Just a few minutes ago I placed a phone call to the lady who is in charge of collecting my completed afghans for The Ghana Project and holding them until THE person who thought up the project (Bettye Wright) gets back from Ghana. I then sent an email to Bettye in Ghana; she replied within minutes that she would love more afghans, is a bit short on them at the moment and will be coming here sometime soon. After responding to her email, I sent one to my other friend and missionary in Durban, S. Africa asking if he will be needing more afghans soon, as he will be returning for a short visit in January (haven’t heard from him yet).  That got me to thinking: isn’t it AMAZING that I can sit here in the comfort of my home and correspond with people around the world from me? AND receive a response quickly? Yes, I’m aware I could have placed a long distance phone call and done the same thing, but actually, if you think of it…15-20 years ago that kind of immediate response via computers was not possible to the average person. That’s amazing to me!  For that matter, I certainly wouldn’t have thought that I, in my little township in Michigan, would be communicating, much less even KNOWING anyone across the globe from me!  My how life has changed; I’m 61 1/2 (gotta get that half in there…grin), imagine what technologies will be available to my children and grandchildren in the future. A wonder, for sure!

Hugs;

Pammie

ps: Just finished afghan #212; Bettye said she is in charge of 22 children (patients) at this time and could use the ones I’ve completed. (I currently have 27 completed afghans here at my house)  I’m going to deliver 22 in the next week or so to the ‘holding lady’ at the hospital, then hold onto the remaining 5 for my friend’s visit in January. Wonder how many more I can get done between now and January?

With guest blogger Jessica Middleby-Clements, Program Director for Schools 4 Schools in Australia. Jess has been with the Oaktree Foundation since 2008, taking on the role of ACT State Director. Jess studies Arts/Law at Australian National University. Jess has previously volunteered with World Vision’s schools program and the 40 Hour Famine, and was a founding member of Soul Survivor South Coast, creating a network of organisations to support social justice projects.

Yesterday a group of us went into Durban City to go for a walk around the city with an organisation who work with street kids called Umthombo. After walking down a main street in Durban we happened across a rubbish strewn median strip home to 50 or so street children. Much like the Bliss n Eso film clip the kids stared at us with glazed eyes pumping glue fumes into their lungs. One young girl caught my attention; she stumbled towards us and was intercepted by a young guy who grabbed her, twisted her arm and stole her glue bottle. Enraged she grabbed a jagged glass bottle, threw it at him and ran over the shards of glass after him. Shortly after we heard a commotion and looked up from our conversations and the same young girl was lying pulsing with pain on the main road after being hit by a car. The white car yard guards from across the street were screaming that she had robbed them and aggressively lurched towards the growing groups of street kids with their shambocks (sticks). The police arrived  and without a second glance at the girl (still lying in the middle of the road without any form of protection or barricade) they immediately listened to the white story before even looking at the young girl. It wasn’t until the Umthombo emergency medical van arrived that anyone got down on their hands and knees and stroked her hair or touched her arm to comfort her.

She is one of 500 homeless children - nameless, alone, one of hundreds who prostitute themselves daily, most likely HIV+, begging to buy glue, no one to advocate against the white witness, black and living in poverty without an ID card. Apartheid is over but economic segregation and the legacy of the past means the Zulu people continue to have inferior education standards and extremely low matriculation rates with little hope of employment. Comparing this to the hope, positivity and energy of the Peer Educators that we have spent time with is phenomenal. The Peer Educators have similar stories of abuse, drugs and crime; the difference - the hope they have for the future, the belief and confidence they have had instilled in their ability to do something about their situation and the opportunity to practically do something about it. While GOLD is sometimes hard to quantify, it is easy when faced with 33 vibrant young people at a Schools 4 Schools weekend workshop who, despite their backgrounds, are bursting with energy and enthusiasm – it is simply 33 young people in one year level who have had their lives changed as a result of an amazing program.

With guest blogger Alex Zdravkovic, Schools 4 Schools Director for the Oaktree Foundation UK. Alex holds a Geography degree from Oxford University and recently completed his Masters in International Development Management at the London School of Economics. Alex has a broad interest in development, having studied climate change, education, political regimes, conflict and business-led development. He also likes rowing, golf, triathlon, dancing, singing and rock climbing!

