Visit #4

Today I had my fourth visit with the women at the center. It was nice to be back up there after being away for a few weeks for break. While I was gone I received two packages from home with lots of art supplies, as well as beads and beading material for the women at the center. I brought the beading supplies to Jabu (the head of the Raphael Centre) this morning and she was thrilled. She and I cannot believe the amount of support I have gotten from home - the art supplies were enough, but now I'm getting beads and money for developing the photos, too - it's amazing! I'm so pleased! The women will be selling the jewelry that they make with the beads and the money will go directly to the women, with a small portion being donated to the center. Anyone interested in purchasing jewelry or AIDS ribbon pins please contact me via email and let me know.

After taking a two week trip and making lots of fabulous memories, I decided that this would be the theme of my first class back - "My Favorite Memory." There were only a six women there because some of the other ladies were continuing their Easter holiday, while others were visiting another woman in the hospital and sadly a few were still grieving over a recent AIDS-related death. The six of us and two of their beautiful baby girls sat around the table with our crayons and our memories, drawing away. They chatted in Xhosa, occasionally asking me about my break in English. It was relaxing to enjoy my morning with them. When everyone was done we stood up and shared our favorite memories.

I have photographed their drawings and posted them below. Narratives written in English are typed exactly as written, those in Xhosa are roughly translated through their verbal narrative shared during class. In the future all Xhosa writing will be translated into English by a Xhosa speaker so there will be no more guesswork.



Nomsa "Sheila" Ntile (left)

This is Nomsa and her boyfriend on Valentine's Day. He gave her presents and he gave her children presents, too. It was a "happy day."










Nomfundo "Tamara" Nojoko (right)

"It was me, my boyfriend & my baby and it was Sunday morning. We were cooking a nice dinner for us and Olwaso (the baby) was playing with her toys while we were cooking. It was a nice day. We were laughing, playing music, kissing while we were cooking."








Ntombekhaya "Patricia" Adam (left)

"Happy Memories:
The Day of Valentine here at Raphael Centre

There are clients that eat lunch at the centre hall. At that day we make us happy by share nice food, and show the way we love each other."







Ntombekahaya "Patrica" Mpolweni (right)

This is Ntombekahaya with her nieces going to pick up her sister from the Greyhound station coming from Johannesburg. After they picked her up they had a good lunch at KFC!








Phumeza "Pamela" Maholo (left)

"My family. We are going to church in the Easter week."








Veliswa "Patricia" Matinise (right)

This is Veliswa and her family going to church on Christmas. They do this every year and she loves it.









After the women all shared their favorite memories and drawings I shared mine - the day I got my acceptance letter to WAC. I did a simple drawing of the side of my face as I read the letter. I told the women my story about having to work really hard in high school to get into college and how it felt finally making it. They all applauded for me. By the end of this experience my favorite memory is going to be quite different...