Educo Africa campaign to raise money

Educo Africa HIV campaign

Educo Africa is a click of your mouse away from securing R200,000 in the liquifruit campaign. It appears any individual can vote once every day! I know this is too much to ask but if the 880 people who have voted for us vote three times more we can get in to the lead!     GO TO   www.liquifruit.co.za  and vote for Educo Africa (Eagle Logo)
Campaign ends May 15^th ( so no more ‘click of the mouse’ requests after then, promise!!)

Why vote for Educo Africa?

I went last week to Blue Downs to meet 12 children who had been on an Educo Africa ARV adherence course in the wilderness, the key outcome of their wilderness time was a chance to talk openly about their experiences of being HIV+ and to learn about the ARV medication they have to take at the same time every day, all were chosen for the course because they were at high risk of deviating from their medication. Since their wilderness experience last year all but one have adhered to their strict ARV medication regime. Wolanani’s on going work with them holds the decisions they made in the mountains and keeps them focused on valuing their lives and keeping as healthy as they can.  
Your vote helps us build the self esteem of young people by addressing: problem solving, conflict resolution skills, building trust, sharing of painful stories, listening, appreciating , finding their voice. As a result they return from the mountains with a clearer understanding of themselves, their future dreams and how they can make a positive contribution to family, school, community and society at large.

Educo Africa is journeying with…….

·        Youth infected with HIV, helping them overcome their barriers to adhering to their strict ARV regime so they can live a longer life and dream for their future once again.

·        Youth in community projects helping them overcome their barriers to developing positive self esteem and make positive contribution to family, community and society at large. Two youth from last years courses have started their own environmental club in their community of Hanover Park.

·        Students in TSiBA free higher Education helping them overcome their barriers to learning and commit to, and complete their studies

·        Masakhi’Sizwe Engineering students in overcoming their barriers to being effective leaders in the field and to lead competently and confidently

·        Individuals working with youth at risk, helping overcome barriers to effective play and communication with the youth, resulting in better quality provision and care.

WE NEED YOUR VOTE (S) !!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail.

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WIEBKE NEDEL INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER T. +27 21 761 8939   F. +27 21 797 5292   wiebke@educo.org.za   http://www.educo.org.za

Travellers Inn in Rustenburg

Travellers Inn - home away from home

We spent the weekend at Traveller's Inn in Rustenburg. It is an oasis in the middle of Rustenburg. The garden is well-established so you are surrounded by plants. The pub is easily the most cosy and interesting I have ever seen. They also have a swimming pool, pool table, and dartboard to play "killer" darts.

Some of the units have garages so that travelling sales(wo)men can keep their merchandise safe and lock it up at night. You can have all meals included, or Bed and Breakfast (B&B), and even ask for sarmies (sandwiches) to take with you for a packed lunch. They also have a Backpackers. During the Soccer World Cup people raved about the place and are still coming back for revisits from all over the world. The place is so popular that they have customers who sometimes sit and wait in the bar in the hope that someone will cancel or not pitch.

Their emblem is a meerkat and they have 2 resident meerkat and a squirrel. Their telephone number is 014 592 7658.

Accommodation in Rustenburg

Traveller's Inn for the BEST Accommodation in Rustenburg

Travellers Inn

Accommodation in Rustenburg

Traveller's Inn for the BEST Accommodation in Rustenburg
Close to Sun City, Pilanesberg, Magaliesberg, Hartebeespoort Dam, Rustenburg Kloof, and other hotspots. Fabulous weather year-round.

Accommodationin Rustenburg

Little Switzerland Easter 2011

Little Switzerland

Little Switzerland has many activities for old and young; horseriding, hiking, mountainbiking, gym, and so on if you are the energetic type. They have evening activities like darts, storytelling, and games.  The chalets have a fantastic view over the amphitheatre with Cathedral Peak, Cathkin Peak, the buttress, Mont-soux Sources and the rest of the Drakensberg mountains.

The wind blew as strong as any South Easter most of the time on the mountain.  We went down to the valley to escape it a bit.  The Ladysmith museum is very interesting with all the history of the different battles.

Spioenkop is a koppie where one of the historic battles took place and is an amazing place to visit. You have an exquisite 360 degree view. If you get real quiet you can feel the atmosphere and energy of the place. The photos don't do it justice. Imagine these views right round. Here Boer and Brit are buried side-by-side.

The Sterkfontein hydro-electric dam is close by and very interesting to go and see. Further South there are a gazillion stalls if you like shopping.  There is a lot of art and craft going on in the Midlands.

The trout in the rivers are being killed off because they compete with our local fish for food. A pity, 'cause its a lovely fish to eat.

I lived in the Midlands of Natal for 3 years (early 80's), in a place called Muden, near Wenen and worked in Greytown. I had to travel through the pass to get to work every day.  It took me about 50 minutes and was a scenic drive, so I loved it.  Muden is a tiny place with a post office, trading store, petrol pump and post office.  If you blink your eyes, you're through it.  Oh, I almost forgot, it also has a hotel and pub where we spent many happy evening playing darts and talking nonsense.

Somerset West

It was great to be in Somerset West again and see my friends there: Aneta Shaw, Elma Pollard of the Green Times, and Dorian Haarhof writer and storyteller par excellence. We usually get the best Nigerian coffee from Lucien of The Coffee Company at Lourensford Estate.

I haven't watched rugby for a long time, but did this weekend. I haven't missed much. I used to watch the international games in the early 80's. The guys still played rugby then. Now it is hurry up and wait.

Smoke across the water

Kleinmond fires causes grey-out in Kommetjie

Smoke across the water reminds me of some song from long ago, but not quite.  Usually we can see Table mountain and Houtbay, but we could see neither this weekend.  The fires must have been terrible. I can't imagine what it must have been like on the other side of the mountain, Simonstown side, if it was this bad on our side, not to mention Kleinmond and surrounding areas.

On my way home from art on Wednesday there was a fire on Ou-Kaapse weg. Someone must have chucked a stompie, 'cause it started right next to the road. I do wish smokers wouldn't do that.

Thanks a million to the firefighters and other emergency personnel. You guys (male and female) are fantastic!

Whales and Dolphins off Kommetjie

We saw a whole pod of dolphins in a feeding frenzy just off the coast this weekend. At one point three dolphins did somersaults, right out the water, at the same time.  It was spectacular.  They move really fast through the water when they are chasing fish.  Then less than 200 meters to the right of them two whales were bobbing and spouting every now and again.

It was quite strange.  When we started our walk it was so misty we could hardly see the lighthouse, then it cleared and we saw the dolphins.  Every day it is different.  The moods change as you can see on the photos. The mornings and evenings are different and there's always something happening.  If it isn't the dogs getting up to mischief, it is new seasonal flowers, or different birds at different times of the year. We even saw an otter one day.