imagining the new

it's been a while since i've posted (ok, years), but that doesn't mean i haven't been writing, thinking, processing. in fact, i've been doing a lot of personal writing in my journals - journals which i hope to someday publish. but for now, i've been thinking about the past 4 years, and where this journey has taken me. since my initial first experiences, assumptions, observations on the continent when i travelled to botswana in 2010, to my second visit the following year, to south africa in 2012. so much happened on that trip - it was life changing to say the least. those of you who know me, and have been following my journey and keeping in touch since then, will know that i now live in cape town and have been since 2012. i decided this was (and still is) where i need(ed) to be. the decision to come back - after my first experience here - was inevitable, intuitive. my intuition told me that there was something for me here - a purpose, or calling of sorts. i am still figuring out what that purpose is, but i can say this: the past 4 years have been immense in terms of experiences, observations, culture, introspection, self-development, transformation and growth. i learn more and more about this life, this country, and myself each and every time i open my eyes and take a new breath in - in fact, sometimes i find myself holding onto my breath, but i am always reminded to breathe again - in and out - deeply. for your breath takes you back to your centre, where it all began. and my vision for this blog is that i can take you on that journey with me - to the centre of myself, where i find meaning. as i reflect on and make meaning of the past, and look forward to reimagine the new. all the while breathing in the now.

Feeling Loved

I was feeling so much love today, on my birthday and felt really drawn to writing about it. As many of you know, I have recently uprooted and moved West, to beautiful Victoria, BC. This month has been all about new challenges, discovery and constant acceptance of change. When traveling to new places and embarking on new adventures, I am always conscious to keep an open mind and be welcoming to new experiences. I believe that by setting expectations, one can become disappointed if things don't work out, or these expectations are not met. This is the reason I keep such an open mind and allow things to unfold naturally. Upon finishing school and the many adventures I had throughout the past 4 years, I have really come to know and understand myself - who I am, what my goals and interests are, and where this life may take me. I am content with myself and, at least thought, I was closer to figuring out the next years of my life. But it turns out it doesn't matter how many amazing life changing experiences you have, or how much you feel like you understand yourself, everyday is a learning experience and everyday since I have been in Victoria I have learned something new about myself and about the world - it just never stops! A good friend put it well when she said, 'it's a lifelong process' of learning, constant discovery and constant reevaluation of where you're at and where you want to go. This, I have realized since being here, is completely true. I have overcome the frustration of being in new and unknown territory and remembered patience - a virtue that has revealed itself along my travels, when adjusting to new cultures, new people and new places. I have also realized that this time, I really am doing it on my own. Having resources at my disposal at the University of Guelph was such a blessing and once I got comfortable, I used them frequently; however, here in Victoria, it is up to me to go out and find what I am looking for. So that's exactly what I have been doing. And from here the learning never ends, the self-discovery is constant and my eyes are always open.

Much of what I have already discovered and learned along the way has been thanks to my beautiful family and friends and all their love and support! I feel so blessed to have each and every one of you in my life and could not have come this far without your guidance and words of wisdom. The support I have received is so immense and I am constantly in awe of those who give it - thank you.

This birthday is the first one I have had away from home. Whether it be Brantford or Guelph, Ontario has (for the most part) remained my roots. Now in BC, I felt a bit sad that I could not share this day with the people who mean the most to me - but I was happy at the same time because I felt the love and good vibes! Not just from family and friends at home, in Canada, but also from abroad. My birthday gift to myself was to phone my host family in South Africa and speak to them for the first time since I left - and what an amazing gift that was! To hear my host-mother, Pam, scream with delight when she realized who was calling - I could just picture her smiling and it made me smile back. And when Sonke and Nani sang me happy birthday it brought me back to the nights spent in the living room, listening to music and watching them dance and sing together. I wish I could have recorded that moment on the phone and replay it in my head over and over, but it is forever in my memory. So thank you to the Ndinisa's for being so special - you hold a big piece of my heart and I so look forward to the day we can see each other again. I was also surprised by a phone call from a friend in Botswana - Olefile! It meant so much to reconnect with my friends from all over the world today. The people I have met are the reason I travel - each and every person has taught me something new and I can only hope that I am able to continue learning from them and the others I may someday meet!

