Day 25

Today, two volunteer girls introduced the trampoline to Agape. Its about 3m wide and 1m from the ground. I was keep saying that it should be used with a net least as its more dangerous to fall onto the ground than fall onto the trampoline in a same position but they never take my word so its without a net. As a children's nurse, we always say lets ban this thing but the company needs a proof that it is dangerous enough (basically, need more child to die before, I guess?) so its still on the market. Agape ground is not very well maintained, thats another problem. Today, the one of the girl cut her feed very deeply with something on the ground (could be a stone, glass, metals, I couldnt find which one as there were so many things on the ground). It didnt bleed that badly but doesnt seems like it gonna close naturally as its about 2cm long and 4-5mm deep. I wanted to take her to a doctor but there were no car. Then in the afternoon I have been told that the clinic nearby only takes a pregnant women today. There are the place for a medical problem but not for a surgical problem. For a girl who injured today, she can wait until next day but what they gonna do if the injury is much severe? Moreover, when I spoke to the manager, she said the clinic cost a money. It should be free I said then she said I can take her if its free. Well, even its not free, I think this place should be well supported to be able to take a child to the hospital when they needed. I think this is a big thing I have to discuss with the organizations. I was worried about that if any of the kids who has got HIV are receiving an ARVT (anti-retro-virus therapy) or not because I have never seen any kids taking a medication on regular basis. There are so much basic needs not been met here (there are no mirror to use in girls room and none of them have a compact to carry, they are carrying a broken glass) and its so silly as the place receives government grunt for each child too on the top of all the money from us and other organizations.


Yesterday, we went to see a reception of the white school. Compare to Agape creche, we can see how much more the child can do in different environment. The children in the white school has been stimulated well in those reception, ready to attend a school and ready to learn more. We watched our creche for a month but they havent done anything different for whole month. Aunties are not a professional teachers. They could do better with more training and it may will motivate them too. I have asked that if our aunties could be trained at the white school reception. The lady showed us a place was not sure about it but they do have an open day. I have spoke to the other volunteer who is going to stay for another month if she can try introduce those things so I hope that could be a good start.

Agape has got good aunties too. I have became very close with some of the aunties.Yesterday, when the girls came for a cooking class, one of the girl said that she needs to be transferred to the other place. She said she miss the one of the auntie. This auntie is maybe much older than her grandmother but she does her best for the children and kids know that. There is another auntie who teaches me Zulu everyday. One of the teacher was not always friendly first then, another day, when I was sitting in the creche in the morning, she walked into the creche then came to me with her arms open, to say good morning and then she gave me a hug. There are many things aunties in Agape can learn from the white school reception but there are something they can learn from us too, I believe.

Tonight is a talent show, Agape Got Talent!