I was placed on garden duty and could not have been
more pleased with the deities of random selection.
You can smell the life
oozing from all the green. Just the feel of soft dirt of the furrowed
rows beneath your feet is soothing.
And weeding! Now, that is satisfaction.
(See my handiwork below.)
And weeding! Now, that is satisfaction.
(See my handiwork below.)
Gardening brings you back
to life's essentials.
Harmony. Sustenance. Growth. Protection. Love.
We forget that it is the essentials that beget the most happiness.
Harmony. Sustenance. Growth. Protection. Love.
We forget that it is the essentials that beget the most happiness.
The garden is just one of the countless
endeavors of the Ilso Care
Society, an NGO nestled within the Khayelitsha
township, with whom we spent the day.
The fruits of the garden go directly to hungry community mouths via Ilso's daily soup kitchen, but the organization doesn't stop there.
Ilso also provides schooling and shelter for local AIDS orphans and teaches income generating skills to anyone with a will to learn.
Their multifaceted approach to sustainability is special and such a gift to the community.
The fruits of the garden go directly to hungry community mouths via Ilso's daily soup kitchen, but the organization doesn't stop there.
Ilso also provides schooling and shelter for local AIDS orphans and teaches income generating skills to anyone with a will to learn.
Their multifaceted approach to sustainability is special and such a gift to the community.
Khayelitsha is a quintessential slum that neighbors
Cape Town, but the mountains that stand over it like sentinels and the vibrant
colors that infuse it present the most striking visual dichotomy I have ever
witnessed.
The contrast continues--most residents literally have not a rand to their name, and yet, they are some of the most gracious, vivacious people I've ever had the pleasure to meet.
I was equally inspired and humbled, but above all, deeply touched.
The next time I want to whine about New York City produce, I'll check my attitude at the door with the memory that two thirds of Ilso's garden lay fallow--overgrown and swirling with snakes because they simply could not afford the seeds to plant it.
The contrast continues--most residents literally have not a rand to their name, and yet, they are some of the most gracious, vivacious people I've ever had the pleasure to meet.
I was equally inspired and humbled, but above all, deeply touched.
The next time I want to whine about New York City produce, I'll check my attitude at the door with the memory that two thirds of Ilso's garden lay fallow--overgrown and swirling with snakes because they simply could not afford the seeds to plant it.
We decompressed from the day with a venture to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
Today we visited Mothers2Mothers.
I have no photos but suffice it to say that the women of this amazing organization with humble beginnings in Cape Town have catalyzed a powerful rising global tide against Mother to Child HIV transmission.
Although South Africa still has an uphill fight, M2M is the poster child for how the nation can effectively lead the African AIDS response effort (the focus of my research!) so it was nice to end on this optimistic note.
I have no photos but suffice it to say that the women of this amazing organization with humble beginnings in Cape Town have catalyzed a powerful rising global tide against Mother to Child HIV transmission.
Although South Africa still has an uphill fight, M2M is the poster child for how the nation can effectively lead the African AIDS response effort (the focus of my research!) so it was nice to end on this optimistic note.
Awash in yellow afternoon light and perched around the guest house pool, sea to our left, mountains to our right, we gave our oral research presentations.
(I.E., for my final two days in South Africa I am officially on vacation!)
Hooray!
Penguins, here I come.
Love from Cape Town.
Penguins, here I come.
Love from Cape Town.
I always feel satisfied after a good weeding. I learned how to "really" weed from Oma, although she was not ergonomically correct with her instruction. Her task mastery though, is unsurpassed! And, my young back at the time was a welcomed addition to Papa, Darf and KK's gardens on the farm. What fun we've had weeding together in our gardens Lexi! Our "islands" never looked more beautiful. Impressive work of ICS and M2M..Carry on.
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