Mandela Day

Today marks the 93rd birthday of Nelson Mandela, or as he is known by his clan name in South Africa, 'Madiba'. Such an influential and iconic figure to the struggle of apartheid in South Africa, Mandela was a political activist and leader of peace at a crucial time in the country. He represents strength, courage and spirit in SA and is a hero to all. I wanted to post a few things I came across today while thinking about his legacy...

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." (This quote is especially true for me and my experience this summer returning to the SOS Children's Village in Tlokweng, Botswana. I am now understanding the depth of my personal growth in the past year since I first experienced the kids at SOS. This place will always hold a special place in my heart and represents many things for me.)

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." (I vowed at the end of the program this year to always continue to want more out of life, to never stop learning, and to never settle.)

"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended." (We must continually search out goodness.)

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us: it's in everyone. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

"Where you stand depends on where you sit." (It's all about perspective and I have learned so much from listening to the perspectives of others.)

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

"Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom."

"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison." (What an amazing feat of forgiveness after such horrific and unjustifiable treatment of human beings. This represents the mentality in SA today: forgive but never forget. Amazing.)

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

--Thank you Nelson!



Above: Taking it all in at the Robben Island Museum
(Photo cred: Maggie Campaigne)



Above: Mandela's cell on Robben Island, the fourth cell from the right

"How was your trip?"

Such a sincerely posed question, those four little words can be so difficult to hear and even harder to answer. And I mean no harm in trying to explain my frustration, I simply want to communicate my experiences to the truest, to the fullest, so that you too may understand and feel what I experienced. But I have come to realize throughout my travels that there is just something about words on a page (or in this case, on a screen) that leave the reader disconnected from the emotions and senses that one gains from being in a particular place - observing the sights, listening to the sounds and smelling the air. So this is where I pause to think, when asked "how was your trip?", about just where I will start and how I will convey the past two months of my life. At what moment do I begin to tell my story - arriving in Cape Town with laughter and fatigue; poppin' the popcorn with Morne; meeting our host families in Khayelitsha (and me being nervous, imagine that?!); the VC (volunteer centre) and Sector Projet guys; walking with Skeezo to and from placement and listening to his perspective on life in SA; Nani playing with my hair and singing to me; the little girl I met at the hip hop event who I will never forget; recognizing the strength and perserverance of the youth at Velokhaya - how amazing their spirit is; visiting places like Robben Island, District 6 and Slave Lodge and having the most uncomfortable feeling just being exposed to the former apartheid system; climbing Table Mountain in the rain and mist and not being able to see just how spectacular it really is; getting caught up in Cape Town and loving life, trying to understand what direction I would be headed in when I got home; the conversations had in Chintsa with David, the revolutionist, anarchist, feminist (wow) who had an entirely refreshing perspective on apartheid and life in South Africa; or meeting Emma, the fellow anthropologist born and raised in SA!; being at one with myself on the beach in Chintsa, at peace with my life thus far, content with everything I have been blessed with; jam sesh in Coffee Bay with drums, guitar and Bob, of course!; arriving back in Botswana - absolutely surreal; reconnecting with Sebaga, tears running down my cheeks as I read her facial expressions and saw that she remembered me!; returning back to Cape Town for one last hoorah; meeting Magda on the plane ride home - she really solidified my experiences, my happiness.

Wow, so I guess that's a start? There is so much in between, so many emotions and so many more stories. But that's life, and it's only just the beginning my friends..



Above: Skeezo, such a great mentor and positive male role model to the youth at Velokhaya





Left: David, in Chintsa

Right: Reconnecting with Sebaga at SOS

Some Reflecting...

