3 November 2009.

It's around 6 pm when I say goodbye to Tris and Sofi at JHB Tambo International Airport. We spent a long day in the car, driving up here from Winterton, with several stops in and around Johannesburg. We also loaded a trailer full with physiotherapeutic materials that have been donated to Isibani.

Looking back at the past 3 weeks, I realize how fast time has gone by. I am thrilled with the beautiful experiences.

Believing and engaging yourself in a project, gets a whole other dimension once you have actually visited that project. I already visited Isibani and Kusasa in 2008. This time, I witnessed how things have grown and improved this past year.

The ladies who run the project locally (Sofi, Tris, Christine, Barbara and Michele), put all their heart and soul in it. I was invited to one of their meetings, and saw that they don't take issues the light way. Their argumentations were very animated.

It became very clear to me that their mission isn't a walk in the park. Not only do they have to work with limited means, there are also the huge differences between their western vision, and the Zulu habits regarding raising and caring for children.

The contracts for the volunteers are drafted in English. Sofi will have those checked by someone how knows the Zulu culture inside out. Where needed, the contracts will be adjusted to the Zulu norms.

In the end, the Zulu people will have to run Kusasa themselves. It will be a long journey, with still a lot of problems to be solved.

Only a positive approach will lead to a brighter future. In Winterton, they work very hard to reach that goal.

Chrisse