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Category Archives: Tearfund ICS
Thoughts on my mind…
Wow! So the time has almost come where I have say goodbye to this amazing country, South Africa.
I must say when I signed up to living in another continent yet alone country – I didn’t think about the change and learning curb I would go through.
Little did I even know that time here would enable me to take a good look at my life. I have had a great 2015, that I cannot deny. Filled with so many blessings and great opportunities yet there were/are still things I needed to work on.
Being in SA, I managed to improve on my haggling skills. As mentioned in previous post we were able to go to Victoria St market. I realised with the sellers there that the moment you show loss of interest in their products, they always manage to bring the prices down. Desperate for things to sale they slash their initial price in half (sometimes even more!)
Witnessing this, I was taken on a journey of self reflect. Sometimes as humans we can even conduct our relationships as if we are haggling in these markets. We are willing to negotiate and as well compromise, scared that we will be alone, we deny ourselves from standing firm on the value of our true worth.
It’s so important to set your standard and hold firm to your worth.
“There are some things in life that should be nonnegotiable. Your character, your self-esteem, your ambition are the things that make you, you!”
If we don’t hold firm to our worth, then others will attempt to lower them for you.
“Those who want to be in your life can afford to rise to the occasion. Don’t give yourself away to the lowest bidder because you’re afraid no one else will want you.”
At the end of the day, God loved you enough to rescue you and redeem you! Even if you’ve been through a rough journey and you may have never even turned to Him – one thing is for sure; His promise has remained the same, He sent His son to die for you! Therefore know that HE loves YOU!
So know that YOU are PRECIOUS!
Decide that you will no longer bend your standards to accommodate another’s insecurity!
Set your price and don’t change or compromise depending on who’s interested!
BE BOLD!
Until next time…
❤️✌🏼️
Last couple of weeks!
Yaga yo!
I just want to begin by saying SORRY for not being consistent with this blog! Gosh, bloggers, vlogers I respect your hustle! This is not easy!
As the school year is drawing to an end, school is becoming less busy.
Therefore, our team decided to organise “Inchanga’s got talent!” Showcasing the great talent here in Inchanga! Auditions were ever so fun! Total blessing to be able to watch them perform! If you follow me on snapchat then you were fortunate enough to catch snippets of the great talent here!
Our following team day, the team visited the White House Community Care Centre, home to the disabled and the elderly. We introduced ourselves to those living there and enjoyed chatting and sharing stories together. It was touching to hear their experiences. We also assisted in cleaning, washing up and putting out fresh bedding for the centre’s chickens.
This weekend, we met up with the other four teams at Glenridge church in Durban. Ryan Matthews (Pastor at glenridge) spoke on water baptism! I think in the 10 years or so I’ve been a Christian it had to be the best way I’ve heard water baptism taught! Shout out to my girl Alex who spontenously decided to get baptised! Woooop!
After a powerful and challenging service we hit Suncoast! Contrary to the name, the weather wasn’t in our favour unfortunately, but it didn’t affect our time together! It was a wonderful day of fellowship, chatting and laughter!
Can’t believe we are back in London in 14 days! 8 working days left in school! Yikes!
✌🏼️
7th Week in!
This week has probably been my BEST yet!
My team mates led a career workshop with grade 7. They informed the kids of the importance of working hard, striving to achieve their future aspirations and the different routes and options they can take to get there. Unemployment is a very serious problem in Inchanga and we pray that our workshop will encourage the children to reach their full potential in pursuing a career true to their gifting and abilities. My other team mates, Alice and Katie led lessons on Drug Abuse with the Grade 6s and 7s. They taught the pupils that they are unique and valued by God and educated them on the damage drugs can do to their bodies. We hope they will make informed and wise decisions, say no to drugs and withstand peer pressure in the future.
Last week in GRS the pupils were taught the HIV ABC’s (Abstain, Be faithful, Condomise) that can help stop the spread of HIV. The kids (and us!) had lots of fun playing limbo and simultaneously learning about the risks of having older sexual partners.
This week we also organised a soccer friendly football match with Kwathintwa school which a school for the deaf. I was shocked to know that our team was the FIRST to ever put this together and in the history of the schools it had NEVER been done!
It was such a great SUCCESS! If soccer wasn’t enough we also had the girls playing a netball friendly!
It was so nice seeing everyone socialising!
Both friendlies were a success! Football was 3-0 to Kwathintwa and Netball was 9-5 to Inchanga! Woooop! 
Following on from that on Friday we had cafe chat with an overwhelming amount of people turning up wanting to practice their English! Great fun!
Saturday we finally managed to visit a craft market (Victoria St Market) If you are ever in Durban, make sure you visit! Then ended the day with a visit to North beach!
Sunday was our last time at City Hill Church! I sure am going to miss those brownies!
That’s all for now folks!