My experience in South Africa was (so far) beyond words - I say "so far" because I am freshly back in Canada and still processing the past two months. I have been sitting in bed all day listening to music and going through photos really reflecting on my experience and trying to understand it's impact. South Africa grabbed me and swept me away - such an unbelievably beautiful country with beautiful people, despite its deep and dark past. While in Khayelitsha for the first month I lived with a host family who took me under their wing and showed me (in the brief time I stayed with them) what it was like to live in a township outside Cape Town. Once I actually went to Cape Town and saw it's wealth and beauty, I couldn't believe the disparity in lifestyles between the township and metropolis. The understanding I gained in my short time in South Africa on the apartheid system overwhelmed me. How does anyone justify such brutal systematic racism? It is still something I am grappling with and need to learn more about.



The last two months were filled with so many experiences, of all natures - meeting locals from the township and participating in local community projects, working with NGO's and youth, learning about apartheid from all perspectives - black, white and everything in between, as well as visiting museums like District 6 and Slave Lodge. And then breaking away from team programs and projects to become an independent traveler and put to use the lens I had gained from the program. Meeting other travelers and locals at each backpackers and hearing their perspective on the historical and current political climate in the country, as well as letting loose and just having fun, conversing about life in general and gaining perspective from everyones stories. It was such a whirlwind and I would do it all over again, in fact I really hope to get back to South Africa some day, there's just something about the spirit there...

Oh, the Places You Will Go!

Love and hugs from Botswana - I can't believe I'm back! Crazy the way things work out. I am having such an unreal experience in southern Africa and falling in love with this part of the world.
After saying farewell (but really, "see you later") to our friends and family in Khayelitsha, Dominica, Christina and I spent a week in Cape Town (that place is dangerously addictive!) before hopping on the Baz Bus to travel the coast of South Africa. We stopped in Knysna and Port Elizabeth on the Garden Route, before making our way to the Eastern Cape where we fell in love with the Wild Coast. We spent three nights at a backpackers called 'Buccaneers' in Chintsa and met some absolutely amazing folks. It was paradise and we did some soul searching on the beautiful beach that stretched for miles. We spent our nights meeting locals and other travellers who taught us lots about South Africa and life in general. The conversations we had in Chintsa will stick with me forever - I will tell you all about them when I get back.













Left: Birds of paradise
Right: Our South African friends, Vicky: "fun is fun!"

After Chintsa we headed to a place called Coffee Bay and stayed in a backpackers called 'Coffee Shack' - this place was wild! We met people from all over the world and had a ton of laughs. We walked the hills (and I mean HILLS) of the town, along the beach to get to a place called "hole in the wall", a massive rock in the ocean with a large gap in the middle. When I get back I will tell you more about the town of Coffee Bay - tourism has had some interesting effects on the land and the people. It's really interesting to come in as a tourist after spending time in Khayelitsha doing a community project with locals. The two approaches to travel come with completely different perspectives and emotions, ones that I am sure I will be reflecting on for days to come.











Left: The mighty hills of Coffee Bay
Right: Final Destination "Hole in the Wall"

Once our time in Coffee Bay was up we took a couple buses to get to Botswana. We are staying at the WUSC house (where I stayed last summer) and are on our way to visit the kids and teachers at SOS! I'm beyond excited and can't wait to see Sebaga and all the others. It seems so surreal to me that I am back in this beautiful country, returning to those smiling faces at SOS. It makes me happy to know that I can always come back...

Gaining Perspective

This past weekend our group took a trip into Cape Town (about an hour from the township) to do some sight seeing and experience life in the city. Upon entering Cape Town, there are some immediate thoughts and feelings that come to mind - why only an hour away are so many families living in shantis when the streets of Cape Town are lined with lavish banks and buildings, palm trees, street cleaners and designer stores? I would come to learn a lot more about this discrepancy throughout the day. Our project supervisor for Canada World Youth, Nozuko, organized this trip to Cape Town for us to learn more about the history of South Africa, which is extremely important in order to understand the politics and mindset of the people living here today. Our first stop was a museum called District 6, an experience that really shook me. District 6 is a former district of Cape Town that was destroyed during apartheid. It was home to so many African families who were forcibly removed under the racially segregated system of apartheid. The families left their homes and had to live in tents set up by the government. The museum was filled with street signs that hung to remember life in District 6 before being forced to leave.














