DuNoon ZA

It is in here someplace where the new project with the Creche is happening ... Not will happen but Happening ... that makes my heart glow ... I be a very happy camper with this thought in the back of my mind

A Letter from Cape Town

Dear Neil

Apologies if I was unfocused on Christmas Eve when you called. Nadia with partner had arrived from Rwanda just before and my son Lawrence's totally unexpected arrival, flying in from Uganda at about the same time, just threw me. It was a real emotional time because I hardly every get to have all three children together anymore. AND I was putting the final touches to a huge Christmas Eve dinner (you probably know Christmas Eve is a big evening for Europeans). Therefore please forgive me for babbling.

How is your Mom? I wish her speedy recovery so you two can enjoy the last days of 2011 and start the New Year happily together!!

Our Treasurer phoned today, the money (R 11,400) has already arrived! Thank you so much for this unexpected donation!

I already told you that, with Vivian's support we are helping with the development of a new crèche for very, very poor children from Dunoon, to get registered and subsidised by Social Development. We already put in junior toilets, electricity, running water, and for Christmas I bought chairs and tables (see photos attached) so the children don't have to sit on the ground any longer. In the new year we want to get estimates for plastering, ceilings, flooring, food bowls and mattresses for the children etc etc. Your money together with some money from a German company will now make it possible! Thank you, Neil.

Wishing you and your Mom a happier time and health and enjoyment for 2012

Much love

Gisela

Please have a look at this

Masikululeke

If you click on the above  ... this will take you right into the main part of the Creche ... at Vivian's School  ... you can see for yourself what she is doing there and the kids get to speak for themselves


the money we raise goes to help support Vivian ... this is what she does with our support ... best to all Neil

Gift From Nick and Diane

Diane and Nick Cacciato

On Monday 15th of August ... Nick and Diane came down to Victoria from Duncan and they brought with them 2500 dollars from their wedding gifts ... this culminates a years efforts to on both Diane's and Nick's part ...  

We transferred $2674.00 to the Lions Club of Table View... and that converts to something in the order of 18,000 plus Rand ... It is Diane and Nick's gift to South Africa ... to the Lions Club of Table View and the work they do ... I am very proud of of both their efforts to raise these dollars and the efforts of the people in Cape Town to do the work they do ... with the kids ...

Here is where we collected the money

When there are people like Diane and Nick and the Members of the Lions Club who take the time to both understand a childs' predicament and then are willing to do something about it ... that is spirit in action ...

Many years ago I made a promise to a man who took the time to stop and help me ... when no one else would. I asked him how could I express my thanks for what he did, he said pass it on. So I have endeavoured to keep my promise over the years. 

Diane and Nick have both received the benefit of my promise and his actions and now they are passing it on too ... that makes my heart a warm place to be.  ndt Aug 2011

Diane and Nick Had a Wedding in Canada

Out door chapel

Diane and Nick were married on 31 July 2011.  Diane has been helping with Project Hope since we got this thing started away back when  ... Her efforts with the kids at her high school has raised money for this project over the course of the passed several years ... She and Nick decided that inleu of gifts at their wedding they would accept money for the Lions Club/Project Hope in South Africa ... they raised just over 2,000 dollars at their wedding ... here are some pictures from the wedding:

She set up a place for donations in the hall and people donated ... sounds so simple and it is ...

The Painting by Silken Laumann

Strange concept but it works ... create the opportunity and people will follow through ...

These two people through their generosity raised over $2000 cdn dollars for the project ... Thank You ... From the bottom of our hearts thank you

If You Can Guess the Number of Candies in This Jar

The Jar of Candies : 746 is or was the magic number

and Diane is supposed to send me the details on the the winner etc ...

Emails post from SA

Dear Neil

Vivian

I saw Vivian before Easter to bring 400 Easter eggs to the children.

The Department of Education has now registered her center as a Grade R school which means it pays one teacher and contributes towards the upkeep of the classroom (the new wing) and educational material.

And the Dept of Social Development has increased the grant from R45 to R112 per day for about 60% of the smaller children..It will also supply new educational pre-school material. This now takes care of the teachers salary, food and upkeep - Vivian is now well on the way, and she deserves it!

