Stories from Volunteers
Here you will find stories from some of AAF's volunteers over past years. Please sit down and read these amazing experiences, insights and testimonies. Africa is a beautiful place with amazing wildlife and scenery but behind the beauty lies a raw reality. These are stories of real people who have experienced the real Africa.
Tim Pickles June 2009
Local Business Owner (Tim's Garden Centre), Tim Pickles, tells a storyof his experience as a volunteer in Africa, seeing first hand how theAfrican Aids Foundation is helping people in Africa.
Download Tim's Diary (2.8MB)
Download Tim's Diary (1.1MB)
Extracts from Tim's Diary
Monday 8th June
getting soaking wet. They are all beautifully dressed. The high school
students are all tall and athletic looking, most have the bodies of
models. As we drive you can see the small houses they live in
scattered across the country side. They are neat and tidy with
corrugated iron roofs. They put big rocks on the roof to stop the iron
blowing away.
Tuesday 9th June
into voice as the teacher points at letters of the alphabet on the
blackboard. They do English first, then Zulu. They are all looking at
the board and chanting out the answers.
About 10 kids got the job of pointing at the letters with a stick. When
the teacher asked for volunteers around 20 kids raced to the front.
Later it was time to do maths so she asked the children to take out
their counters.
Hands rummaged through pockets and bags to find rocks, bottle tops
and soft drink bottle lids. Kids who didn't have enough borrowed off
others. One child was like the bottle top king and at least 10 children
sought him out for counters. The teacher got the children to count
these out on the table until they had 10, in English first, and then in Zulu.
Bailey loved hearing the children do this and he even learnt some Zulu.
To read the full version of Tim's South African Diary, click on the pdf link above
Jenny-Ann Toribio August 2009
Jenny-Ann visited Tabitha Hope Centre for just 4 days whilst on a trip for work. Jenny-Ann hoped to gain insight in to the impact of HIV/AIDS on a community and individual lives. Here is a short testimony from Jenny-Ann.
"Tabitha Hope Centre, orphanage for HIV-affected babies and children that have no relatives, is a place that nurtures young lives. Currently caring for 35 children from 6 months to 7 years old, it is a home full of activity and noise with a routine of daily activities, classes and chores like any other home - just more people involved! The staff - South African volunteers of Zulu, Afrikaans and Indian heritage - provide a caring, safe environment with age appropriate activities.
It was a privilege to visit and witness the joys and challenges of raising HIV-affected orphans first hand. These little ones that would otherwise perish, with care, medication and education, are being given opportunity to grow, to learn, to laugh in a 'big family'.
The costs of providing this standard of care are substantial. The Hope Centre, whilst supported by their local community and churches, needs assistance from volunteers and support through prayer and donations.
Though these orphans enter due to tragic circumstances and often with serious illnesses, they are in many ways the fortunate ones - with caring Mamas, a safe home, meals and clothes, times to learn and to have fun. They are Children with Hope!
My thanks to all at the Tabitha Hope Centre and the African Aids Foundation for your generosity and assistance with organisation of my 3-day visit in August 2009."
Take a look at some of the photos from Jenny-Ann's visit
Natalie Hutchings June 2006
My trip to South Africa was the best experience of my life so far. I have been stretched in all areas of my life through this one experience and I am the better for it. It has changed my perspective on many areas, poverty, materialism, true joy and an unshakeable faith. My prayer is that more people will find ways to help combat the aids and poverty issues in Africa as I have seen just how much needs to be done but also how even just one person can be a part of making a difference.
Take a look at the Photo Gallery from Natalie's trip
