Swaziland Photo Recap

For those of you who don't know, we made it back from Africa a little over a week ago. We're still working on some great video updates for you, but I thought I'd take a few minutes just to do a quick photo recap (for any of you who aren't on facebook or twitter). Here are just a few of our favorite shots from the past few weeks!

One of our first days in Swaziland! We loved watching the sun set over the traditional Swazi huts made of mud, sticks and grass.

Check out the new Children's Library we started in the preschool at the Nsoko Carepoint!

This little girl was SO excited about the new books! THANK YOU to everyone who donated to this project!

Working in the Community Garden with Phindile. To find out more about this project CLICK HERE.

Nutritious spinach! Just one of the many healthy vegetables the kids will soon be eating!

School's out! The children are quick to run to the carepoint at the end of each day. Year end donations to The Sound of Hope provided the funds for 112 children in Nosko to go to school this year!

Here are a few of the older girls, hanging out together at the carepoint after school.

Thanks to a generous donation, all the preschool kids got new Auburn clothes! You can see the video HERE.

There were new shirts for the Swazi staff we are partnered with too! Our work would not be possible without the help of the Gogos that cook for the children, the D-team, the facilities supervisors, the Clinic Assistant, and the Preschool Teacher!

We're also grateful for the American family we're partnered with that lives in Nsoko full-time. THANK YOU Jen, Eric, Claire, and Jacob for the hard work you do around the clock!

We loved seeing some traditional Swazi dances at the Cultural Center in Ezulwini!

Only in Africa can you see a Journey of Giraffe on the way to lunch! The wildlife in Swaziland is truly unique!

I have known Senkhosi since he was only 1 year old. It's been amazing to visit him on each trip to Swaziland and watch him grow up over the past 5 years!

This is Sotja, a 3 year old double orphan who spends most of his days at our carepoint. When we see smiles like this one, it makes all our work worthwhile!

Stay tuned for more updates about our time in Africa, and find out how you can be a part of giving HOPE to the children of Swaziland!

An apple a day...

Our last day at the carepoint in Nsoko, we decided to bring some apples for the kids who came to eat. I approached some older kids to ask if they would help me "round up" the little ones (as I assumed it would take some time to get them all in a line at the door). What happened next shocked me.

The older kids (teenagers) RAN to the door while yelling for the little ones, who immediately rushed from the playground. The next thing I knew there was an excited MOB all around! I have never in my life seen children so excited about apples! They were not lining up for candy or toys - they were anxiously waiting for a single piece of fruit.

an apple a day... from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

For children who eat meals that consist of only pap (maize meal), beans, and rice, an apple was a very special treat. Their excitement for something so simple gave me perspective, and made me even more determined to see the Community Garden we're starting flourish. This garden will provide not only healthy vegetables for the children at the carepoint (which means more nutritious meals), it will also empower and provide for up to 18 families in the community! To find out more (and to donate to this project), CLICK HERE.

A current need in Swaziland

We're at our carepoint in Swaziland right now, and our partners just shared their most pressing need with us. They have run out of storage space in the buildings here, and are looking for a 40 foot metal storage container (the kind you would see on the back of an 18 wheeler). The picture below is of a 20 foot container already in use. The container they would get is twice that size.

The container is needed to store additional food and supplies for the children, as well as gardening tools for the Community Garden we are starting at The Center. This garden will be a source of provision, income and empowerment for up to 18 families in the area, as well as a way for the children at the carepoint to get healthy vegetables in their diet. But it won't work without a safe place to store the gardening tools and supplies!

We need $1,600 total to purchase the container and have it shipped down to Nsoko. We have a matching gift of $800, so every dollar you donate will be doubled if you give to this project!

Please GIVE NOW and help us meet this need!

Update on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 4:20PM by Ericka Jackson

We wanted to update you all with the wonderful news that this need has been FULLY FUNDED! The container is scheduled to be shipped to the carepoint next week. THANK YOU to everyone who donated!

The Children's Library :: Nsoko, Swaziland

If you're a regular blog reader here, you may have heard about this project we started a few weeks ago. We've been asking for donated books and funds to start a Children's Library in each of our homes in India and Thailand, as well as our carepoint here in Swaziland! Books are so expensive overseas and very hard to find, so the children just do not have access to them (not even in the preschool here!) But today - that changed for the kids at our carepoint. Check out the videos below!

The Children's Library :: Part 1

Nsoko Children's Library - Part 1 from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

 

The Children's Library :: Part 2

Nsoko Children's Library - Part 2 from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

To help us start libraries for our kids in Thailand and India DONATE HERE.

It was truly incredible to see the reaction of the kids and their teacher! She kept telling us how attentive the children were today because they were so excited about the books, puppets, and flashcards. "Before, they were getting bored," she said, "but now, I have something in my hand to teach them with, and they are concentrating so much!"

We believe this little library is going to make a big difference in the lives of these children. THANK YOU to everyone who donated the books and funding to make this project possible!


*Note - This is just the beginning of this library project here. Our American partners in Nsoko are already talking to some friends of theirs about bringing more donated books to fill these shelves. We can't wait to see the library grow!

Welcome to Swaziland!

After 3 long days of travel time, we've finally arrived in the beautiful Kingdom of Swaziland! Check out our first video update here...

Welcome to Swaziland from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

As long as the internet cooperates, we'll be sharing more videos and pictures in the next few weeks. So be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates!