Charity Sponsor shares experiences of visit to SOS Africa in South Africa
Ian Swindale, a Charity Sponsor, recently spent a few days with the SOS Africa Charity Staff and Children in the Western Cape, South Africa. Swindale shared his experiences of the visit, which took place on Thursday 11 April, 2024.
After an overnight flight from London, Swindale landed at Cape Town airport in the early morning. Sive, who drives for SOS Africa, was waiting to take him to his hotel in the hills above Gordon’s Bay. This was Swindale’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa and he was looking forward to seeing first-hand the work being done by SOS Africa.
The first day of his visit was spent settling in, and at 2pm, Swindale was picked up by Matt, who he had never met before. They headed to the newly completed Gordon’s Bay centre, where Matt lives with his wife Claudia and their five-year-old son Ted. Swindale was impressed by the new centre, which includes rooms for various activities, a kitchen for cookery lessons, a balcony for judo, a swimming pool, and a manual skills training centre. He also had the opportunity to join a group of young teenagers in a trivia quiz.
On the second day, Swindale met with six of the eight care worker trainees who he is financially supporting throughout their course. They shared their experiences with the elderly in the care homes where they are training and expressed their hopes for the future. Swindale was pleased to know that once they pass the course, they will have guaranteed jobs to go to. He also met with dedicated staff members Lorraine, Charmaine, and Colleen, who are committed to ensuring the success of all the women who pass through their doors.
Later that day, Swindale visited Somerset West Methodist Primary School, where he witnessed Eden, a dedicated teacher, helping first graders learn to read. He was impressed by her approach and her commitment to making the reading program culturally suitable for the children. He also had lunch with Marja, an educational psychologist employed part-time by SOS Africa as a consultant.
At St Michael’s Primary School in Elgin Orchards, Swindale visited the SOS Africa Education Centre, a wooden structure designed by Claudia. He met with staff members Davedeen and Michsaan and was impressed by their dedication to the children in their care.
The following day, Swindale visited the final education centre in Mondeor School of Skills, a partnering school of SOS Africa. Principal Charne showed him around and he was impressed by the school’s aim to train children who are less academically inclined to learn a skill or skills that will provide them with opportunities for full-time employment.
Swindale’s last stop was at SOS Africa’s Grabouw Education Centre, a timber-framed building designed by Claudia. He met with the team led by Sharnice and her two assistants, Sinazo and Ilenthea. He was pleased to sponsor their wages for a couple of years while Matt works on bringing their salaries into the general SOS Africa budget.
As his visit came to an end, Swindale reflected on the happy children he met in the educational centres and the dedication of the staff he encountered. He also acknowledged the efforts of Matt, who has been working for the past 21 years to increase the amount of support SOS Africa can offer to these impressive children from poor backgrounds.
As Swindale said goodbye to Matt at the Gordon’s Bay centre and was driven to his hotel in Cape Town, he couldn’t help but think that he would be back to visit SOS Africa. He concluded by saying, “I think you’ll be back,” to which Matt replied, “I think he may well be right.”
SOS Africa is a charity that provides education and care for children from poor backgrounds in South Africa. The charity’s work is supported by generous donors like Ian Swindale, who make a real difference in the lives of these children. To learn more about SOS Africa and how you can support their cause, visit https://pressat.co.uk/.