While walking through this museum and reading more about the history of South Africa, I experienced so many emotions that I am still trying to process; anger, shame, disbelief and pure sadness among them. One sign in particular really erked me and brought me to tears, it read: "FOR USE BY WHITE PERSONS: THESE PREMISES AND THE AMENITIES THEREOF HAVE BEEN RESERVED FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF WHITE PERSONS. BY ORDER PROVINCIAL SECRETARY".



The rest of the time spent in that museum I felt really angry and ashamed. Although I understand that I wasn't present in South Africa during apartheid, I had gained perspective as to what the colour of my skin represents. It was no longer about who I am as Claire, it was now about how people perceived my white skin. Coming to South Africa for me means different things, like how I want to learn about life in a township, about race relations and just listen to peoples stories and experiences, but for South Africans I represent something completely different than all of that, like privilege. A word I am beginning to dislike - why are some given opportunities while others are physically, mentally and emotionally oppressed? So many questions come to mind each and every day I spend here and I am beginning to learn more not only about the way things were, but about the perspective of South Africans who were either directly impacted by apartheid, or are growing up now learning from their parents and grandparents. The most common story I am hearing is that it is time to move forward from the past - time to unite as one, black, white, coloured, whatever, to create a nation that can forgive and move on to bigger and better things!














"We wish to remember so that we can all, together and by ourselves, rebuild a city which belongs to all of us, in which all of us can live, not as races but as people."

Velokhaya - Cycling for a Purpose

Molweni (hello everyone)! This has to be a quick post, but I really wanted to let everyone know what a great time I'm having here in Khayelitsha. My host family is wonderful!! There are two little ones who I adore and hang out with everyday, as well as two older kids who I am really getting to know quite well. The family is great and I feel really comfortable with them, which is making my time that much better.
I wanted to let everyone know about my placement in Khayelitsha. I am working at an organization called Velokhaya, which is an after school BMX cycling program for kids and youth to get them off the streets and passionate about a healthy alternative. I met the founder of Velokhaya, Amos, who completely lit up when he told us all about how it started as a dream - a way to give back to the community and provide kids with positive mentorship. I couldn't help but stand in awe of his passion for kids and the dedication it has taken him to build this centre from the ground up. He has accomplished so much in 11 years and is an inspiration to the kids!
Please check out the website to learn all about Velokhaya! (Kyle, I wish you were here, you would absolutely love this place) www.velokhaya.co.za
For now, that is all the time I have, but I have lots more to come so please keep checking!
Lots of love and hugs!! xoxo

Off Again!

After an amazing last year in Guelph, I finally completed my undergraduate degree (thanks to the friends and family who got me through)!! It was a great year full of ups and downs, but rewarding nonetheless! I feel really excited and ready to take on whatever lies ahead of me. So guess what? My bags are packed and I'm off to rekindle my love for travel and an area that captured my heart this time last year. I'm participating in another Project Serve International, this time in South Africa. For four weeks I will be staying with a host family in Khayelitsha, a township just outside of Cape Town. The focus of the trip is HIV/AIDS and we will be partnering with Canada World Youth. So far, this is all the information we have and will be finding out our placements when we arrive. After the 4 week program is up, I will be travelling with two other girls around the southern region. This is part of the reason I decided to go on this adventure - I really felt drawn to Botswana, especially the SOS Children's Village I volunteered at last summer. The kids, teachers and everything about that community was so welcoming and loving I couldn't resist returning for a visit! If you want to know more about my experience last year, check out some of the older posts on this blog. And please continue to read up on my journey, as I will be updating this blog from time to time.
I have no idea what awaits me, but I know it is going to be unreal! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Lots of love xoxo

An excerpt from the book, Iron Butterfly, by Birute Regine

You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust
You were born with ideals and dreams
You were born with wings.
You were not meant for crawling, so don't
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly.

Rumi

Today was the hardest day...