21st November 2009

This is my first time visiting South Africa and it has been a pleasure being shown around KwaZulu-Natal by the Schools 4 Schools South Africa team. I have been asked to write a blog about some of the things I have seen and my thoughts/reflections.

Well today I visited two community based projects in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – Operation Bobbi Bear and The Vineyard Community Church in Durban. These two projects were very different in focus but both provided enlightening insight into the kinds of community based work that exists in South Africa. Operation Bobbi Bear is a community support clinic which helps those who have been the victims of sexual violence or rape. The first thing that strikes you about this project is that one of its programs is held at the ‘tree clinic’; this means that the clinic/support group is held under a giant tree. As you sit and listen to this group primarily made of young girls and woman you are struck by the sense of community, joy and hope from this group. They sing, they play games, they talk, they chant and perhaps the greatest of all they smile.

We then got a chance to talk to two of the organisers of Operation Bobbi Bear: Mabel and Sweetness. They told us that they called the tree that they sat under the ‘graveyard of abuse’ and that it symbolises that the girls should put their feelings of abuse to rest and feel happier when they go back home. Bobbi Bear also try to provide counselling, health checks, education about their human rights and help girls apply for grants and to bring criminal charges against those that have abused them. The most amazing thing about this programme to me was how it was inspired by a sense of community and togetherness which is rarely seen in the UK.

They were telling us that they had been going for 15 years and when they first started pregnancy and abuse were serious problems for their community. That babies that were produced from abuse were thrown in ditches and abandoned as the mothers believed them to be cursed or ‘poisoned’. Despite these shocking revelations it was wonderful to see how far they had come in producing this ‘tree clinic’ and created a sense of joy out of so much sadness.

Some of you may know that I was planning on running another game day on the 5th of December. Unfortunately, things have changed slightly. Right now, I am (can’t think of suitable English phrase) vriendlik verplig to stay on my current Johannesburg project till April. That means, all the errands I planned to run in January can’t wait that long. So, I’ll have to spend my last Saturday in Durban making sure my life doesn’t fall apart in January (sad face).

Do not worry though. I still intend to run game days in the new year, so stay tuned for more information. Also, if you want to run something, let me know and I’ll help you out as best I can.

- jatori

I find it so strange that this is such a misunderstood topic. So much of a companies success rests on having motivated staff and in the last few years I have seen how empowerment affects people and their motivation.

Here are the simple truths, that no one can argue with:
The software, hardware and even technology you use can be easily copied by your competitors. I have even seen companies that were not direct competitors copy promotions and even structure. This is the fact of the matter.

Yet what no competitor could ever copy is the vibe, energy and fast pace that motivated, empowered people create. It is this that seperates your business from the rest.

So therein lies the key, empowered, motivated staff. Empowerment makes the difference between a successful promotion and one that was done because it’s a JOB. (If you understand what I mean.). Empowerment is what causes your staff to want to reach further and look to improving simple things like processes.

The Human element of life is what causes the initial problem. Managers just don’t know what empowerment is about. I have heard that empowerment means making our staff a manager – That thinking is plain crap. Hopefully by the end of this section you will understand what this empowerment is about.

Managers have some real fears when it comes to empowering their staff,
   1. Can the staff member handle more responsibility?
   2. What if the staff member excels further than the manager?

Empower starts like anything in life, small – simple things like keeping a neat office, is empowering. Looking at old processes and old promotions and trying to streamline it is empowering. Involvement in the way budget is spent is empowering. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean hand over the finance department to the sales team, that will end in failure – no I am referring to simple matters, like talking about new hardware, software. Deciding on what’s best for the department and then following through on it.

A big part of a managers job is to keep your staff motivated, in many cases this is easier said than done. You can throw money at the problem but in the long run you need a more permanant solution. Money resolves the matter briefly.

As a manager, one of the other tasks that is pretty important is finding ways of improving and developing solutions. Managers aught to lead by way of example and should be able to identify when your staff need to be empowered.

A gribe I have is when your staff have to tell you or remind you to empower them, this shows a lack of interest from you as a manager and is never a nice situation.

