CEDARVILLE - DAY ONE

We were up bright and early... (but perhaps not for Mike and Tom). This morning we went to Cedarville Public School. It is here that we will be undertaking our painting project and we saw the three classrooms that we will be tackling on Wednesday. There are over 1000 pupils at the school from Reception to age 19, in a space the size of an average school plaground. Class sizes can be very large, up to 107 in a class with one teacher. We went into some of the classes for the yonger children but before long it was break time and we were mobbed, all of the children wanting their photos taken, though the cooler, older students lurked at the edges. Although the students were in uniform, it was obvious that they were hand downs and that the students came from poor families.

We then met some of the care-givers who work for the Palliative Care Project and split into smaller groups to go and visit some of the homes. This was an overwhelmingly emotional experience, to see families living in small spaces and who had so little. To see children playing with a balloon and getting so much from it, whilst hearing stories like that of a grandmother who had buried two of her daughters, one of whom had died only last week. Tomorrow we will be buying food and then distributing it with the care-workers, to some of the homes we visited today.

In the afternoon we brought out all of the gifts that we had brought over with us, it was the most amazing pile and we began to sort out where it would all go. Both Val and Cathy were overwhelmed by all that had been donated and there is still some money raised by others to use. Two schools will be getting books, papers, pens and sports equipment. A pre-school creche will have some toys, games and craft equipment. The Palliative Care Project will have some medical supplies as well as clothes, toiletries and games to give to those they feel are in need, including some that we hope will be given as Chrismtas gifts. When we distribute the food tomorrow we will be taking some t-shirts and sweets to give to children. In addition there is some money to buy additional stuff including musical instruments and other equipment and resources needed.

Today has given us a flavour of the town and the project and shown us some of the challenges that the workers here face trying to help those in need.