Sad to Say Goodbye

Well, today is the last full day of our adventure in Botswana. Yesterday was our last day at SOS and it was extremely difficult to leave not only the kids, but the teachers of the Kindergarden, as well as the mothers in the village and everyone else we would see on a daily basis. These people were such a big part of our experience here and they welcomed us with big smiles every day! I never realized what a big part of the trip (and the hardest part of leaving) would be, and that is the people and the friendships we have made while we were here. Alex and I gave out gifts and thank you cards to all the teachers and staff at SOS and donations to the children and mothers in the village. We have gotten really close with three of the mothers, Name, Bame and Caroline, who we called our 'Botswana mothers', so we baked them muffins and gave them some of our dresses and bracelets we had made. We will miss seeing them every day and getting to know what wonderful women they are. I can only imagine the types of friendships we would make and how much they would grow had we been given more time here.
Today we went out to Mochudi one last time to see the house. The roof is now on and the electrical is being put in. The builders were working on plastering the outside walls now and it is so close to being finished. It was great to see them one last time and give the donations we brought for the family. I also have some exciting news: with the help of everyone's generous donations and support, our group was able to raise over $4000! That amount, along with the $5000 that was donated by the University of Guelph was enough to finish the house. It covered the cost of all the materials and everything else included so thank you soo much to everyone for helping us complete the project! The family is so happy and Lisa (the founder of Stepping Stones International) will be posting photos of the house once it is complete on the website: http://steppingstonesintl.org. There is also a Facebook group (search Stepping Stones International) that anyone can join to see info and photos from the after school program and house builds.
I can't even describe the experience I have had here in Botswana, but I can say that it has definitely changed me in a lot of ways. I have now such a bigger and better appreciation for hard work and value people in a whole new light. In Canada we take our health for granted, but here I could be standing in a room with several HIV+ people who are fighting every day to survive. The children here are so precious and I hope that I can one day see them again and make sure they are doing well. I hope that when I leave Botswana the people here continue to live and love the way they have shown us. I have re-prioritized and reconsidered my post-grad plans. Before coming on this trip I had decided I would teach English over seas in order to travel and work to pay off my student loans, but after speaking with Lisa she opened my eyes to so many new and exciting options that could further me and my education in so many ways. I will definitely be keeping in touch with her because she is such a great resource in terms of networking and NGO's and I told her I would be emailing her about Stepping Stones for future experience. She will be needing a new long term volunteer in a year so I will definitely be considering it. Working with her would be such a great learning experience and I can't wait to see what lies ahead of me!
I have to go, but will see you all soon and I am so excited to share everything with you.
Love always, Claire xo

Save Our Souls

June 1st already and time is flyyyyiiinng by! I am so sad that this is our last week here in Botswana and can't believe it crept up so fast :( This past Sunday at approximately midnight, my Uncle Richard interviewed me on his radio show, AM740 Toronto. Unfourtunately, I could not get to the internet to notify everyone about the interview before hand; however, the interview was about the volunteerism involved in the trip, the SOS Children's Village and the house build. I was also able to thank everyone who donated to the house build from the girls, the family, Stepping Stones International and myself - we couldn't have done it without you, so thank you again. The group went out to Mochudi again this weekend to continue with the build and were amazed to see that the walls were up. We mixed the cement again and helped the builders plaster the walls. It took a lot of practice to get the cement to stay on the wall, but once we did we got quite a bit done. Tinny (an employee of Stepping Stones) was able to get some paint donated and they are working on digging a hole for the pit latrine. The electrical and the roof still need to be put in place, but it's really starting to look like a house. Lerato and her family are so excited to move in and we are very happy to be able to get them out of the welfare housing they currently reside in. We had a great weekend bonding with the kids and captured lots of photos.
Last week was an amazing week at SOS. It's really sad to think that we are leaving soon - our last day at the Kindergarden is Thursday. Last week we worked on a colour project with the kids. We got them to mix the primary colours to make secondary colours and taught them what each of them were called. Alex and I also painted two large colour wheels on the walls of the main room so that the children could see them and learn what they looked like. We got each of the kids to help paint and had such a great time doing it. The project was a huge success and a great way for the kids to get involved in something that they can now see up on the wall every day. Last week was also an awesome week because we have really gotten to know each of the teachers and staff at SOS. We are now starting to build such great relationships with not only the teachers and staff, but the children as well. Six weeks seems like a long time, but it isn't even close! I feel like now that I am getting comfortable with everything and really starting to make friends I have to leave. It has been such an amazing experience that I could never have even imagined I would get the opportunity to have. I've learned so much here that I will bring back home with me and carry with me for a long time. The children here are phenomenal and it's going to be a very sad day on June 5th when we have to fly home. This week will mostly consist of handing out the donations we brought with us and giving thank you cards and gifts to the staff and our friends at SOS. Yesterday, Alex and I gave out soccer balls and t-shirts and tomorrow we will be bringing things for more of the children. Although Thursday is our last day at the Kindergarden, I hope to go back Saturday before we fly out to spend the final day with the kids. I have so much to learn from them and I can only hope they have learned at least one thing from me.
I will try to post once more before we leave, but am unsure if I will get the chance to come back to the internet cafe. If you don't hear from me before I leave, I can't wait to see everyone when I get home!
Love you all, xo