Empowering is listening to ideas and taking advice. A manager should by now also know that your well trained, skill staff need little or no supervision.

For empowerment to work, your staff as well as your managers need to be ready for a change of mindset. Only when both parties are ready can you continue.

Every employee wants to be empowered, not every employee is skilled enough or trained enough or ready enough. You has a manager need to judge for yourselves.

Bye

Normally I try to make sure my blogs have a neat conclusion, an attempt to reconcile something I’ve seen or heard against the greater backdrop of post-Apartheid South Africa and all its nuances. I fear this one will be different. I can only describe what I saw and heard, and will struggle to make any sense of it. Yesterday I took a group of Oaktree volunteers and supporters to Umthombo, an organisation dedicated to Durban’s street children. They do community outreach, provide basic health care and nutrition, do activities such as soccer and surfing, and advocate on behalf of Durban’s 500-odd street kids. They need someone to stand up for them, particularly in the lead up to the World Cup, as the usual tactic used by the municipal police to combat street children is to round them up, beat them up, and dump them in the sugar cane fields. Umthombo aim to reconcile street children with their families and provide trauma counselling to these kids who have often escaped horrendous situations. We toured Durban with outreach workers, some of whom are former street children. I had heard about the problem of glue-sniffing, and although it wasn’t noticeable at first, after a few minutes with some of the kids I noticed just about all were inhaling glue from juice cartons, and the area around us was littered with jars of glue. It was like one of those 3D ‘magic eye’ illusions where you look at a scene, and slowly the parts that blend into the background emerge and form a new picture in front of your eyes. We were hearing about one of our guides’ own stories about ending up on the streets after his parents’ marriage broke up. He ended up getting involved in crime, going to jail, and even getting shot. While he was telling us this, one of the other guides ran over to say a girl had just been hit by a car. She is known to Umthombo, about 21, and lives on the streets. All hell broke loose as business owners clashed with the street kids and waved around big, scary-looking batons. We stood by unable to do anything but watch the Umthombo guys deal with the situation. Fortunately the police and emergency services came and the girl was taken to hospital with an injured leg. We continued on our way and saw a group of tow trucks parked on the sidewalk. As we went past one, I noticed a girl sitting in the cab with one of the drivers. The look the guy was giving this girl, who would have been no older than 14, a look that could only be described as sleazy. Umthombo estimate 99% of the girls on the streets end up becoming prostitutes, and sexual abuse of boys is also common. I felt sick that people would take advantage of these kids, and angry at the myriad social conditions that lead them all to the streets. There are too many to spell them out.

An ambitious newcomer to the South African hospitality industry hopes to be the fourth largest operator in the country within a year.

// //

Only 11-months-old, Signature Life Hotel Group manages, owns and leases 4100 hotel bedrooms locally and abroad. It is constructing 17 hotels in South Africa at a cost of R1-billion.

The new kid on the block, headed by four former executives of the Three Cities hotel group, plans to open five hotels in Durban alone between February and June, in time for the soccer World Cup.

Yesterday, the Durban company, which has interests in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, announced its plans for development in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Our growth in KwaZulu-Natal will boost the region by growing tourism, preparing for the influx of tourists to the 2010 World Cup,” said Signature Life Hotel Group managing director Alan Vels. The projects are expected to create 4000 jobs.

The 81-room five-star Docklands Hotel, on the Point Waterfront, will be the first of the group’s hotels to open, in April. Jozini Tiger Lodge will open in March and The Westbrook will take in its first guests in July.

The group has developed brands ranging from edgy to modern, and stylish to extreme. They include Life Airport, Life Chic and Life Easy hotels.

“Under the Chic umbrella of Life hotels, a further two hotels will be opened in the hub of Durban’s trendy restaurant district,” said Vels. “The Vintage and Morningside Life hotels will be leading the way in terms of style. They will be situated in the Morningside area, where Durban’s most fashionable people like to feel the city’s rhythm.”

The group has taken over the management of the two four-star Quarters hotels in Durban, and of one in Hermanus, Western Cape.

The newest Signature brand is Extreme hotels. The first opens in Durban early next year.