✌🏼️
Inchanga Primary School.
Good evening, afternoon or morning!
This post is going to be a little different from the rest. In fact it’s an overdue post lol!
I’ve realised that I haven’t actually given you the history behind the school I am based at. This blog post will be ALL about INCHANGA primary school!
So take a seat, grab your hot cuppa and enjoy!
(Hopefully by the end of this post you will have a deeper insight of this great school.)
Inchanga primary school was established in 1922 by a priest of a local Roman Catholic Church. It is the OLDEST school in the community. It initially was a school teaching up to grade 10 but in 1979 it stopped providing tuition for secondary school.
The current principal of Inchanga primary is Mr. B. G. Shau. (This guy is the most amazing selfless man I know here! Totally has devoted his for this kids!) The school has over 1200 pupils, 300 of which are orphans living with HIV. Many of the children here at Inchanga rely on the school for food – as many cannot afford basic meal. The school kitchen is ran by dedicated volunteers from the community.
At Inchanga primary school there is also a school garden which was planted to help give support and income to the orphans once they have finished school. The gardening programme is funded by Hillcress Rotart club and is the first of its kind! The orphaned kids are taught agricultural skills and learn how to look after the vegetables for themselves. At the moment, the government provides food for the pupils but in the future the school aims to buy their vegetables from the children to help them to support themselves after school.
The school has partner school called the Steven Davidson Primary school, which was built by a charity called Lions raw. The lions raw volunteers came over on 2009 with the World Cup. Before the partner school was built, the school suffered every year with road accident deaths due to children walking very long distances to get to school. Lion Raw raised money and built the second school closer to where these children lived and it provided education for the grade R to the grade 1. This resulted to the number of deaths cutting drastically! (we thank God!)
During the World Cup, the school was shut for a month. Many children went hungry as they dependon school for a good meal. Lions raw came to provide food for the children.
Inchanga Primary school welcomes help from a number of other organisations. One of which is food for life, who come from the local Hindu temple and provide food for the children once every month. There is also another organisation that provide food parcels and home visits for some of the child-headed families in Inchanga and for the children that sleep rough.
This school has truly opened my eyes to how others are living and the importance of having JOY in your heart no matter the circumstances.
THANK YOU INCHANGA FOR MAKING MY HEART FULL! ❤️
Week 6!
Helllooooo!
Six weeks in and you’re still reading. THANK YOU!
So the last week of October was a pretty busy one for us. Busy yet satisfying!
Monday, half of the team begun the process of cleaning the girls toilets. What a JOB it was! But hey, I guess being HIS hands and feet isn’t all about the pleasant jobs lol!
On Wednesday we had the awesome pleasure of being joined by the librarians from the local ‘Inchanga Library’ – teaching the grade 7 the importance of being a member of the library.
It was so great to see how engaged the kids were! In Inchanga, there isn’t much for young kids to do but to have a space where they can learn about other cultures and expand their vocabulary via books and Internet access isn’t something they take lightly!
For a couple of days on our journey to school, we realised that there was broken glass all over the floor. Thursday morning, we decided that we would clear it away – I couldn’t believe that someone approched me and asked me why I was cleaning the road as “I have nice hair, I shouldn’t be doing it!” LOL!
Friday we visited pre-school kids next door to Inchanga!
Adorable bunch they were! 
Painting of the children’s toilets also begun!
Café chat also begun! The whole vision behind this is for people to have a place they can practice their english and have general conversation. It was a great success!
Sunday we visited a children’s home (Orphanage) which begun in 2010.
This home is home to 14 orphaned children. Theresa Gwala (retired nurse and mother of 3 adult sons) who runs Sbusiswe (which means we are blessed) opened her home to these children whose stories is all about tragedy and loss.
Despite their odds these children are happy and ever so well behaved!
During our visit they taught us a few games and showed us around their home.
To support this amazing home we will be planting seeds of different types of food – so that everything they grow they will benefit from.
Until next time
Peaaaaaace xo
5 weeks in yo!
“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”
If you had told me 5 weeks ago I would have gone through this journey I would have definitely signed out before even beginning!
Learning to NOT quit when you’re uncomfortable and adjusting to a BIG group of people with different personalities and values, as well as attempting to come up with solutions for issues within the community has been challenging!
But the beauty of this journey has reminded me that LOVE comes at a cost and the importance of depending on HIM rather than ourselves.
Being in a group of 13 individuals, I learnt:
- Importance of talking to God before approaching situation or individuals.
- Importance of taking initiative. // Even when you don’t feel like it, we should always make the first move. Never make excuses or ptoceastinate! Chase after PEACE! Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worst!
- Sympathise with people’s feelings. // Always listen to people’s feelings – you can’t take away how they feel but you can definitely pay close attention to their feelings.
- Confessing you part in conflict.// I’ve realised when you admit your wrongs it totally defuses the other party anger.
