I've started posts each of the past two days and been too exhausted to type more than a couple lines - plus, I've been fighting a cold. I've had a great coupld days despite the germs getting the upperhand and oday I was able to be very productive in creatine letter templates, a organizational plan of action for stronger development, a mission statement and even a rough version of a fundraising packet that volunteers will receive so that they can continue to contribute to SAEP ater they've completed their stay here. After several days of gorgeous weather, the day has gone in and out of rain so it was a good day to hunker down and work.
Yesterday, I had an invaluable meeting with the most responsible and bright creche principal who SAEP has helped become not only a truly self-reliant educare allstar but also a remarkable community leader and shining example of empowerment for local women. The meeting was so rich with information that I know I will be looking over my notes and Sarah's for days to come but overall it was striing how much she understood her role in the creche, the community and SAEP. Though struggling to maintain a growing creche in her mother's house before SAEP came into the picture, she was already so motivated that she took the initiative to go to ECD trainings and took an interest in children's advocacy. Soon after Nokhaya (the principal) got connected with Jane, she went to Parliament to speak on behalf of all the creches and the thousands of children they care for to implore the government to improve the accessibility of social services. Before her speech, a principal coule wait 10-12 years after applying to register with the Department of Social Services only to have them come and nit-pick about the facilities, telling these cash-strappped principals to fix this and that before they could ever get the services they were entitled to. Since Nokhaya appealed to the government, the services have become much more accessible and, in fact, all of SAEP's nine original creches have been registered with the department. Aside from the leadership qualities in her that have been effectively cultivated, Nokhaya was just such a glowing example of SAEP's successful training in financial management, development education, inter-creche cooperation and SAEP's success in improving the physical integrity of the creches (Nokhaya's Quamani building went from a delapidated corrogated metal shack to a beautiful two-story brick building). It was truly inspiring!!
I'm surprised with my cold I was able to stay awake at all because the day before (Sunday), I had hiked up Table Mountain. It was such an arduous hike up as we climbed over 800 meters straight up but getting to the top was well worth it. It was a perfect day to hike as the weather was sunny but brisk. When we got across the table and perched ourselves on a cliff overlooking Camps Bay, Lion's head and the east of the city, I thought I'd reached heaven (again, I know it's cliche but it's difficult not to be!). After scaling down on eof the twelve apostles (the stretch of mountain stretching from the table to the sea), we ate some ice cream in the sun while staring out over the idyllic Camps Bay beach. By the time I returned to my hostel, I was ready to pass out!
Yesterday, I had an invaluable meeting with the most responsible and bright creche principal who SAEP has helped become not only a truly self-reliant educare allstar but also a remarkable community leader and shining example of empowerment for local women. The meeting was so rich with information that I know I will be looking over my notes and Sarah's for days to come but overall it was striing how much she understood her role in the creche, the community and SAEP. Though struggling to maintain a growing creche in her mother's house before SAEP came into the picture, she was already so motivated that she took the initiative to go to ECD trainings and took an interest in children's advocacy. Soon after Nokhaya (the principal) got connected with Jane, she went to Parliament to speak on behalf of all the creches and the thousands of children they care for to implore the government to improve the accessibility of social services. Before her speech, a principal coule wait 10-12 years after applying to register with the Department of Social Services only to have them come and nit-pick about the facilities, telling these cash-strappped principals to fix this and that before they could ever get the services they were entitled to. Since Nokhaya appealed to the government, the services have become much more accessible and, in fact, all of SAEP's nine original creches have been registered with the department. Aside from the leadership qualities in her that have been effectively cultivated, Nokhaya was just such a glowing example of SAEP's successful training in financial management, development education, inter-creche cooperation and SAEP's success in improving the physical integrity of the creches (Nokhaya's Quamani building went from a delapidated corrogated metal shack to a beautiful two-story brick building). It was truly inspiring!!
I'm surprised with my cold I was able to stay awake at all because the day before (Sunday), I had hiked up Table Mountain. It was such an arduous hike up as we climbed over 800 meters straight up but getting to the top was well worth it. It was a perfect day to hike as the weather was sunny but brisk. When we got across the table and perched ourselves on a cliff overlooking Camps Bay, Lion's head and the east of the city, I thought I'd reached heaven (again, I know it's cliche but it's difficult not to be!). After scaling down on eof the twelve apostles (the stretch of mountain stretching from the table to the sea), we ate some ice cream in the sun while staring out over the idyllic Camps Bay beach. By the time I returned to my hostel, I was ready to pass out!
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