The idea I had of having the students swap bookmarks and creating a personal connection is starting to come together nicely.

I spent 3 days last week at the school during lunch time and the students could come to tuckshop and colour in a Bookmark for Humani.  Thankfully, I was lucky enough to have 2 other Mum’s come and help me out.  Once the students are let out for play before lunch/eating time it is absolute madness in the tuckshop area!

What a great response we had from those students that came to ask what we were doing.  Once they realised that there was a chance they may receive a bookmark back from a student at the Humani school in Zimbabwe they were all very excited, some of the grade 1’s were so excited they came back each day to colour in a few different styles of bookmark.

The bookmarks are looking great and they have all done a fabulous job of colouring them in and making them unique.   I was so pleased to see so many handed in from the Grade 7 classes.

We have over 100 already finished and laminated ready to take over in October.

So tonight is the big Zumba Charity Event…

I’m slightly nervous about having to get up on stage with Wendy and do a couple of tracks, but incredibly excited as well.

Just this week we were advised that the Orphanage had taken in another 7 children and that because of this, they had run out of food again.

Michael has sent more money to them and they have been able to buy more food to hopefully last till we get there.

But we really need to do something on a more permanent basis, and so Vanessa and I have set up a bank account called ‘SAVE for Africa’ and we will use this account for just the Uthando House Orphanage.  We are hoping to get some families who are interested in some form of ‘adopt a family’ system where they can sponsor an orphan at Uthando House on a regular basis.

Based on the support we have had over the last 3 months, I have no doubt that we will be able to make this possible.

All funds raised at tonights Zumba event will go directly, and personally to the Uthando House Orphanage in South Africa.

Vanessa, Michael and I (as well as 3 other ladies) will be personally shopping to fill the Uthando House larder/pantry.

We will also be giving the carers the night off and cooking a feast for them as well as the 22 orphans.
This feast will include ice cream and fizzy drink…. I can’t wait to see the look on the children’s faces when we tell them “YOU’RE HAVING ICE CREAM…!!”

Thank you to everyone for your support & generous donations for the raffles tonight.
Most importantly, thank you to Zumba classes with Wendy who has so kindly offered to host this Charity Event for us.

Your generosity and compassion have helped us keep at least 22 children fed, clothed, warm and safe from any further human trafficking….

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Zumba event tonight.

PS…

If you would like to make a donation to ‘SAVE for Africa’ OR to ‘Barefoot in Africa’, you will find further information by clicking HERE, clicking on the ‘Donations’ tab on this website or by contacting me at shona@wilsonfamily.net.au

Wow… only 15 days to go until the Zumba Charity event and I have a girls long weekend away to the Sunshine Coast to organise before then…

It’s probably time I started getting things in order for the event and making sure we have everything we need.

I’ve still been trying to come up with ideas on African themed decorations for the night that are quick and easy to put up an take down without making too much mess – but I’m coming up blank so I might shift my energies elsewhere.

I did find a great deal on some Zumba silicone bracelets – so all going to plan, everyone who comes along can grab themselves one. 

It would’ve been pretty cool to have some silicone bracelets made up in African colours with the event stencilled on them, but by the time I thought about it, it was too late to get them delivered in time.

I’m so excited that we have these 5 fantastic raffles up for grabs… I’m blown away at the generosity with donations for these raffles.

I sure hope we have a big turn out to make it all worth while.  Even just to raise $100 could mean another month of food for the Orphanage.

 

 

 

Time to start planning and getting organised for our next fundraiser.

The fabulous Wendy, my Zumba instructor, has kindly offered to host a ‘Zumba for Charity’ event to help raise funds for us to take to the Orphanage in South Africa.

Wendy has generously offered to donate profits for the night and we have had some very generous donations for raffles as well.

I’m quite excited, we have had 4 fantastic raffles donated so far.  I’m trying to decide whether I should source maybe another couple, but not sure if that will make it too many on the night.

Raffle No:1     Fitness Package

Raffle No:2     Pure Scents Candle Hamper

Raffle No:3     Nutrametics Pamper Package

Raffle No:4     Bunnings $50 Gift Card

Part of my deal with Wendy is that I have to get up on stage with her for 2 tracks…  As one of the ‘larger’ and ‘less fit’ ladies in the class, I’m feeling a bit nervous about doing this… my usual spot is always down the back of the class where no one can see me.  The only thing that makes me feel slightly better is that Wendy is such a lovely down to earth person who I know will instantly make me relax and have fun.

Luckily for me, Wendy has let me choose the tracks/songs that I would like to do, so I’ve picked a couple that are a bit more ‘low impact’ – less jumping around.

