangements. Last, but not least, a big thank you to Moondance for the generous donation to the school. The money will be used to buy the necessary stationary and equipment the school need.

Spending some time with the pupils

The group of students

Getting down and dirty on the playground

Blog and photos by Ben Coley