Source: Times Live (http://www.timeslive.co.za/business/article201896.ece)

Dear Supporters,

Moments ago, the Senate voted to begin its full debate on historic health care reform legislation instead of obstructing it with a filibuster.

Tonight’s vote marks the biggest victory to date for our grassroots effort to pass health care reform with a public option. We cannot give enough thanks to the over 100,000 signers of our petition at CitizensForAPublicOption.com for helping to fundamentally shift the momentum towards meaningful reform.

Not long ago, a few loud opponents of reform armed and organized by the insurance industry dominated this debate. Now the American people, the majority of whom support a public option, have spoken out and gained the upper hand.

Not long ago, the public option seemed like little more than a pipe dream. Now it’s part of health care bills in both the Senate and the House.

Not long ago, members of our own Democratic caucus weren’t sure they could even support an up-or-down vote on health care reform legislation. Tonight they voted to end the Republican filibuster.

But despite this good news, the fight for meaningful health care reform is not over. As we debate amendments to this legislation in the coming weeks, we will work with our colleagues to ensure it continues to address the “Three C’s” of meaningful reform: competition, choice, and cost reduction. And we will firmly oppose any effort to eliminate the public option.

Tonight we celebrate a milestone no one thought we could reach just months ago. Tomorrow the fight continues. We will not let up until the President signs a bill we can all be proud of.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Senator Dick Durban, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Chuck Schumer

The Moses Mabhida Soccer stadium in Durban will host one of the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup

Size: 18,5cm x 38cm

Price: R1200

Viisited Durban for the 2nd time this year – Tekweni was great although my room was a bit overpriced for what I got – uShaka was great as always although the Victoria Street Market is a disappointment. Jozi’s Rosebank Flea Market is a thousand times better than this authentic market – ‘n dump is a dump – even if dressed-up for tourism purposes. Beach was a nightmare – construction site from Suncoast Casino to uShaka and bulldozers on the beach!

It is hard to move to a new country. On top of the excitement and the new adventure side of it there is the cold hard reality of various items, for example not having a home phone for nearly three months and not knowing where to get those specific items that you could put your hand on at Kmart or IKEA ‘at home’.  As well there are practical but important things like, which will be my favourite new local sav blanc (no need to worry there, what a selection they have here in SA!) and what does the local chocolate taste like and which one will be your new favourite (Cadbury Whispers hands down)?  

One of the hardest things about moving is making new friends, and I think it gets harder as you get older.  I have been trying to remember all the times I had to make new friends in my life – I am guessing it started in pre-school and primary school – not that I remember too much of it.  High school was a definite for me as I went to boarding school with not a soul from my primary school in sight.   That in turn (along with my HSC marks) may have then influenced my University decision to attend the same Uni as three of my fellow boarders (four in total made 25% of the group I had just lived with for the last six years).  But Uni and college life was a big bad world and I still had to make new friends – that is the first time I really remember the process, making nice with people and taking baby steps to see if you have things in common that may lead to friendship and aborting if it becomes obvious you don’t.  OK most of my friends were made down at the ‘Pink Pub’ I agree but I do remember meeting and discarding or being discarded by some people, for the better in all cases because you do have to draw a line somewhere on friendship.  You can’t be ‘besties’ with everyone or share yourself around every single different group in college – so you choose one or two groups and then go from there.

Then after Uni came the first overseas stint – I went to live and work in a tiny village in Germany, while it was quite different environment again, the whole friends thing was easy because 1. When you are living overseas especially in a small German village you are viewed as a novelty and pretty much everyone wants to be your friend 2. There were only about 30 people in the  + / – 20-year zone around my age so beggars can’t be choosers!

When I returned from my travels and settled down in Sydney to work I didn’t NEED to make any new friends. I had my Uni friends and a work environment always offers up one or two new buddies that you can form outside workplace friendship with.  If someone had just walked in and told me they had moved to Sydney, didn’t know a soul and were looking for mates I would have said – ‘Gosh, that sounds really tough. I hope that you find some.’ Seriously – that’s what I would have said when I was 23, what an ass.  But no – not so silly from someone living and working in their own hometown, where they feel totally at home and have enough friends to feel safe and secure because that is effectively what was said to me last week at a Grade 1 mothers dinner for my son’s class, and these ladies were well out of their 20’s despite their perky chests and creaseless brows I can tell you.  Obviously I may have just blown my chances of ever being friends with them so I can take some blame on from this point on  – and to be fair they haven’t all been down the surgery path (however it needs to be said there is absolutely no stigma to the fake boobs here – everyone is pretty loud and proud about it so I am actually not being too naughty in saying that).

