Feed Lavender Hill
This year I decided to do something a little crazy. Instead of camping with my family dogs and making some extra money while on summer break and then going back to college in the fall, I decided to go on an extended service trip to South Africa. I even signed up for online classes because school will start before I am back. But this fundraiser is not about me, it is about the community I am staying in, Lavender Hill, South Africa.
The washing hung out in Lavender Hill
There are twenty four units in each building. One I visited last week had sixteen people living in it.
When I was in South Africa for three weeks last summer, I met a woman who earned a place in my heart instantly. Her name is Charmaine Josephs, but everyone calls her Auntie Charmaine. Her life is one of transformation. She was married to one of the major, if not the biggest, drug dealers in the area. She had plenty of money, and people knew who she was. Eventually the police knew who she was too, and she was arrested and sentenced together with her husband (who has since passed away). While she was in prison, she gave her life over to God and swore to tread a different path.
Auntie Charmaine and me
Now she is living in the same house that she and her husband used to deal drugs out of, but instead of passing a neighbor ecstasy pills, she passes a loaf of bread, and instead of portioning out marijuana she portions out stew. She wants to be the positive influence that was missing from her childhood for the children surrounding her home. She buys the children school supplies and gets their hair cut, she takes them on outings to show them life outside the projects and teaches them dance routines. The main practical need she meets, is hunger and malnutrition. As often as she can, she fills her giant pot with a variety of stews and soups for the children and invalids. She feeds two to three hundred each time, and she does it without the backing of a church or non-profit. She gives from her wages as a retail worker, and she gets gifts from people like me and you who see what she is doing and decide to be a part of it. Lavender Hill is not my home. Afrikaans is not a language I can speak. I have never gone to sleep without food in my fridge, and none of my families are in a street gang. I am doing what I can to befriend my little neighbors, but it is Auntie Charmaine that is here day in and day out giving hugs and advice with a side of soup.
Ladling samp and beans
She always makes sure that there are plenty of fruits and veggies in their meals!
Auntie Charmaine had been feeding the kids three times a week, but told me a few days ago that we are going to have to go down to just once a week because her money is going to run out. I am hoping to raise enough to fund feeding them twice a week for a year. Any amount of money raised will be handed over to her as it comes in for use in her work with the kids. Will you join me and Auntie Charmaine in filling some empty stomachs and bringing hope and love to some smiling little faces? Any amount of money and prayers will make a difference.
Check back for updates and more photos!
Cheers!!
Tatiana
The washing hung out in Lavender HillThere are twenty four units in each building. One I visited last week had sixteen people living in it.When I was in South Africa for three weeks last summer, I met a woman who earned a place in my heart instantly. Her name is Charmaine Josephs, but everyone calls her Auntie Charmaine. Her life is one of transformation. She was married to one of the major, if not the biggest, drug dealers in the area. She had plenty of money, and people knew who she was. Eventually the police knew who she was too, and she was arrested and sentenced together with her husband (who has since passed away). While she was in prison, she gave her life over to God and swore to tread a different path.
Auntie Charmaine and meNow she is living in the same house that she and her husband used to deal drugs out of, but instead of passing a neighbor ecstasy pills, she passes a loaf of bread, and instead of portioning out marijuana she portions out stew. She wants to be the positive influence that was missing from her childhood for the children surrounding her home. She buys the children school supplies and gets their hair cut, she takes them on outings to show them life outside the projects and teaches them dance routines. The main practical need she meets, is hunger and malnutrition. As often as she can, she fills her giant pot with a variety of stews and soups for the children and invalids. She feeds two to three hundred each time, and she does it without the backing of a church or non-profit. She gives from her wages as a retail worker, and she gets gifts from people like me and you who see what she is doing and decide to be a part of it. Lavender Hill is not my home. Afrikaans is not a language I can speak. I have never gone to sleep without food in my fridge, and none of my families are in a street gang. I am doing what I can to befriend my little neighbors, but it is Auntie Charmaine that is here day in and day out giving hugs and advice with a side of soup.
Ladling samp and beansShe always makes sure that there are plenty of fruits and veggies in their meals!Auntie Charmaine had been feeding the kids three times a week, but told me a few days ago that we are going to have to go down to just once a week because her money is going to run out. I am hoping to raise enough to fund feeding them twice a week for a year. Any amount of money raised will be handed over to her as it comes in for use in her work with the kids. Will you join me and Auntie Charmaine in filling some empty stomachs and bringing hope and love to some smiling little faces? Any amount of money and prayers will make a difference.
Check back for updates and more photos!
Cheers!!
Tatiana
Organizer
Tatiana Martin
Organizer
Seabrook, NH