Outreach

Here students do 'outreach' like our 'non-church placements' at Cuddesdon. As COTT's yr is just beginning these are being sorted by Fungai the Chaplin,as part of this Dom+I accompanied him to see these places. Of course no-one was expecting us(!) so in some places we saw more than others.

First we went to The Raphael community Center for people with HIV/Aids. They run several programmes including testing+ counselling +supporting those who have the illness. We met a lady who runs 1 of the programmes+she spoke passionately about her concern for people infected+was especially worried about their spiritual welfare,which COTT students help with. Fungai was keen for this to continue+also for the centre to run an awareness dy at COTT. The centre's run completely by donations+much of this comes from the UK. They're doing a great job,but unfortunately it's only a small drop in the ocean compared to how many people are suffering alone from it.

Next we went to Temba hospital for people with TB (thankfully I got my injection just days before coming to S.A.). Going here was just like the African hospitals you see on TV back at home. There was hardly any staff+the wards were empty+lifeless. Going here was the hardest thing I've done so far. It was harrowing. We went into a women's ward+they just starred at us in silence (which I'm not surprised by)+their eyes looked like they'd lost all hope.I'll remember the look on their faces forever.

Then we went to an Orphanage for boys aged 8-18. There was building work going on which is positive+a vegetable garden Fungai had helped start when he was on outreach here 7years ago! We didn't see much but there was a positive vibe to the place, even though the rooms in here were also very sparse. I hope to go back+meet some of the children.

The worst thing about this day was the realisation that money could actually solve many of these problems.-more on this later