However, we Lions are now looking for a new pre-school project to put on its feet. There are many kindergardens like Vivian's struggling along!.

Vissershok

Our computer room can only take 28 children (half a class) but with 6 new prefab classrooms we will be able to use one for a full-size computer room. We are waiting for the requirements/specifications from the NGO appointed by the Dept. of Education so that we can obtain quotations. We estimate it will take us 1-2 years to raise the necessary funds.

Stellys

As you know it's Easter school holidays and there is nothing we could have done until schools reopen on 11 April. But rest assured, we will get working on it then!

Hope you are feeling somewhat better? I have had the most hectic 2 months behind me. My Easter holiday bookings were quite good and kept me going but the big workload was the beautiful house you liked so much, down the road from where you stayed. A pipe burst in the upstairs bathroom and flooded all 3 storeys. I had to organise the purchase of new floor coverings and furniture, receive deliveries, supervise laborers etc etc. Guess it'll take another 3 weeks to finish.

Best regards

Gisela

cell 083 556 9818

Tel/Fax 021 557 8288

If You Can Guess the Number of Candies in This Jar

You win a small prize
It costs a quarter to guess
The money goes to the Kids
Stelly's School are getting into the Swing of Things

Trans Atlantic and Cross Continental Chatter: A Plan is in the Works

Dear Fraser and Gisela ...

Fraser I would like to introduce you to my Friend and contemporary who runs things in South Africa ... Gisela is the lady who is at the pointy end of the stick in ZA and it is through her and the Lions Club's efforts that everything works.  She and her crew make things work at her end of the universe...

I talked about her at the class on Monday ... Gisela I would like you to me Fraser Syme ... Fraser teaches at Stelly’s and one of his programs is the World’s Initiative program. Fraser has taken grade 12 grad classes of kids all around the world to do projects ... He has what he called a seed class ... a grade 10 who are now in the process of deciding what they would want to do in their grad year ... Grade 12 ... they might come and do a project ... this is still in the discussion phase ... but if they and you can grasp the concept and plan then I think miracles can happen ... remembering that miracles are performed by those who temporarily have more for those who temporarily have less ...

I think that the two of you have tons to talk about ... what and who you are and how you each do things ... it would be good to open up discussion to see if this is possible ...

This whole thing just seems to be something that could work ... so the door is open ... Neil ...

Fraser I will be there a week Monday for another class then as I understand it we can meet at noon and discuss this is more detail ... NDT ... http://vivianjoslovo.blogspot.com/

Bright Star Canada

Neil Douglas-Tubb (rcc)

349 Vancouver Street

Victoria BC

250 385 3181

neiltubb@shaw.ca

http:// thereisadoor.blogspot.com

http://vivianjoslovo.blogspot.com/

http://thebookmetaphor.blogspot.com/

Hendrickse Foundation

Project Hope South Africa

From: Gisela Weitz [mailto:mangela@telkomsa.net]

Sent: February-15-11 7:14 AM

To: Neil Tubb

Subject: Re: Inspiration-

Hello Neil

It was so refreshing to read about new support!

Gisela and Principal

Kids in Class



New Portable in Background and storage







Class in the Portable









Over there is where the soccer pitch is to be ...



 The Vissershok School, Grade R to Grade 7, is probably the ideal project for Stelly's High. Thursday evening I will be giving a presentation (new computer room) to the Governing Body and I shall now also put the Stelly's planned project on the table for input.

Let's work out a great project!

Many thanks, hugs - Gisela

Inter Continental Chat Traffic ... Cape Town-Victoria

Dear Neil

child-soldier
sociologyiu09.wordpress.com

The damage done to these children (soldiers) ! A really pertinent human rights cause. It needs the combined force of the entire international community to perhaps make a difference but even then, to control such exploitation in distant, unknown areas is a sheer impossibility.

I don't know what I am doing wrong but my daily schedule seems to get longer and longer, and time to attend to it shorter and shorter. Still, l now switch off my computer over the weekend!