Yes – basically what was said to me, paraphrased in a way that makes it more dramatic to include here was – ‘Durban is cliquey – if you’re only here for four or so years its unlikely you will make any friends.  Good luck’

NOT – Oh you live in MY STREET and our children are IN THE SAME CLASS – maybe we should organize a playdate or you could come over for a braai or a glass of wine…..none of that at all!  They didn’t even say it and not mean it –which I kinda respect. I know I can make an effort too – and I did with a couple of mums (although they say ‘mom’ here) whose children that I know my son is interested in being buddies with but tended to get the ‘that’s nice’ smile look so I gave up and started throwing random ridiculous comments into the conversation that will more or less have me branded from now on as ‘that strange Aussie’ – which they kind of already had me pegged as, because as one of them said to me – ‘Isn’t Australia just South Africa but without help?’

Didn’t they know what I had done prior to this dinner- the witty repartee I had pre-thought in case it was needed, the six wardrobe changes, the at least additional three minutes on make up application? Don’t they know that when you are trying to make new friends in a new country you constantly feel like you are on a first date? The worst thing about it is that – no one really notices or cares, which makes you feel like the whole date was a failure.

Don’t get me wrong – I have taken up their challenge and I will not leave this country without a screaming, howling group of locals who will mourn my departure to brighter shores – whenever that future event occurs.  I will make friends of the locals, perhaps these very same mothers – I will, in a few months time I’ll try again, maybe, in the next school year. I see the café on the school grounds is up for management – maybe I should take that on and hold all their latte’s hostage until they promise to be my friend. 

In the meantime I will stick to my newly found expat community, where I have actually made a few friends and am working on a few more – however it has its own quirks and issues and story for another time, maybe tomorrow.

Once again, I’ll be hosting another game day in Durban.

Venue: Destiny Bookstore, Windermere Centre, Durban

Time: 10:30 am for 11:00 am

Date: Saturday, the 21st of November 2009

Price: Free!

It looks like the ever-present threat of Yu-Gi-Oh players is, well, still present. That means we’re stuck with only one table again. So, like last week, I’ll be running a series of short board game sessions – allowing for more players per table (and the option of moving one or two games to the coffee shop next door). Sorry, no RP session this time.

The attendance numbers having been increasing steadily lately, which is good, but also comes with its own drawbacks (venue space). Hopefully we can sort something out for next year.

In other news, I intend to put in an order with the store. Sure, it might cost a little bit more than trawling the net for the best prices, but I think that supporting the local store can only help the gaming community (and makes sure that the owner continues to tolerate us).

I’m considering the following games for this week:

• Arkham Horror (base) or Runebound (plus 1 or 2 small box expansions) – In case we have a smaller turnout and/or people are looking for a longer game experience.
• Dominion (base)
• Betrayal at the House on the Hill (cos it’s awesome)

Also, if you have your own game that you’d like to play, feel free to bring it around.

- jatori

Former PPI - SA MD Geschke (left) spending time with tennis star Boris Becker in 2008.

In the year that I have been in Durban, one of the most profound aspects that I’ve learned about being a part of PeacePlayers International is that you never cease to be a part of the family.  Over the course of the year, three former PeacePlayers International Fellows, Matt Geschke, Chris Clunie, and Theresa Verzosa, have come back to visit Durban and have not only been welcomed into the PeacePlayers’ house, but also to the homes of current and former workers, LDP participants, and school officials.  Not surprisingly, the first question asked is generally along the lines of “What took you so long to come back?”