Wendy has also been working on some great African tracks for us as, and I’ve been trying to think of other things we can do on the night to theme it… I thought about maybe some African coloured decorations or a themed gift for everyone.  Perhaps I’ll sit down and make some more loom band bracelets in African colours.

Success…!

We have managed to allocate the thongs for Humani village amongst 5 of  us, and have ear-tagged the 6th persons luggage allowance for the Uthando House Orphanage.

It also looks like I will be able to still take the 100 early reader books  and bookmarks, which I am really pleased about.

The quilts for the orphanage are well under way and quite a few are already finished and look fabulous.  We couldn’t have done this without all the wonderful people who have volunteered their time to sew these special quilts, nor the generous people who have paid for them.  We have received so many donations and pledges to pay for the quilts, that we will be using all 4 corners of each quilt to embroider the families surnames.

With any remaining money from the quilts, we are hoping to purchase some T-Shirts and perhaps some other clothing items for the Uthando House children as well.

Everything has been running smoothly, for the most part, better than I ever imagined. But sadly today, we hear news that Uthando House orphanage in South Africa are completely out of food…

Such an awful heart sinking feeling to know that we are so close to being able to fill their pantry, but yet just not soon enough 😦

Michael at Barefoot in Africa is frantically trying to get funds to them anyway he can so that they can at least manage until we get there in October.

We have enough fundraising at present to provide the orphanage with food for about 6 months, which we will organise when we get there… but I find myself wondering what happens after the 6 months…?

Our school & community focus has generally always been just about the village of Humani in Zimbabwe…  the orphanage was presented to us by Michael after his last trip earlier this year.

Is there enough room in the hearts of our school & community to continue supporting both the village & the orphanage…?

Over the past week, I find myself stunned and amazed at the spirit of generosity & kindness that has flowed from friends, family & the local community.

Generosity isn’t based on someone’s economic status and doesn’t have to be in a financial form.  It’s just as important in the form of help, support and encouragement.  It is about giving from the heart.

A helping hand, a willing heart… that’s all it takes.

Did you know that ‘giving’ actually activates parts of the brain associated with pleasure and social connection.
It releases endorphins in the brain, producing a “helper’s high” and provides many long-term health benefits.

I recently read an online article (PsychAlive) that talked about how practising generosity could be the very key to a happy and healthy life.
Studies apparently show that being kind and generous benefits both our physical and mental health.
Not only does generosity reduce stress, support one’s physical health, enhance one’s sense of purpose, and naturally fight depression, it is also shown to increase one’s lifespan.

Who doesn’t want a longer, less stressful and more meaningful life…!

This article also talked about how being generous also makes us feel better about ourselves. Generosity is both a natural confidence builder and a natural repellant of self-hatred.
By focusing on what we are giving rather than on what we are receiving, we create a more outward orientation toward the world, which shifts our focus away from ourselves.
While maintaining a healthy level of self-awareness and sensitivity to oneself is important, too often we narrow in on ourselves with a negative lens. We spend too much time listening to the “critical inner voice” in our heads, which scrutinises our every move and nags at us with negative thoughts towards ourselves and others.
These negative thoughts undermine our confidence and can lead to self-sabotage.
Being generous distracts us from the critical inner voice’s barrage of nasty thoughts and creates a strong argument against it as well.
When we see someone else benefiting from our kind actions, for instance, it is hard for the inner voice to argue that we are worthless.

I was thinking today, how wonderful it is that we are nurturing in our children these undeniably valuable qualities… generosity, kindness, compassion…
Through our own selfless actions and generosity, we are creating emotional and personal connections in the lives of those living in the village of Humani and the orphanage of Uthando House.

How much love goes into just one blanket for an orphan…
Times this one I’ve been working on today by THREE FAMILIES!!!

I’m making it, and it is being donated by The Dirschka family and The Black family.

When I started this unexplainable crusade of mine to Africa, I knew I would have plenty of support from my friends but I never expected so much generosity & enthusiasm as well.

You guys Rock xx

This photo might lead you to believe  this is a cute and cuddly cat who must really love to be involved…

But alas… No…

Hunter and I have a long standing agreement… he doesn’t like me much and I’m pretty much scared of him!

This was where he decided he would rest for the morning, and I wasn’t going to argue.  But after a while, he decided that the blanket must be for him, and he tried to take it…  this forced me to defend the blanket and take back ownership…

So, we had a bit of a chat and then there was some ‘fisty-cuff’ involved, but I can proudly say  that I won and got to finish sewing the blanket without a single scratch.

🙂