The house build in Mochudi

Hello everyone! We are home from Mochudi after an intense weekend. I don't think I have ever worked so hard in my life. The strength that goes into building these homes here in Botswana is unbelievable. I was so proud of all the girls for all the effort that we put into this project. When we got to the plot there was literally nothing done - we started from the ground up. We dug the trench, which was 10.5 m long by 3.5 m wide and about 2.5 ft deep. We filled the trench with cement and then laid the bricks for an entire day. It was such hard work, but with the help of the professional builders and positive attitudes we did it! The last day we compacted the soil and filled the rest of the trench in with dirt before covering the foundation with cement. Absolutely everything was done by hand, even the mixing of the cement, which was a combination of sand, stones, cement and water. We wheelbarrowed all of the materials from separate piles into one, then mixed with shovels and wheelbarrowed the cement over to the trench. It was back breaking work and we are covered in cuts and bruises, but it was amazing to see how much these people value hard work. The family and professional builders were so grateful for our help and we were just as grateful to be there. It was an eye opening weekend. One I think everyone should experience. If young adults had to work like this to earn a living our country would be a lot different than it is now. The work ethic and value for hard work would be different and we would definitely be more grateful and appreciative for what we have and just how good we have it!
I will try to upload photos of the house build, and was able to email some to some of you (mom, please pass those on I didn't know everyones email off hand). I am missing everyone and these past four weeks have flown by! I know it will be sad to leave Botswana because the relationships we are building here are incredible. The children, teachers and people we meet on a daily basis are so warm and welcoming. It is such a positive and loving place - it will be difficult to leave, but I know I will bring it all back with me. Next weekend we are back in Mochudi on Saturday and Sunday to hopefully help complete the house. More to come soon!
Miss you all and love you xoxo

Thinking About HIV...

