Jannes Abschlussbericht

Final report
15.12.2007 - 13.03.2008

I arrived during the Christmas holiday to spent three month in the Children’s Home of the Dianne Lang Foundation. Some of the children spent the holiday with their family but fortunately most of them were there and gave me a warm welcome so it was easy to feel comfortable right from the beginning.
Because of the holiday I almost spent 12 hours a day with the kids, which was very good to learn all their names, see the different characters and to get to know the daily routine of the Children’s Home. Spending Christmas and New Year together was a lot of fun and it was amazing to see the childrens’ faces while they unwrapped their presents. During that time we were two volunteers at the Dianne Lang foundation and could do most of the activities together.
The children love to go for a walk to the Play Ground or the Tennis court and they were excited to show us their town. So I spent hours just walking around with them, singing and playing games.
By reading the book “Saving Mandela’s Children” written by Dianne Lang while I was here I got to know a lot about the childrens’ backgrounds and how Dianne struggled to raise up the Home in Middelburg. It was emotional and touching seeing the children run around outside while I read the story they were forced to go through. It made me even more aware of how much love those kids need! Seeing them laugh makes my day much brighter.
I painted a lot with them, they tried to teach me some Xhosa and I learned them some words in german. We also had a Popcorn and DVD night and made Marshmallows. One day I cooked a german meal for them. At first they were a little bit worried what it will taste like but they quickly recognized that it was nothing strange.
The school opened again in the middle of January and my shift plan changed. The children leave for school early in the morning and come back at two in the afternoon. I used the mornings to prepare afternoon activities for example making salt clay. I started decorating the walls of the childrens’ rooms by painting flowers and butterflies to it and by that making the rooms look a lot friendlier. Before the rooms looked very desperate and not like a child is living in there.
I continued the tradition of brushing teeth with the small ones before they go to bed some earlier volunteers implemented and I also started two new things.
I organized two birthday parties at the end of January and February for all the birthday children. I baked cakes for each birthday child and they had so much fun playing games and just enjoying themselves. It is a welcomed addition to their daily and weekly routine. I also started to read stories to the small ones before they go to sleep.
With the school the daily life and work changed and I had to help the children a lot with their homework. A really difficult task, because some of them didn’t go to school regularly before they came to the foundation and they now struggle with the basic things like the ABC. The township schools don’t offer a good education and it is important to support the children and also give them some extra tasks to practice!
Although the worked changed and I saw the children less during the day I am glad that I had the chance to experience both sides: the holiday fun and the school time!
The project needs the help of volunteers to accompany the staff and to give the children the attendance they need!
I loved the working atmosphere because whenever I had an idea I was welcomed to realize it. The only problem was to convince the staff. Volunteers have the chance to use their creativity to make life nicer for the children.
But you have to be tough and never let the staff misuse you to do their work even though they try to. I also experienced some communication problems with the staff because at the beginning some of them refused to speak English and I can not speak Afrikaans or Xhosa. But during my stay the relation to most of the staff members improved and I learned to accept that they are working and living according to the “African Time”.

Although I went trough some unpleasant situations and sometimes the children did not listen to me I am so glad that I decided to spend three month in Middelburg. I love how those children still live the Xhosa culture, sing and dance the whole day and enjoy their life. I learned to be more patient and I got more self-confident during my time in Middelburg.
I made so many experiences that will stay in my mind forever and I realized that having my family and friends is the greatest gift in the world.