- ATTACKING the problem NOT the person. // this for me is a BIG one. Issues cannot be solved if we are consumed by fixing the blame. (If we say it offensively, it will be received defensively!) #ThanksRickWarren
- Cooperate as much possible
- Emphasising reconciliation, not resolution. // working with 13 people it’s very unrealistic to think everyone will agree about everything – but if we work for peace and focus on reconciliation the problem loses significance! So let’s strive for PEACE!
Even when I didn’t want to, I had to understand that relationships are ALWAYS worth restoring. God calls us to live at peace with all men!
This week, couple of us went to Hillcrest to give into our food cravings! (I am actually convinced that all I think about is FOOD whilst I’m here. 😂) 
On Tuesday, we all got prepared for another day at school and unfortunately there was STRIKE. We were all so gutted. Strikes here tend to be very dangerous, young guys walking with guns and machetes willing to use it against anyone who doesn’t listen. The strike was due to issues with the local council and we’ve been told by people within the community that it’s only going to get worst before it gets better. Sigh!
Wednesday
We finally managed to do sex education workshop with Grade 7. This was challenging due to the fact that they are at that stage where they about to leave to go high school so you can imagine the “not bothered” attitude that was on display. Lol! After much raising of the voice, the aim of the lesson was achieved!
This past weekend we had our midterm review! All the volunteers here met together again (woohoo!) and managed to share what we’ve been up to within our communities as well as have a team building day. It was great to catch up, reflect and share what we’ve been up to the few weeks!
Saturday was THE DAY! We woke up early and made our way to Shongwedeni Dam! We were greeted by the ‘Spirit of Adventure’ team, briefed about our day and made our way down to prepare for the 1st activity! (shout out to Matt! 😛 Lol!)
The day consisted of team building activities – it was very interesting to witness how teams communicated and worked together!
We had lots of fun! The moment came where we had part ways and return to our communities! (But first came the SELFIESSSSSSSS! 📷)
Lastly on Sunday as a team we visited City Hill church – had a great time witnessing a good 40 odd individuals getting baptised! Thereafter Pastor Steve Wimble gave a great word from 1 Thess 2:1-12! 
Overall, you can most definitely say I had a great time the part couple of days! Cheeeeeeeeers to the last half of this journey! Let’s make it one to remember!
To that ONE person who’s reading this, I hope you are well! Thank you for taking the time to see what I’m up to! Truly appreciate it! It’s only 35 days until I’m home- so I’m over half way there!
Until next time,
Lots of love
Tania xoxo
A MONTH in! Can you believe it?!
Good evening! Good afternoon! Good morning!
How are youuuuu doing?!
(sorry about the delay in posting in the blog! Initially I had no motivation to write and then when I did, I had issues with internet lol! But as they say better late than never right?! Lol)
Can you believe I’ve officially been in South Africa for just over a month now?! Time flies!
So this week we begun our grassroot program which is a programme that aims to educate, inspire and raise awareness of HIV/AIDS through fun, interactive activities such as soccer drills and team challenges. It’s a 12 week programme that we will be running with grade 5 to 7. We will be teaching NINE GRS lessons each week!
On Tuesday, we did our litter pick up! It was hot! (38 degrees if I must add!) Hard work but the team spirit got us through!
I must say this week has been a VERY challenging week for me. Trying to remember that God’s ultimate goal for our lives on earth is not comfort but character development. Eish. It’s not easy.
Don’t let these challenges overwhelm you, just stay strong, be obedient and stay quiet! Mediate on the word in your head instead.
That has been my goal. I have to say THANK YOU to Mrs.Omatayo who totally helped me put things into perspective!
Team day
Saturday, we went to kloof nature reserve. We were told we would see zebra’s and few other animals lol lets just say dreams were sold! 😂
Instead, we enjoyed the beauty of the valleys and the lovely waterfalls. Rounded it off with a beautiful braai done by our lovely SA lads! (Thanks Thami & Tumi!)
The team.
Braai
Next weekend is MID-TERM weekend! I’m looking forward to being reunited with everyone! This will also mean, I only have 5 weeks left in SOUTH AFRICA! Yikes!
Continue keeping me in your prayers! Greatly appreciate it! ❤️
Week 3 yo!
I’ll be your heart to the ones I meet,
I’ll show love to the least of these, I would have never known if you didn’t first love me. I’ve learned to love when I’m your hands and feet ♥
New week, new day. Monday morning and I am woken up by the sounds of dogs barking and cockerels doing what they do best at 3am. Tossing and turning to find sleep, I decided to listen to music. Casey J – “Your Heart” comes on and after the not so great week I had last week, this song totally gave me another perspective as to why I am here.