As we approach this weekend and start to think about the house build, the group held a reflection on Tuesday night about HIV and AIDS. Since we’ve been here and had the excitement and opportunity to experience this country, we have been busy seeing new things and learning more and more about the culture every day. This being said, Botswana has the second highest prevalence for HIV and AIDS in the world. You would think upon coming to such a country you would see evidence of the virus everywhere, but here in Botswana you really don’t. The people are so unbelievably friendly and happy to be here – they live without showing any signs or distress related to HIV, if they are infected. In fact, during reflection we even discussed how difficult it is to tell people who are HIV positive apart from those who are negative. At SOS I wonder which children could be positive, if passed on from their mothers. It breaks my heart to think that some of these children may be on ARV’s for the rest of their lives and may one day develop AIDS. Not only would they live with the medical condition, but also face the harsh stigma that comes along with it. Unfortunately, here in Botswana as I’m sure is similar in other countries, HIV and AIDS carry heavily negative social and cultural implications with it. For those who are positive disclosure can be difficult enough, but then having to face the negative treatment and discrimination of others is unthinkable. Some are isolated from their families and even abandoned – this is so even for children who were infected by their mothers during childbirth or breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is also such an important tradition in Botswana that if a woman is seen bottle feeding a baby, she is automatically deemed ill with HIV. In order to prevent the stigma of HIV, positive mothers will breast feed their children anyways, passing on the virus to their child. This may seem like such an unloving act for a mother to do, but until we are faced with such unimaginable stigma we will never know what they go through. Family, friends and community can be such important networks to have, but with the social stigma attached to HIV many of these networks and relationships vanish. We see HIV and AIDS as such medical issues, but we often forget how those infected can be affected mentally and emotionally. The medical, social and cultural implications of HIV and AIDS, along with stigma all contribute to the issue as a whole here in Botswana. All of which are important to keep in mind this weekend as we build a house for a family who has been largely affected by the virus. The daughters are orphans of HIV – their parents died of AIDS, which means it is possible they may be positive. If they are positive, their children could also be positive. You can now see how complex the issue becomes. I am hoping that this weekend opens up my eyes to the reality of HIV, orphans and vulnerable children, poverty and the reality faced by Botswana and its people. The build will be challenging physically, but also mentally and emotionally and I am hoping that the experience will be a lasting reminder of just how fortunate I am for my health, my education, my family, my friends and also to be born in a country where we can live such worry free lives. We often find ourselves stressing about time and money, but in Canada, both these come as luxuries. We really have nothing to be worried about…..

3 Days, 3 Countries, 3 Adventures

I can't believe we are already half way through our trip! Time is flying here in Gabs and lots of exciting things have been happening. To celebrate our half way point, the group left Thursday night and travelled north to Kasane for a safari in Chobe National Park. What an amazing experience! We camped out in the park overnight admist the lions and elephants and saw lots of wildlife on both the river and on-land safari tours. Saturday morning we crossed the border into Zimbabwe to head to our backpackers lodge. The next day we woke up to go see Victoria Falls. The falls - being one of the seven wonders of the world, was just that! I can't even explain to you how soaking wet we were. The mist was unreal and the view (when the sun shone through the mist) was breathtaking.
After being drenched by the falls and having only a few hours left before our departure back to Gaborone, my friend Jess and I literally ran out of Zimbabwe and crossed over the Zambia border by foot. We reached the Zim-Zam bridge where we BUNGIED!! I was so nervous but have always wanted to bungi jump. The drop off the bridge was 111 metres and it was absolutely nuts! I would do it all again in a heart beat. This weekend was definitely the most amazing weekend of my life, and I was so happy to be able to see such amazing things while here in southern Africa.

More about the family...

Dumelang (hello everyone). I would thank to thank those who have donated and are supporting our efforts to build a home for this family! We recently recieved a bit of information about the family that I would like to share with you. The family is made up of seven individuals, all of whom have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS. There are two sisters, one of whom has two children, the other has one child, and two cousins who will be living in the house. Right now we are not sure of where they are living, but hope to be able to put a roof over their heads. We are so looking forward to next weekend and extremely grateful to be a part of something so meaningful for this family. Please continue to pass on the message of our project, as we are still not quite at our goal.

I look forward to sharing photos and stories from this adventure of a lifetime! Thank you for all your posts and comments, I love reading them and sharing my excitement with you.

Love always, Claire xo

Please read :)

