written by volunteer teacher Clare Lawlor

Sunday 30th July
Team Silversands arrived in Cape Town. All were thrilled with the lovely musical welcome we received from the Mellon Educate team and especially from the children and the principal of Ummangaliso. The children sang and danced and the excitement was palpable.

Monday 31st July
An early alarm got everyone up and moving and everyone left for their schools together for an 8.00 am start. The journey that first day was very shocking as the terrible reality of the townships outside Cape Town revealed itself. Silversands is a High School situated in Barndale, Kuilsriver. It has 930 Students and a total staff of 39 of which 29 are teachers. When we arrived at the school, we were so happy to meet our Mellon team, Chantel and Verity, with whom we had been in contact before our arrival. The school prefects stood in a guard of honour to welcome us and to accompany us in to the Hall where the whole school, staff and students, were assembled to meet us.

On day one, Chantel and Verity very helpfully had prepared an activity for us to assist us in moving around and orienting ourselves in the school. We had to visit different classes and talk to teachers and students to obtain information about the school for a questionnaire. This was a lovely way of becoming acquainted with the students and teachers and most enjoyable. Some of us were a bit more competitive than others and Chantel and Verity awarded a prize to our great team leader, Caitriona. Later in the day we met and talked to the Principal, Joy, the deputy principal, Sam and the senior management team.

Tuesday 1st August
On Tuesday the Silversands team dispersed among the 8th and 9th grades in Maths, Literacy and Creative Arts (Music). Already the learning was beginning both in terms of approaches, behavioural attitudes, management issues within and out of the classroom, student engagement and affirmation and fun. The students were very responsive and excited about our visit and already we were beginning to forge friendly relations with the wonderful staff of Silversands High School. On Tuesday the team were brought to visit the home of one of the 11th grade students. This was an exceptional experience for each and every one of us. We were very honoured to be given the opportunity to meet and talk to our student, her mother and her younger sister.

These were fine and wonderful people, who, in the face of extraordinarily difficult social, economic, emotional and practical challenges, have instilled in themselves and each other the importance of the goal of education. The sense of maturity, philosophical thought and the depth of engagement in the value of education was a predominant theme on our visit and we were literally blown away by what we heard and what we saw. This is a common, if not universal, theme that we have found since our arrival in Cape Town since Sunday. There is a real sense among some of the generation who emerged from the period of Apartheid of the importance of passing on a high level of education to enable their children to build better lives.

This year we are back in Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s largest township. A sprawling mass of shacks situated just a stone’s throw from the wealthy suburbs that are home to South Africa’s rich and famous. In November 2017, we will return to work under the banner of Mellon Educate and this time we are going for the hat-trick!

We will be sending the Mellon volunteers to regenerate not one, not two but THREE sites;
Usasazu High School, Sosebenza Primary and Sobambisana Primary Schools.

Education is paramount to creating sustainable development and giving children the best possible start in life. Creating a safe environment for children to learn in is the foundation for this. Usasazu High School provides an education for 1,300 learners, the majority of whom come from one of last years blitz schools, Ummangaliso, Sosebenza for 1,000 learners and Sobambisana for 1,300 learners.

None of this would be possible without the hard work of YOU, our volunteers. We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in with familiar and fresh faces for another amazing week in November. We are very close to closing the blitz for this year so if you have not signed up and wish to experience the unique magic of the blitz week, please get in touch as soon as possible. We are raring to go and hope you are too!

Usasazu Secondary School – 1,300 learners

Sosebenza Primary School – 1,000 learners

Sobambisana Primary School – 1,300 learners

Festive colour spreads the streets,

Towns and cities that never sleep,

Windows filled with lights and boxes

Advertised by trampolining foxes-

Adverts compete for the best story of joy,

A family song,

A red-cheeked boy

All wrapped up holding a gadget or gift,

When after Xmas we are encouraged to sift

Through sales

And rails

And Boxing Day’s best

When the real saving is a day of rest.

