Last week began with Madiba Day, it has become tradition in our country to spend time, 67 minutes, doing some sort of community service. In the spirit that we want to raise our kids thinking that service and volunteering is a way of life. In our country there is plenty of opportunity to serve, you really don’t have to look too far. Last year we celebrated Madiba Day in the pouring rain with the rangers from SANParks and later did a week of volunteering on our own. It was such fun… that we really wanted to get involved again… so this year for Madiba Week we got together with the rangers and this time we helped them to upgrade a Club House for Seniors in Masiphulele. We didn’t have a specific job, just wherever help was needed we joined in. Here you go a photo rich post, beginning with our gang of volunteers…
And the clubhouse they helped to transform…
So much happened to this little building over the week… Not to mention life skills and heart skills learnt…
It really was a phenomenal effort by all the teams of rangers and we were just thrilled to be able to help and be a part of their project.
Day 1:
We began by taking everything outdoors…
And sorting and cleaning began…
Everything including the curtains…
And the painting began…
And the shape of a garden had been cleared and established…
And a lot of carrying was needed…
And even more…
And the champion carrier, who carried all these logs!!!
And then the building construction began…
Day 2:
We got to meet some of the seniors…
And just as all good projects begin with lots of energy and enthusiasm… the next day began with a lull… the truth is in volunteering there is a lot of waiting around. And so they went in search of things to do…
We did a hunt for garbage… And found a family of lizards…
That might have nipped during their rescue…
Paint scraped…
Floors swept…
And mopped…
And much more carrying…
And oh joy… the deck arrived…
And all hands on deck…
And seedlings to plant…
The garden planted… just before the rain came down…
Day 3:
More cleaning out… and carrying…
Some folk were clever enough to stay out of the rain…
Curtains back up…
It’s harder than it looks…
Everything back in and the couches covered…
Others needed to work on their decking skills…
Day 4:
The Medicinal garden was planted…
And the sun came out…
Food parcels delivered…
And new crafty donations…
Gifts shared…
And a tea party for everyone…
the deck was tried out…
Lessons about medicinal plants for everyone…
And that was it… a job well done…
Huge thank you to the SANParks rangers who let us join them and help along with their fabulous project…
I enjoyed following along on IG and it was fun to get more details here. What an impact you made, gang! Great job!
Hay Christi, thank you… There is nothing like hard work for creating the best fun… I have a feeling my guys are going to be crying out for more projects like these and one week, every once in a while is just not going to be enough!!! Hope you are having a great week!!!
What a wonderful opportunity. The cleaned up clubhouse is probably just an added bonus. All those skills and bonds made. Wonderful.
Hay Cheryl, you are so right… I think the bonus was that for just a couple of days those seniors felt really loved, especially that some folk took time out to clean up and sort things out that they were completely unable to do for themselves. So all good in every way!!!
your kids are amazing – you and the father person should be so proud!
Oh Marcia, Thank you… they had such fun… plenty of life skills learnt, plenty of life lessons learnt… there is no better place to learn than when you are in the midst of it!!! Have a fabulous day!!!