I would like to take the opportunity to share a potential project with everyone. Some of you may know that over the weekend of May 20 – 23 we will be helping (though physical labour and through 100% of the financing) to build a house for a family in a community outside of Gaborone. The group that came on this program last year did the same thing, so we will be able to visit last years house (and the deserving family), as well as put our blood, sweat and tears into another house. This is all done through a local organization called Stepping Stones (http://www.steppingstonesintl.org). Lisa (the founder/director) has been in contact with us for many months and Nicole, our team leader will be heading out there soon to see the site and the family for whom the house is being build. Tinny, a local community member who has been with the organization for several years, will be taking Nicole around the community so she can purchase some of the building supplies we need. So far we have raised just over $5500, however we are still short $2000. With eight girls here, we have made a pact to each raise $250, in hopes of gaining the required amount of money to fully finish the home. I understand that each and every one of you reading this have contributed tremendous amounts of money to me already, allowing me to be here, but if you or someone you know has just $5 or $10 to spare, I know it will add up quickly and we’ll be able to reach our goal. Please spread the word about this project, visit the website and please, please, PLEASE tell all your family and friends! The money will go to Nicole directly so that she can buy the supplies for the organization. The best part is that absolutely 100% of the money goes directly to the house build and we will be there to help it happen and have lots of photos to share. For all of you who have sponsored me and helped me get to Botswana, I am forever grateful! I would love to be able to do something here to give back to the community who has been so welcoming to us. I would love to give them something very meaningful and important, just as all of you have done for me. Please do not feel obligated in any way, shape or form to contribute, all that I ask is that you could please pass this message on to others. If you would like to help out and send some money my way, please email me at cgemmill@uoguelph.ca, or you can also send it through online banking (if you know how to do this). Also, feel free to get in touch with my mom, if you are around and perhaps work out something with her.
Again, I am so grateful to all of you who have already helped me, do not feel obligated, but please pass this on.
I love you and miss you all! Happy mothers day mom and Kate and happy 20th birthday Jess. I am thinking of you always xoxoxo

SOS!

Alex and I just completed our first week of placement at SOS in Tlokweng! We have been helping with the kindergarden in the SOS Village that the children living there attend, as well as children from around the community. The kids are so unbelievably cute and all so excited that we’ve been there to play with them. We are in the kindergarden from about 8:30-2:30 and then we sometimes go with the combi (bus) driver to take the kids home who are from outside SOS. This gives Alex and I the opportunity to see where some of the kids are coming from, as well as see Tlokweng. There are some very nice houses and there are also some mud huts, or shacks. The shacks are basically sheet metal and whatever other materials can be found and put together. It is tough to see where some of these kids are coming from, but also very easy to forget because these children are so loving and filled with joy. They are always smiling and never complain. Every day Alex and I arrive at SOS there are multiple hugs and high fives to be shared. These kids come from some very different backgrounds and who knows what goes on in their homes, but one thing is for sure and that is that they are just kids, they deserve all the love and affection that anyone would expect from a family or a community. I am so grateful to be able to share their love and laughter, even if it is only for a small time. I often think about (and worry) where some of the kids living in SOS will end up... if they will one day have a family of their own... Who knows maybe I will be able to come back one day to visit.

The first week..

Where do I begin.. this week has been really busy! We've been at UB (University of Botswana) for the most part getting introduced to the culture and history of the country. We've had presentations related to HIV/AIDS, human rights and gender and development, gender issues and concerns of the country, language lessons, cross-cultural connections, the history of Botswana and today visited the National Museum of Botswana. Some of the partner organizations have come in to talk to us about what their organizations do with people in the community. Yesterday, we were able to ride the combi (bus) for the first time. It's not like a bus in Canada, its more of a van where people just get in and out wherever they want, but it's confusing because there are no stops! Alex and I rode out to Tlokweng to our placement, the SOS Village and were able to go inside to visit for a short time. (Our placement hasn't been able to meet with Alex and I yet because the regional director has been away, so we are meeting for the first time when we begin work no Monday). The Village was amazing! As soon as we walked in a little girl, who couldn't have been over the age of three ran up to me and grabbed my hand - she was so beautiful!! Her eyes lit up and she was smiling from ear to ear! She led us to where she lived and we were able to meet her brother and her mother (at the village, there are houses with about 10 people in each, including children and a woman who is hired to care for them... the house becomes like a family - the kids are like siblings and the woman is considered their mother). I definitely did not want to leave and cannot wait to go back to see her and the others on Monday!
Tomorrow we are waking up really early and climbing Kgale Hill to watch the sunrise. We are going with some of the people from Botswana and they are doing a session on volunteerism. After the climb we will head to the Mokolodi Game Reserve to do a game drive. I am so looking forward to tomorrow and the weeks to come. I already feel as though time is going by fast and it will be hard to leave that beautiful little girl and all her brothers and sisters at SOS, as well as the wonderful people here in Botswana!
Miss you all, xo