The real present, a smile or a laugh

Delivered by your loved one

Or that favourite aunt

Who every year, may fall asleep

And be the one who sits and weeps

At Comedy re-runs of Only Fools

And silently snuffles on the corner stool

As her mince pie slips, down her lap

During that little pre evening nap.

Charades, monopoly, cheese boards, port

The table cleared as we all resort

To a comfortable position –

A Christmas film?

A Soap’s big day storyline,

Ending in doom.

Our temptation to round off with a faint whiff of misery

As fictional characters

Go through storylines of bigomy

When really it would be nice to see

Some humour of a family

Who hasn’t been thwarted by the soap-world baddy

And instead is celebrated for being a hard working daddy.

That’s the story we want to share,

A real life moment of the good that is there,

For whilst we get gripped as a nation by pretend,

There is a real danger that may not end in a big finale or ratings snub,

A magazine front page and

“Get out of my pub!”

There’s a real family,

Without any tree

Sitting in shelter,

About to lose their mammy,

There is a real child who has to learn the lesson

That Christmas for them is not about presents.

It’s just another day

To come together and hope

that someone is coming

And Santa’s no joke –

That there is some magic,

A power of good

That once a year flies to every neighborhood

Gifting more than manufactured toys,

It’s that little bit of sparkle we hear about called Joy.

We sing it in hymns,

We write it in cards,

We see it lit up and it doesn’t feel hard

To say it,

To feel it

Or accept it is real,

So try and send it

So others can steal

A moment of happy stuff

A glimpse or a taste

Of the real point of Christmas

And our human race –

To Give

And Receive

With no expectation,

Just because we are working as one global nation

That shouldn’t be wrapped up in one big day

Or taking 0% finance to make it okay,

Because there’s so many of us

And so more with less,

Lining cold streets

In un-lit depths of all our communities,

So, look down and stop,

At the pair of shoes poking out a cardboard box,

Or the young woman holding a cup,

It wasn’t her fault,

She may not have messed up,

She is a person,

Who came into this world –

Just like we all did, she was a girl –

She could be your daughter, your sister, your friend,

She could be anywhere,

Because the world doesn’t end…

It keeps going round,

It’s one big connection,

It’s just up to us as to what we direction,

We follow and take

What magic we make,

So celebrate Christmas kindness,

Like we do at Mellon Educate.

The return of the blitz.
One week on –
The smiling faces of children not gone.
The smell of site life,
Still live and fresh,
As you close your eyes, sit and reflect.

Sitting here now with a strong cup of tea,
Knowing there is something much bigger than me,
bigger than you,
the collective us – which achieved something that saw bricks rise from the dust.
Whatever your part as a blitz volunteer,
the resonance and emotions are all very clear –
as you try to attempt to share, what was done,
in between the day job and supermarket run.

The noise of our life, of cars, tubes, TV
and knowing we have left a different reality.
Where families sit,
under shack roofs,
dimly lit walkways and dangerous routes
that take them to work,
to go buy their tea,
that return them from school – the place they feel free.

We felt the freedom that education can bring,
we saw the hope,
we heard them sing – and dance and laugh and exude such unity,
When knowing they return,
each day to poverty.

It hasn’t gone away.
Their Christmas won’t bare gifts,
yet the life and the love of the children lift
you up when you’re feeling those post blitz blues,
because you know, there’s more we can do.
And their waiting,
their working
for a better chance to be,
in a place that is not what we all see;
Of congested roads, folk rushing through days,
grabbing a Starbucks
avoiding your gaze,
buying a bargain mod con on Black Friday,
A quick pint in the pub,
or some weekly Pilates.

You come back and try to ‘fit it all in’
When actually, you don’t know where to begin,
to tell people about this amazing place,
where hope it etched onto every face
and senses are opened
and people connect
despite the deep danger,
despite the neglect.

Township life may be hard and unfair,
and through time we strive to not see it there,
yet inside exists the jewel of humanity,
that one word, which conquers all life profanity’s
that one thing we all strive to receive
regardless of religion,
or race,
we believe
that if we can give people a road to equality,
it can change the cycles of conflict & economy,
it can get people talking and connecting again,
learning and striving and evolving Man.
And as anyone who has returned from this Blitz will know,
there’s only one word to describe that glow,
that urges you to dust off the helmets and gloves,
spread the word for next year;
It’s a Blitz called ‘Love’.