Chris Clunie during his college days. Chris was a forward at Davidson College, which won the SCC Championship in 2006. (Photo by Davidson College News)

After getting to know each of the three visitors, it was clear to see why they came back and how their work with PeacePlayers has effected their lives. Matt Geschke visited Durban in early May for a summer vacation before commencing his MBA at the Warsaw School of Sports Marketing at the University of Oregon.  He immediately jumped right back into his former life of PPI – SA Managing Director, refereeing area games, attending an LDP extravaganza, and meeting with school officials to see the progress the program had made.  While it seems he came back to work, it was obvious he was enjoying his time and considered it a great vacation.  Chris Clunie returned in conjunction with his work with Basketball Without Borders Africa, but none the less used his free time on weekends to help PPI – SA.  He officiated an entire day,visited friends and players from his time as a coach, and is continuing to assist PPI with NBA connections.  Finally, and perhaps the most touching, was Theresa’s visit.  Theresa was so impressed with her summer internship with PPI – SA that she planned a week0long vacation to bring her sister to South Africa and show her the work done by PPI – SA.

After meeting each of these former workers, it not only made me realize that this is an ephemeral moment in my life and one that I need to continue to enjoy, but it was impossible for me not to wonder, “When will I come back?”  Sometimes it is overlooked in the work that PPI – SA and the other sites do for their communities, but we are selecting outstanding candidates and developing future leaders with the PeacePlayers International Fellows as well!

O Seminário pretende oferecer um fórum para os países ibero-americanos tratarem de temas como: intercâmbio de informações sobre o processo de implementação de políticas públicas de promoção da igualdade étnico-racial com perspectiva de gênero; intercâmbio de idéias sobre como avançar os temas da Agenda de Durban nos planos nacionais e regionais; como integrar nas políticas e legislações nacionais as disposições contidas no Documento final da Conferência de Revisão e na Declaração e o Plano de Ação de Durban; compartilhamento de experiências nacionais sobre o combate ao racismo e à discriminação; e identificação de boas práticas.

Objetivo Geral:

Conhecer, debater e disseminar as ações governamentais destinadas à promoção da igualdade étnico-racial com perspectiva de gênero nos diferentes países da comunidade ibero-americana.

Objetivos Específicos:

• sistematizar os resultados alcançados pelas diferentes experiências;
• aperfeiçoar o arcabouço de políticas de promoção da igualdade racial;
• ampliar a compreensão da incorporação das dimensões de gênero na execução das políticas públicas;
• propor novas iniciativas de promoção da igualdade étnico-racial;
• proporcionar o intercâmbio de experiências no âmbito da promoção da igualdade étnico-racial.

Participantes

Cerca de 100 participantes, entre especialistas e representantes: da ONU, de organismos regionais, de instituições nacionais de Direitos Humanos, de universidade, da sociedade civil e representantes dos Governos de países ibero-americanos.

Local : Salvador, 15, 16 e 17 de novembro de 2009 Hotel Vila Galé

This venue has recently been added on Expopedia, the tradefair service finder. Visit our website for more information.

Durban Exhibition Centre
P.O. Box 4697
4000 Durban (South Africa)
More information about Durban Exhibition Centre …

An overview of the available activities for Durban Exhibition Centre …

• Standdesign / Designstudio
• Stand construction: custom build
• Hostesses
• Displays (design/fabrication)

The busiest bunny place in town

Orientals is a legend. It probably serves the most number of bunnies in a day cooking about 30kgs of Curry a day. That probably translates to over 500 bunnies a day.

It is a really huge place in the workshop Shop 3C & 3D and 5A AND 5B AND 5D.

There are so many tables and waitrons that you don’t have to waits 15secs before you are seated and can order straight away if you know what you want.

I order the broadbeans for R14 and a buddy R8.50 I think it was. Took about 5 or 6 minutes to come so was not the quickest. It was a fair portion but not great. The taste was fairly good. Nice spice. Some people rate it as the best curry in town. Personally I don’t think so but I’m no expert. The yellow colouring that is left on your fingers after the bunny is a bit worrying, and kinda makes you think what it is doing to your stomach.

There is also a “fancy” restaurant where you can eat the same food as the fast food court but they spice it up a bit by giving you pickles and other bits with your bunny.  I guess it would be the place to take guests to give them decent Indian chow in Durban however the workshop is not the best place to take out of towners but it does give you a true sense of Durban CBD

PARABÉNS!