The Vissershok School's volunteer IT teachers have resigned. With 5 new prefab classrooms added to the school, we hope get 12 more second-hand PCs and money for new electrics, cabling and software, so that we can move the computer room into one of the old big classrooms and teach a whole class. With only 14 computers at the moment, the classes have to be split which necessitates an IT teacher and a classroom teacher.We had a good turnover this Saturday and Sunday selling hamburgers and hotdogs at the Killarney race track, maybe that's a start.

Best regards

Gisela

cell 083 556 9818

Tel/Fax 021 557 8288.

*****************

Dear G:

Well I appreciate the frustration ... we have as of today about 90 dollars in the bank ... I cleaned it out before xmas and sent a batch of 1000 then 700 and change ... I was supposed to go to speak to a crew of students this morning but came down with a stomach flu that brought everything to a stop ... nearly ... if you know what I mean ...

 

So if I get this straight the computer volunteer teachers have quit ... but progress is being made at Vissershok school ... added class rooms etc ... and you guys did a bbq as a fund raiser ....

 

Speaking of fund raisers ... I was on the ferry on the weekend... and met an old client... actually not aged but from a number of years ago ... she has volunteered to do burlesque ... old style ... 9 (nine) comedy and dancing routines to raise money for us ...

 

So I suggest you put it to the (male) members of the club first ... smile ...

 

combat fighting in africa
long running civil wars child soldiers
sociologyiu09.wordpress.com

Can you develop for me information on your first paragraph ... I am sure there are people here in Victoria who will get on that and can be used as fund raiser ... we have kids here is some of the schools who were members of child armies were rescued can't go home so they are here being fosterd and educated ... question how many of the kids from your para one do you have in your proximity ...

Can I get more pics of Vissershok school and the progress ... last I have is the bulldozer moving dirt .... question how many of the kids from your para one do you have in your proximity ...

I told someone one time ... “you should see all the stuff God puts on my calendar ... and he said he wanted to see my calendar because he had never seen God’s handwriting before.” Smile ... there is so much to do and so little time to do it ... Will have to speak to the Space Agency to get the CIA to over fly Vissershok school and have new photos for google map ... think I stand a chance smile ...

Would like to explore this para one stuff with you ... and

Then also be able to up date Vissershok School things and identify it more clearly on the blog or separate it off  to a blog of its own ... and me just thinking out loud ... if we did that and got a following then the kids to make contributions ... anything from art to ideas for the future ... hummm there is a idea taking shape ... I have to go ... literally to appointment ... and stop at Pharmacy from stuff for flu ...

love and hugs from the other end of the earth ...

Neil

The Most Important Thing(s)

I Have Learned So Far

The most important thing I have learned in doing my life and paying attention as I did it is:

When I come to the edge of my known universe, when I come to the end of where the light shines for me. It is from this point on that I have to be a risk taker. It’s when I have to go blindly off into something or someplace I have never seen or been before. Of course the alternative is possible. I can shrink away from moving forward—I can shrink away from exploring God’s Gift.

What I have discovered is: when I step off into my darkness and it is the darkness of my unknown, it is then that I grow. It is then that I come to know. It is then that I notice the light.

This happened for me truly for the first time when I went to South Africa ... oh I thought I had other experiences that were risk taking ... but my experience with the kids, and Vivian, and Vissershok school opened me to a thing; an experience that truly placed me somewhere where I could see my world differently. 

 

Once it is experienced ... seen ... differently  ... then it all changes ... it can't be reset once you know ... this is not about what I am seeing ... this is about how I am looking... this is where I saw spirit at work ... Vivian ... Gisela ... The Teachers at Vissershok School ... Darla ... and her children ... Joanne and her Idea ... Cleone and her help and her ideas ... to all those people who just paused for a moment or a week or a life time to risk, to take the time and do what needs to be done ... really ...

 

I have been lucky in my life ... some who know my story, might not say so ... but I am ... everything I have experienced has coupled together to allow me to see life differently and here is the important part ... when I notice a "lack" I have the choice now to do something about it ... sometimes it does not seem like much ... and sometimes it seems mountainous ... but it is just what I can do to fill the "lack" ...   Neil