The foundations were set,
the plans were laid,
the weeks of momentum caused no delays,
The plethora of names arriving on site,
each sporting helmets,
all bushy and bright.
The anticipation of building site life took hold
Sleeves were rolled up
and out came the bold.
The banter began as soon as dawn broke,
with firsties being privy to a fair few jokes-
to our dear volunteer, who went off at the larks,
to find a bucket, to go and catch sparks!
And to another dear soul who spent an hour, like a saint,
to search in the cabin for a tin of dry paint!
The humour and heart has powered us through,
the skills of our foreman and volunteers too,
who may never have plastered, or blocked or skimmed
and yet chain ganged and powered the build to the end.
The paint is drying, the playgrounds shining,
the laughter on site and shack visits lying within the forefront of all of our minds,
the children we’ve seen, sing dance and shine.
Savouring the moments, seeing their joy,
knowing we’re part of each girl and each boy,
reaching one step closer into the light,
which started when a man – had passion and foresight,
to bring a collective, together, and see,
what the future of these children could be,
if we built them houses and then built them schools,
to change the system,
challenge the fools,
who may believe there is a them and us,
which we all know – as we step on that bus,
does not exist and should not be true –
for each of these children are the same as you.
They came into the world with innocent hearts,
so let us continue to make them a part
of the future change,
a global community,
where education means a thing of unity.
To each and every volunteer,
your time to reflect is nearly here,
we thank you – so get ready to save the date,
for 2017 with us at Mellon Educate.

” Volunteering is one of the best things you can do to feel good and make a difference to someone else’s life.”

It may sound obvious, but when one of our veteran volunteers, Kathleen Trolan spoke about why she does the Blitz with Mellon Educate – it summarised exactly the power and purpose of volunteering.
However you chose to volunteer to give up your time, to help another or shape a campaign, you will begin to grow a real addiction for doing something for nothing.
So many people have spoken about how the Building Blitz is time away from their ‘normal’ work, business & every day life and that the gratification of joining a collective of other people, who simply want to create something great, create a change and sustain a sense of community, is compelling.

Amber Davies, one of our youngest volunteers at 17 this year and out on the blitz with her father – Andrew Davies, who is veteran volunteer, eloquently described what has stood out for her the most so far:

” Arriving at the airport, it was astounding to see the welcome from the children and how immaculate they were in their school uniforms, knowing after the shack visit, that they have nothing at home. It’s really sad, but it is amazing that we are here helping them to get opportunities to get out of the situation they experience.
Working on site, I’ve turned my hand to most things, including plastering and concreting – getting to know people has felt so inspiring and knowing that everyone is here to help do something good. We are all so motivated to get it done and because of this, it gets done quicker.”

The power of doing something for a cause provides a lot of reflection, for everyone. The motivation, described, the feeling of togetherness and support….. it makes one think about how when you remove the transaction of ‘being paid’ or having to produce results for a different kind of gain, just how much more people give. Every volunteer spoken to so far, talks about the feeling and the results of giving. Whether it be a first time volunteer, or indeed, one of our 10 year plus veteran volunteers, their willingness to take themselves out of their comfort zones and do, see and think extraordinary things, things which are heart-warming and heart-breaking, really solidify the notion that nothing carries the potential for change than acts of human kindness.

Alan O’ Rafferty – a volunteer in his 11th year with us on the Building Blitz, applauded the flexibility and ability of people to handle change. “At a moments notice, the schedule may change and people of all levels of experience may have to stop what they are doing and pick up tools elsewhere – however, the various parts of the build have seamlessly fitted together and the planning has provided a strong foundation for people to move from role to role on site. It’s incredible to see that it always goes right because there is a collective of people working for the benefit of others and not themselves. This kind of adaptability could go a long way in the real world!”

And so, when we look at why we do the Building Blitz, we not only focus on the end game – the education for a nation, the opportunity to move lives into a place of prosperity and opportunity, but the shared sense of pride. Pride from the community and pride from the volunteers who have entered that community to work and “see where that work is going .”

