A morning visit to Oasis and Streets Ahead. At Oasis, we visit a hiphop workshop with young kids, followed by counseling. It is only a roll-out of the concept, the first time they do it with preschoolers (it has been done successfully with teenagers). It seems to work well, the kids like it. The counseling …
We just write. There’s a lot of things to write aboout believe me. It’s kind of amazing being here in Harare. We see another movie. Amazing to be here in Harare. Already said that. Our hosts have decided to spend the Valentine weekend outdoors and leave us guarding – and enjoying – their place. It’s …
Friday. What’s going on? Guess who’s back. Bruno has a list of ngo’s that work together with Volens, and we go through it. Some organisations are located in other cities like Bulawayo, but the bulk of activities takes place here. Oasis and Streets Ahead are the most suitable for our intentions.
There’s now time to …
We are presented with a few NGO options, and pick two of them. We will visit two Harare-based organisations working with streetkids, teaching them life skills and preventing them from going down a spiral of addiction, depression or worse by organising Capoeira and Hiphop classes. We hope to link them later on with ngo’s working …
We enter Zimbabwe safe and simply by hitchhiking. A couple takes us all the way for a minor gas contribution. We end up in a typical Zimbabwean household, the head of it introduces himself as an entrepreneur waiting to make his next move as he struggles with the symptoms of the dictatorial regime. He calls …
We spend a lazy day writing our memoirs in Beira and take in some of the refreshing sea breeze of the long Mocambiquean coast. Such days, spent in the spirit of happy absent-mindedness commonly known as relaxing, give me the strength to go on and on. The Africa part of Charity Travel is nearing its …
Vilanculos/Vilankulo. A picturesque coastal town some 600 kilometers north of Maputo. Stroll along the lush boulevard and lodge in one of the beautiful guesthouses as you prepare for your boatride to the miraculous archipelago of Bazaruto where pristine beaches are awaiting the intrepid traveler and diving courses and whales and… okay, we did go to …
Oswaldo and I buy some of the materials for the exhibition of the children’s paintings and photographs. With our donation of 10,000 Meticais most of the expenses are covered.
Yeon sleeps today and regains energy.
Mozambique is treating us well. Maputo might be crowded, and I might have freaked out standing with …
Missionaries of charity, CalcuttaKolkata, India. March 25th, 2010Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of charity offer volunteer opportunities in the poorest parts of Calcutta and other cities for every visitor who is willing to help.
We donate food for the orphans resident at the center.
NameMissionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa), CalcuttaAimThe Mother Teresa of Calcutta …
The plan is to organize an exhibition of the art created by the children at Muodjo. Potential benefactors will visit that display of the streetkids’ interesting drawings and might chip in. So Oswaldo and I take a bus to the city and look for materials. Since we can’t find them, we end up hanging out …
We visit a Charity Shop in the morning and have a bad experience with the owner. We introduce ourselves and Charity Travel, the rough style. Let me reconstruct the words of the prissy decadent shopkeeper.
“We’re looking to do somethin’ good. Maybe you could link us to some small-scale ngo around here?”
-“You guys are …
Now we walk along the highway to Kempton park, take a minibus to downtown and swoosh up the 50 floor Carlton center tower to oversee the city. Square blocks, highrises. Only the distant African landscape reminds us we are still in Africa. We see buses meandering around Ghandi square, and being fans of Ghandi we …
We take an early morning matatu to the Donholm junction and change bus to the airport. Some writing in the departure hall, an expensive breakfast larded with a guilty feeling, an abundant intake of cappuccino and avocado sandwich, a safe flight to Johannesburg with a random encounter of sorts.
Wycliffe, my seat neighbour, is …
Eph’Phatha Orphan HomeThiruvannaimalai, India. March 10th – 17th. 2010A wonderful orphans home in Tamil Nadu, India, run by the most hospitable people you can imagine.
Charity Travel works with Eph’Phatha about a week to help starting income generation projects.
NameEph’phatha Orphan homeAimSupporting orphaned children in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaSince1996Staff2: Nehru and RubyPeople …
CORP MumbaiMumbai, India. March 8th, 2010CORP (Community Outreach Programme) provides vocational training, workshops and shelter to underprivileged youth in the Dharavi slum, Mumbai.
We visit the slum with director Nirmal and support a tailoring vocational training program with a sewing machine.
NameCORP Community Outreach Programme, MumbaiAimSupporting needy children, women and slum communities …
Ikageng Centre JohannesburgJo-burg, South Africa. February 26th, 2010″Ikageng aims to improve the quality of life for orphaned and other vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS on a sustainable basis, and to ensure that they achive and live a fair life like every other child [and] to help develop [them] into educated, employable adults who could be …
