Brooke moved to South Africa in 1994 when she was 4 years
old; her father is now the director of the Children’s Shelter. She has been living in the US for the last
year and a half to start her college education, but recently returned to South
Africa for a visit. Brooke invited Tim
and me to visit Freedom Park with her this morning. Freedom Park is an area of governmental
housing and squatter camps that developed around a mine (See blog on
7-19-07). Yesterday Brooke visited
Freedom Park and found a fourteen year old girl living with her mother and
grandmother. The three women live on the
grandmother’s retirement money, which she does not consistently receive. The young girl is mentally and physically
handicapped. As a result of her visit
with the family Brooke decided to make a return trip this morning with some
supplies.
We first went to the mall and Brooke bought the essential
food items, a blanket, and some clothing along with some fun things; sweeties
and marshmallows. I offered to help pay
for the supplies, because Brooke was using her own personal money. But, she politely refused, “You will probably
run into some more people in need on the rest of your trip.” On our drive to Freedom Park, Brooke
expressed an interest in helping countries experiencing civil unrest. We all agreed that we think most people in
the US would like to help the struggling people in developing countries if they
only knew how. I think one of the best
ways that Americans can assist is by sending funds to trustworthy
organizations.
On our drive to Freedom Park, Brooke expressed an interest in helping countries experiencing civil unrest. We all agreed that we think most people in the US would like to help the struggling people in developing countries if they only knew how. I think one of the best ways that Americans can assist is by sending funds to trustworthy organizations.
Once in Freedom Park we stopped at the clinic where we picked up a care worker, Tsiti. She entertained us with stories about the classes she is taking to learn to drive a car. Tsiti also talked about her work. The most grueling area she works in is hospice where she works 12 hour days. Tsiti directed us on the bumpy pot-holed roads through rows of governmental housing. The simple cement block housing in this area has running water and electricity. The area seems to be much better off than the squatter camp across the road where houses are made of scraps of tin.
Each of us carried in a bag of supplies to the house where we were greeted by the grandmother and mother. The fourteen year old sat on the floor shyly smiling up at us. The mother was very appreciative of the food. She explained that it came at a very good time, because the grandmother’s check had not yet arrived and they had run out of food. Brooke asked if she could check into a local school where the young girl could receive life skills and meet some friends. The mother agreed so we drove though the bumpy streets to the school. Brooke patiently talked to two women at the school that were not directly helpful. The school would not admit the young girl due to her physical handicap, but Brooke learned of another school through the visit. At the end of the day Brooke treated us to lunch at her favorite South African restaurant, Nando’s. The food was delicious, but what impressed me the most today was Brooke’s compassionate heart and desire to make life better for those in need.