Fresh new mindset, I prepare myself for HOLIDAY CLUB! Our theme for holiday club was ‘around the world’ – giving the kids insight to other cultures as we realised after few weeks of being here, that many of them didn’t know much about the world outside Inchanga.
The team arrived at Inchanga primary school met by some eager students ready for packed 3 days. We were told we would have around 60 kids in attendance, infortunately we only ended up having 20 odd in attendance. The team decided not to let that affect us but rather focus on the one on ones we could potentially have with them. I was teaching the spelling class with my roomie Lihle (Charity).
Grade 6 preparing for their test!
We had grade 5 to grade 7. Each lesson was 45mins long. I begun by doing a spelling test to see what level they were at, a lot of them in fact needed great support. Other lessons taught by my other team members were: reading, crafts, music, games and sports as well as writing.
Following on from Monday, Tuesday weather was not great at all. This meant that there was a possibility in the number of children attending holiday club decreasing but GOD!
We gathered as a team and prayed that God will do what only He knows to do and go against the norm. Assembly time came, low and behold numbers of kids had increased despite the poor weather! Isn’t God awesome?! By now we had a good 32 kids. The day continued on as usual, focusing on another country. By the last day, Wednesday we had about 36 kids! We handed them certificates for attending holiday club, they were all excited to receive them but also sad that they couldn’t come into school for the rest of the week.
Group games before the end of the day!
Thursday was meant to be our team meeting day to begin planning for several other things we are due to start on return from school holiday but due to the local elections happening EVERYTHING had to be changed. We received a text in the early hours of the morning saying:
You can imagine the frustration we were feeling! Completely out of our control. A day of doing nothing, this was not what I had signed up for.
I didn’t realise the seriousness of what was happening in my community until I saw it on the local news that very evening. People had gathered to protest, tyres were set on fire and tree branches blocking the roads.
Can we just thank God that we were all safe from all of that. But as you read above in the message, litter day had to be postponed to the coming Tuesday.
Friday we ended up meeting up briefly at the local library as a team to confirm few stuff.
The long awaiting day I had been waiting for ALL week finally arrived! Saturday! Team day! This meant, USHAKA MARINE DAY!
I don’t know whether I was more excited about going to a water park/sea world/beach or being reunited with the other teams! (Lol I’m thinking the latter!)
We arrived at around 11:30am. I quickly rushed off to the entrance to meet the other team waiting for us. In no time, we had paid for our entry tickets for both parks and gone to change into our costumes.
I (alongside few other girls) managed to conquer all the thrill seeking slides which were a lot of FUN! I got to also watch the Dolphin show which was superb!
I long for the day I actually get to swim with dolphins!
Dolphin show at Ushaka Marine
For those of you that know me, know that I am a thrill-seeker! After all life is made for living!
A group of us decided to pay extra money (roughly £8-£10) to go shark cage diving! Initially, I was thinking “yikes! Tania, this has got to be wildest thing to do!” But I gathered the courage and made my way!
Moments before the dive.
After all the preparation and signing out life away – the moment had come!
Before getting into the cage!
inside the cage! yikes!
It was a fun experience! Sharks casually swimming beside us and park visitors waving at us whilst we were underwater, such a cool moment!
Selfies at Ushaka // Great memories.
Overall Saturday was a GREAT day! So good to catch up with my lovely ladies and I cannot wait to be reunited in two weeks at midterm review!
Egz // Tania
Dancers at Ushaka // Taken by Ego
Lauren // Tan // Zoe // Egz
On Sunday we had the opportunity to go to ‘City Hill’ church again! A guest speaker by the name of Wayne Neuper gave the word. Titled “Holy spirit, Friend + God.”
Brownie + Hot Choco before church begun! // Delicious!
Conversations with Wayne + Renee Neuper // City Hill
Overall, this week was a better week. I would be lying if I told you I didn’t miss home. But one thing is for sure, this trip has wrecked me for PEOPLE all over again.
Whatever way I can help people on their journey, I’m available.
We are all human, all have stuff we are working through, facing. We all have a story. Everyday I’m reminded that one moment with Jesus. His presence can change EVERYTHING!
Having met with the other teams this past weekend and shared our thoughts + experiences. One thing is for sure, nothing has gone the way we expected it to go. Worried for what we are meant to learn on this journey or even give, I am reminded of Romans 8:28.
That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. – Rom 8:28
Whatever these next 8 weeks hold, I’m open. I will endeavour to NOT count the days but make the days count!
Here’s to life with Jesus, more than I can ever imagine and being part of the greatest story ever being told.
I’m open.
I’m ready.
I’ll leave you with this:
Anything that annoys you is teaching you patience. Anything that angers you is teaching you forgiveness. Anything you hate is teaching you unconditional love. Anything you fear is teaching you courage to overcome your fear. Anything you can’t control is teaching you how to let go. – #LifeRemindersInSA
♥
Niaa: South Africa Livin' :) 