Hoje a cidade de Maputo faz 122 anos! Apesar de ter sido fundada pelos Portugueses em 1782, apenas em 10 de Novembro de 1887 a então feitoria comercial foi elevada à categoria de vila. Desde então, 1887 passou a ser a data oficial do aniversário da cidade.

Grandes desafios desafiam a grande urbe moçambicana.

“Com cerca de 1,9 milhões de habitantes, Maputo assume-se como um cenário típico que se debate entre crescimento e desenvolvimento, onde ressalva uma convivência entre o velho e o novo que legitima o crescimento horizontal e vertical da urbe. Mais do que nunca, a natureza dos problemas que se colocam à cidade das acácias configura desafios que exigem cada vez maior engenho nas soluções da modernidade, ainda com aspectos latentes de ruralidade, no pensamento estratégico e dinamismo na execução dos projectos” – publica o Notícias na sua edição de hoje.

A capital do país, há muito detentora do cognome de Pérola do Índico, é um paraíso na costa Oriental de África! Com apenas 122 anos de existência, Maputo atingiu o seu expoente máximo entre os anos 60 e 70 do século passado. A urbe desempenhou um forte papel económico em toda a região, tendo sido um dos ângulos do importante triângulo industrial Durban – Transvaal – Lourenço Marques. Foi devido ao desenvolvimento do Transvaal (antiga região mineira do interior da África do Sul) e devido à posição estratégica que a cidade ocupava, que permitiu o rápido desenvolvimento de Lourenço Marques. Além deste triângulo económico, Lourenço Marques era um importante local de ligação da ex-Rodésia (actual Zimbabué) às rotas marítimas internacionais.

A Administração Portuguesa da ex-Província Ultramarina Moçambique arquitectou uma cidade futurista, com largas avenidas, vários complexos de edifícios altos, parques industriais e zonas de lazer. Uma cidade moderna e desenvolvida que hoje carrega sobre si os problemas da sobrelotação, má gestão, abandono, poluição extrema e anos de desleixo que impedem a cidade de funcionar correctamente.

Apesar das actuais circunstâncias, Maputo continua a ser uma cidade com potencial! A todos os Laurentinos, parabéns!

The Durban Skyline

Since becoming a Fellow in South Africa last January, there are two questions I have been asked most:  “Does PeacePlayers use any sports other than basketball?” and “Why Durban?”  Right now, the answer to the first question is straight forward (No – I’ll leave the explanation for now), but let me explain why we work in Durban.

When PeacePlayers International started in Durban in late 2001, one of the original goals was to use basketball to bring communities together to bridge post-apartheid divides.  The diversity of Durban made it a logical starting place, with Black Africans accounting for 68.30 percent of the population, followed by Asians or Indians at 19.90 percent, Whites at 8.98 percent and Coloureds at 2.89 percent.  In fact, Durban is rumored to have the largest Indian population in Africa.

The "Golden Mile"

As PeacePlayers grew, the managers of the organization realized that there were problems bigger than post-apartheid race relations, namely HIV/AIDS.  To confront this problem, a life skills curriculum was added to PeacePlayers’ basketball program.  Durban happened to be perfect for this new curriculum.  Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), is part of a region with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in South Africa, with close to 16% of the population testing positive for HIV.  Additionally there are close to 150,000 new HIV infections per year and 120,000 HIV deaths.  On top of this, KZN is one of two provinces with rising unemployment.  The life skills curriculum addresses these issues by focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention and other issues South African young people face, such as drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure, and gender equality.

Durban's Waterfront

Durban was  the right choice nearly eight years ago, and, as the program has evolved, it is still the right choice today.  While it is true that we would love to be able to work in cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, we are committed to focusing our entire efforts on Durban right now, bridging racial divides, changing HIV/AIDS perceptions, and developing Africa’s future leaders.

George du Rand smashes the 200m backstroke world record today (7 November 2009) in a time of 1min. 47.08sec in Moscow Russia at the Fina/Arena World Cup Swimming event.

The old record was held by Markus Rogan of Austria. His world record time was 1min 47,84sec.

Here an image of George that i took at the African leg of the Fina/Arena World Cup swimming on 17 October 2009 in Durban.

