Early in June we headed off to Othandweni Day Care Centre, in Finetown. We have found that when we start distributing in a new area, the word spreads and principals of all the other local Day Cares come forward asking for blankets, which might explain why, this year, we ended up doing a number of distributions in Finetown (you may have noticed?!) We arrived at Othandweni and were taken aback by the large number of children being cared for in this tiny facility.
With the help of the teachers, we were able dress some of the children in your lovely warm tops – you will notice we pulled them over what the children were wearing so they did not have to take off layers and get cold in the process.
The class rooms were so cramped that when we handed the children their blankets, we took them outside and got some lovely photos of them.
The teachers were thrilled with the stationery we brought and we read some story books with the children while we were there.
The bright tops, colourful blankets and beanies cheered up Othandweni considerably as you can see in these photos.
In vast contract to the very drab, winter surrounds of Finetown.
We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Cynthia at her well-managed little school and the children loved all their knitted goodies.
We distributed to numerous schools in this area over the following few weeks and will share those visits with you in reports to come.
Postal strike update
I don’t want to sound like a stuck record, but the strike is still ongoing. We were very grateful to receive 10 large postal bags full of mail and some boxes last week and it was wonderful to get together again as a team for a Volunteer Day to open parcels. But, sadly that appeared to be a “once off” delivery and since then, we have received nothing more.
As a result of the postal strike, people have begun sending us mail via courier services. We would like to discourage this as the courier companies levy enormous fees for the release of the parcels once they have arrived in South Africa. This is because the import/export system in SA is enormously complicated and involves large administrative fees for items such as handling, storage and VAT – all expenses which we are not in a position to recover by using the established system which corporate and/or VAT registered “importers” are geared towards.
We understand the great frustration of not being able to send your contributions, but we really cannot afford the hefty fees and complications involved.
Let’s all just pray that the situation with the SA Post Office is resolved very soon.
Replies
It's just so encouraging to read that the 'parent' generation is taking on the task of caring for and educating so many children in whatever space possible. We will continue to do our bit - knitting and crocheting. Thank you, Ronda, for the report.
Beautiful photos Ronda and lovely to see the children all brightened up ! Yes it does look as if some of the children have a lot of clothes underneath. I remember we were told that the children all wear all their clothes at once and then on washday they all come off for the washing. That's when we hope some of our garments can help out to keep the children warm while washing is done .Love to see the children with their cuddlies too and how appreciated the stationary slip ins are.
It can be a problem getting a perfect fit Cherry, but Bev is spot on. Another issue is that two people with different tension styles can knit the same pattern, but produce totally different sized garments. If one was knitting or crocheting for a family child, you get the opportunity to regularly measure and can adapt! However, the children will be delighted to have something new and personal for them.
I think, Cherry....and this is just MY thoughts......the Grace vest is designed to be worn over a long or short sleeved tee, with layers over the top of them, but in Ronda's info at the start, she said that they didn't want the children to undress to try these on because it was cold, but did want to be able to show KASers their wonderful work on the children. Therefore, where the children have the G.Vs on over layers of their own clothes, it doesn't allow the G.V. to sit as it should. Check out the pics on the right hand side of this page under the 'alert' about pattern revisions, the shoulders on the vests look to be a great fit there. Also, perhaps some of these are a little big on some of the children, so as they grow, the shoulder straps will fit better on their shoulders. :))
What a wonderful report Ronda and it encourages me to make more squares ready for when we can send them again. I did notice in the grouping of 8 pictures of children wearing vests that one little girl is holding hers out to the side a little, posing, obviously feeling pretty but then that is offset by the child who appears to have nothing on under that vest. How I wish one of the long sleeved turtlenecks I'd sent recently wasn't stuck in the Post Office somewhere. Even a thin long sleeved top would help that little one. Sigh. But I must remember we are doing so much for the children and I'm SO glad somebody at the Post Office sneaked out some bags for you. It may not just have been from the goodness of their hearts but also they maybe barely able to move there....KAS parcel gridlock I am thinking! I mean if we could clog up Ronda's home so badly just imagine what the Post Office must look like right now!
:) Jeanne
Rhonda you are so right in your report about the blankets, toys, beanies and sweaters adding so much color to the surrounding environment. The ladies of Finetown are working so hard at making the most from what they have been given. Precious faces needing love and prayers. Thanks for the report.
It is so wonderful when the KAS machine wheels turn smoothly. Bumps in the road make us all go up and down.
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