The fourth and final day of my trip to Elandsdoorn began with a visit to a school. Ndlovu gave a talk to all the pupils there about contraception, safer sex and, above all, the taboo subject of menstruation. At some point, the NMC staff noticed that the schoolgirls were missing up to 10 days a month. The reason: they cannot afford sanitary pads. Since then, Ndlovu has been trying to provide the schoolgirls with these free of charge.
It is unbelievable that in a country like South Africa, which is so dominated by HIV, there is so much speechlessness. That’s why these lessons are vital!
Before my drive to the airport, I visited the so-called orphanages. Ndlovu provides a certain number of orphans whose parents have died of Aids with small, very simple houses. Several siblings and their children usually live together in these houses. Ndlovu also provides food. There is a small solar cell on each of the houses, which generates enough electricity for light and cell phones. Cooking is done on a fireplace in front of the house. The plastic buckets in which the food donations are collected every two weeks are then used to transport water.
Again my speechlessness when I meet the most adorable child in one of these orphanages and then learn that his mother was raped when he was 14 and that is how this child was conceived. Happiness and the greatest brutality so incredibly close together.
I am really grateful for this trip.
Being able to experience the work of Hugo Tempelman and his wife Liesje so directly is a great gift and spurs me on to do even more for the Hugo Tempelman Foundation.
Thanks also to Vivi Eickelberg for the invitation, but above all for her tireless efforts over the years. The young people all over Elandsdoorn know why they call her “Mama Vivi”.
Kind regards
Clemens
