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Libby Weir |
My African Story: what, where & why?
My name is Libby Weir, and my work first started in South Africa in 2005, when I volunteered at an Aids orphanage. In total I spent 15 months working there, helping to establish a preschool in an area called the Valley of a Thousand Hills, near Durban in KwaZulu, Natal (in the purple section of map). My work at the preschool introduced me to the local zulu community in which I now work for about three months each year.
Please see the Projects page and sub-pages for details of my work. This beautiful area, which is semi-rural, faces several acute challenges. It is the epicentre of the aids crisis in South Africa, and it has a 75% unemployment rate. These factors have resulted in a shortage of care givers and wage earners, many child headed families, thousands of orphans, and extreme poverty and deprivation. My work is essentially about restoring hope and dignity in this community, and giving people a way in which they can help themselves. South Africa is still trying to unshackle itself from the legacy of apartheid era, and a past embued with violence and warfare. It faces huge economic challenges, widespread corruption in govornment, appalling levals of crime, an education system in crisis, severe social unrest, and unsustainable inequality between the rich and the poor. On the positive side, however, it is a country of resourcefulness, creativity, vibrancy, energy and stunning diversity. The valley community in which I work consists of an endless array of traditional zulu huts,called rondavels, and small mud brick houses with corrugated iron rooves, mostly held in place with pumpkins and large rocks. Many of these houses are in a state of terrible disrepair. The local chief owns all the land, and gives people a small area on which they may build. Thus they do not own the land, but have lifetime tenure. As the name suggests, the area is an endless succession of valleys and gorges (see header image). The land is steep and the soil, though rich in some areas, is poor where I work. The winters are dry, and can be very cold, especially at night. The summers are humid and bring drenching rain, which takes its toll on the poorly constructed mud brick houses. The chief rules absolutely, but appoints Indunas to deal with the people on a day to day basis. These are always male, are highly respected and have considerable authority. It is very important to work with these men and have their cooperation before embarking on any work in the community. As an outsider, having their backing and assistance can have a significant influence on the outcome of any work done, and also provides a certain degree of safety. Sadly the Induna with whom I have always worked, and with whom I had a wonderful relationship, died in 2012 and will be sorely missed. In 2013, I arrived to find the new induna very receptive and supportive of my work, which will have a positive effect on everything I do here. Priorities
My future goals are to continue supporting the school in whatever way they most need. I will continue to supply school shoes and uniforms for those families who cannot afford to purchase them. I will, of course, continue with the vegetable gardens plus follow up on the chicken coops and carpentry training. These last two projects will provide additional protein and employment in the valley and, if successful, may be the first of many. As usual, every fundraising cent will go towards projects that directly help people in the community I help, there is always so much to be done! Even the smallest donations are appreciated, and really help to make a difference. Please sign up for my regular newsletter, or contact me if you are able to help. Thank you for your support. Libby |