Gerhard

www.supermedia.co.za

Today was one I’ve been waiting for, now, for about a month; took our cat to the vet’s for another check up and he’s doing good! The vet’s report: “Looks like the food is doing him good!” They checked him out and reported that there was no obstruction and very few crystals, so I was just thrilled!  So thrilled, in fact, that I went on a mini-shopping spree! (Actually, it was more of a “treat Pammie” spree). Came home with three nice pairs of earrings (Big Lots: they were a set and very reasonable: $3.00), a new container for my knitting supplies in my ‘carry everywhere’ knitting bag (for scissors, tiny ruler, crochet hook) from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop (for $1) and my last little find: Almond Chocolate Biscotti on sale for $3 at our local drug store! Yep, I’m a ‘cheap treats’ person, but it made me happy, so all’s good!

Finished another afghan yesterday, #209, and am ‘on to bigger and better things’…(actually, just #210….grin).

Tonight’s dinner is homemade chicken noodle soup which I have to get making very soon, as I like to let the chicken get to the ‘fall off the bone’ stage before using it in the soup.  Was able to obtain a really (in my humble opinion) fantastic, yummy treat recipe and thought I’d share it with you. WARNING: It’s very rich, but VERY yummy!

Reese’s No-Bake Squares

2 1/2 C. powdered sugar

2 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs

1  1/3 C. peanut butter

1 C. melted butter

12 oz. chocolate chips, melted

–

Mix together powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Add peanut butter and melted butter; mix well.  Press into a 9 X 13 baking pan. Pour melted chocolate chips over top and spread around to cover top. Refrigate 15 minutes or so (NOT until hard), then cut into small squares.

=======================

My youngest came home from a youth outing, brought one of these home and shared it with me. Of course I IMMEDIATELY wanted the recipe … it was gooey (could have been because it was in his hot hands?), peanut buttery, and nicely chocolatey! I have another recipe similar to this one, but that one comes out about 1/4 inch thick; the above recipe comes out about 3/4 inches thick!  Believe me…it’s worth making them (forget the calories…they all fall off when you cut the squares! …. wink).

Going into this weekend I have a bridal shower tomorrow at church for two of our choir members who are also friends of ours (well…the groom has been like another one of my ‘kids’), so it ought to be a fun adventure! They’re planning a January wedding (Brrrrrrr!). Before I go to the shower I have to help youngest bake a pan of brownies, as he’s attending a Chili CookOff and the teens are required to make (or at least ‘help’ make a dessert…he chose brownies, as that’s HIS favorite dessert!).

It’s shaping up like a fun weekend; our weather’s been a bit ‘goofy’ but I’m happy…it’s been chilly (in the 30’s & 40’s) with some rain, some gloomy days, BUT….NO SNOW so far! (It was predicted that we were supposed to get ’scattered flurries’ Weds & part of Thurs, but they didn’t appear…YAY!!!).

Enjoy your weekend; stay warm, eat something YOU like (brownies/biscotti/bagel?) along with a nice, hot steaming cup of your favorite beverage….gotta stay cosy, remember?

Hugs;

Pammie

MOOI is a stunning little shop situated on the corner of Clark and Bulwer Roads in Glenwood. Their motto “Restore, Revive, Recycle” translates into gorgeous vintage and hand-made items such as suitcases, purses and vases; supercool kiddies stuff, clothing, shoes, jewellery and decor accessories. Operating hours are Monday to Saturday, 9am – 4:30pm. Email tigerlilysa@gmail.com

The hip and happening I “Heart” Market is held in St Mary’s church hall on Windermere Road on the first Saturday morning of every month. I ♥ market provides a platform once a month for local foodies and designers to showcase their products. i ♥ cushions, i ♥ meringues and shortbread, i ♥ jewellery, i ♥ antiques, i ♥ baby grows, i ♥ ceramics, i ♥ cookies, i ♥ books, i ♥ clothes, i ♥ beautiful artworks, i ♥ jellies and jams, i ♥ handbags, i ♥ fresh veggies, i ♥ cupcakes, i ♥ kikois, i ♥ nice t shirts, i ♥ dresses and shoes, i ♥ dawn’s famous chocolate brownies and more…