“Despite seeing children living in conditions so small, so bare, they are happy – which is the weirdest thing of all.” (Brian Howards). Perhaps when you see this through giving eyes – it is not a surprise that many volunteers consider how we may take things for granted and that these people are “relying upon themselves” (volunteer). They all carry pride and a strength of joy that is evident when they speak to us, take us into their homes, sing and dance for us – they give and they give unconditionally. This marries the core reason why people volunteer and this unison to give and give back provides a helping hand.

” Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Entering the township of Khayletisha is not something that can be described in a word or a story. It’s a sensory overload in smell, sight and sound – all of which are difficult to savour. The cramped conditions of housing, tins shacks and devastating sanitation, only pinpoint the initial sight. Deeper inside, there is a distinct taste of survival, resting on sandy foundations, no lighting, unsuitable for any kind of being – especially human and thousands of whom are children. These children witness daily struggle, with or without their parents. Many see loved ones suffering from illnesses, such as TB and unable to work or leave township life. Many become adjusted to this way of life, sharing spaces the size of your garden shed with up to 6 or 7 other people. And yet, they smile.

These children attend the schools that Mellon Educate volunteers are working on over this incredible week. These children invited us, along with their families into their homes, to share what they return to every day after school. An education can provide them with a way out – a way of changing their life and opportunity and gradually, with time, a collective sense of responsibility.

Seeing something in it’s raw form makes you realise what we are all doing this for. The overwhelming power of the truth and reality can become desensitised when we think we have ‘seen it all before’ or that someone else is out there fixing it. As we know only too well at Mellon Educate, if we don’t come, it’s very likely, no one else will. So we do – for 15 years we have kept coming, to see the change unfold, to be a part of supporting these children through their learning, through the dust and dirt and extreme poverty that lies beside them every night. In these 15 years, many of us had have heard or been part of initiatives for new housing, new schools – yet no matter whether it be the first time or the tenth building blitz, for an individual to come face to face with a child’s reality and touch what they will be returning to once again this evening whilst we return to our hotel rooms and a buffet, is life changing.

If every person touched the home of a child in this level of need, we would come closer to eradicating poverty entirely. As we empower them, through education, let’s hope we can empower others like ourselves to be active in participating in a global community – a community that gets things done and makes a smile last a lifetime.

Tomorrow – let’s see how our volunteers have mastered new skills and the stories from within the building sites!

Our team are on the ground in Cape Town making final preparations for the arrival of 270 volunteers this weekend who have travelled from across the World to help build better lives through better education for impoverished communities in South Africa. Next week, the 5th-12th November, volunteers, together with local tradespeople, will rebuild and renovated the two primary schools of Ummangaliso and Kuyasa in Khayelitsha.

Planning has been ongoing for months now and we are proud to present some of the site plans that will materialise over the coming days. We love it when a plan comes together. Thank you everyone for helping to make dreams a reality for thousands of children in the future.

And so, the countdown begins…..

The packing commences and the boots are in.

In the words of one of our long-term volunteer veterans, Ken Kingston;

‘After months of planning it’s time to make this project a reality, Khayletisha 2016!
13 classrooms, kitchen, toilet block and a playground – 270 volunteers, 2 sites, 1 week—- no pressure!’

(more…)

260 volunteers transformed Ukhanyo primary school in just 7 days, travelling to South Africa and toiling tirelessly dawn to dusk to complete our latest charity building project.

Ukhanyo primary is situated in the impoverished Cape Town township of Masiphumelele. 1,650 local children aged from 4 to 12 years old attend the school. Until November 2015, pupils and teachers endured harsh conditions terribly unconducive for learning. Classrooms were severely dilapidated, canteen and extra-curricular facilities practically non-existent, not to mention the wash-rooms and standard of personal hygiene provided! Volunteers joined the collective effort from Germany, Netherlands, Venezuela, America, Wales, Scotland, England & Ireland, 80 brand new first-timers contributing incredible energy, camaraderie and team-spirit. (more…)