Jabulani Project

Alex

I have left it too long to update my blog. So much has happened but I cannot remember the sequence of events. No matter I still "feel" vividly what happens every minute.
We have spent so much time dealing with departures.Our much loved Mimo has gone. Nathaniel is now backpacking somewhere between Mozambique and Malawi. Two of our "woman warriors", Charis and Caitlin have flown to Dubai then home. And our special one, Emma, has had to fly home because of illness. We miss her wicked sense of humour. In fact we miss them all and we suffered from a bit of a readjustment to the group dynamic and were all reminded of the transient nature of our time here.
However, we have rallied and eagerly await Jenn Glass' arrival today and Jean Cathro next week and, of course, Jane is returning in April..
The students continue to work in Sisco, Umthombo and Place of Safety and although I have been teaching Grade 12's in Dloko (a controversial PMI on lobolo!", the response from the Education Sector has been disappointing. Holidays now till the 10th April, then we will make one last effort.
 Highlights for me have been a visit to Isikhumbozo J.P. with Isaac and Emmanuel. Isaac through his links with the Jewish community was looking for a partner for a Jewish Primary in Umshlanga. I remembered I had visited this school once before through a connection Sthembiso had. It is a wonderful school with a fantastic Principal. Everything is in order. The gardens are beautiful, the toilets spotless, the classrooms well run. It is a spectacular reminder of the importance of good leadership. Zwelibance suffers from lack of commitment and passion and Dloko from inexperience. I will take both Principals on a visit after Easter.Is it just coincidence that this is a female principal?
I had a moving experience involving Sihle Mbutho, a street kid with Umthombo. When I first met him five or six years ago he was a mess. He was running wild, on solvents, stealing and fighting. In the last couple of years he has emerged as a wonderful young man (see previous references). He is now setting up his own surf school in a backpackers in the Point. I bought him a phone and Isaac designed a flier. I took the phone to him but realised we needed a sim card. He did not have his ID so he asked me to go with him to his home in Amouti. On the journey he became very quiet. He said he was nervous about the reception he would get from his grandfather who still saw him as a bad boy. He talked about losing his mother and father and why he ran away.
His grandfather received him well, although I suspect my presence helped. Everyone was fascinated by mlungu. Not many whites go here. We collected the ID, rushed back into town, got the Sim card, airtime and he beamed with joy. I have had to tell him to stop calling me or he will use all his airtime! He is so excited although the object of a lot of jealousy from the other street kids.
Other highlights have been spending Human Rights Day with the Sisco kids and a lovely lunch with Tom Hewitt.
He is stepping down as CEO of Umthombo so we exchanged memories and discussed the cdifficulties of effective succession strategies. Transitions are fearful and full of anxiety and people can jockey for positions and fight to protect their power bases. Umthombo is going through a difficult period of adjustment, but both Tom and I agreed a new CEO was probably needed to let the organisation change and grow. I had resonances with my own feelings about retiring from my beloved JGHS. It was good to speak to someone like Tom who I feel is very sympathetic to my philosophy of life and education. He also understands the problems I experience here with apathy, complacency and sheer indifference in some sectors. I wish to publicly salute Tom for the amazing life changing work he has done in setting up Umthombo. He has not finished yet.
We have decided to bring our very dear friends, Nthutuko and Lucky to Edinburgh in August, so I'll gird my loins for the battle with Home Affairs. While I am there I will try to facilitate the visas for the Zwelibanzi and Dloko kids who are coming over in June. Did I say facilitate? This word does not exist in SA.