There were four new kids at placement today, including a little girl who was covered in bandages as she is burned to the third degree on most of her face and hands. It is really hard to understand why things like this happen. The most inspiring part of this situation is though that she was playing with the other children and having fun as if there was nothing.
The children were quite badly behaved today. There was a lot of crying and they went on strike when it was time to tidy up the playroom. The music teachers came for half an hour, which gave me a little break, and when they left one of them told me that I had the patience of an angel and she didn’t know how I managed with those 13 kids on my own. I wanted to tell her that a, I didn’t have a choice as there is nobody else around to help, and b, I am just there for 3 weeks as some of the nurses deal with them day in, day out. I have to admit though that it is really hard work and I am totally exhausted comes lunch time and need a nap.
After work, I did the one thing that I really really wanted to do in Cape Town, and that is to go to Robben Island. This
Robben Island Prison, South Africa
is the Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. The tours of this ex-prison are given by former inmates. They showed us the cells and where the hard labour was done. It was very emotional, especially since the men who describes life in the prison has been through it themselves. Mr Levy, who took us on part of our tour was incredible, especially when he told us how he was disappointed to get a job at Robben Island at first, after spending many years there as a prisoner.
This has been a very good day and Robben Island has definitely been one of the highlight of my trip.
December 2, 2009 at 1:02 am |
Allo, je peux comprendre que tu garderas des souvenirs inoubliables de cette visite de la prison, surtout lorsque l’on connaît l’histoire du personnage en question.
Bon courage dans ton bénévolat,
Gilles