Another letter from Africa

Sawubona (this is the correct spelling of the Zulu greeting!) my
friends,

I hope I have not given anyone the impression that the white attitude
here in South Africa is generally negative toward the blacks. I have
actually found that most of the white folks are very passionate about
helping the blacks. Kath, one of the Hospice administrators here,
stood up to the system way back when she started this hospice 20
years ago and was told she couldn't serve the blacks. She did it
anyway, even though it was illegal.

It's a bit hard to tell how the blacks feel toward us. I think there
is a fair amount of fear and mistrust on one hand and a dependence on
the other. The children seem to find me a novelty when I go out into
the bush with the black staff. But that might just be their delight
at seeing anyone new.

Last Thursday I went out with a social worker and saw a different
area. It was more lush, with tall palms and banana trees. But once we
are out in the bush it gets dusty and more barren. The houses we went
to were more solid, some even nice (relatively), better furniture and
belongings. I met a woman who has twins, all of whom are HIV pos. She
is in a nice but rural house that her brother built for her parents
who have died. He has died too, so she is alone. She likes to garden
and goes to church, but she said she has no friends and doesn't get
out or do anything just for herself. Her lot is very sad. I also met
several more children. Just like we have found in Viet Nam and other
third world countries Sanctuary has visited, they love the bubbles
and stickers we bring! It takes so little to bring some joy.

I have been picking the brains of whoever I can about the greatest
needs the orphans have. It seems that the system is a big hurdle - so
backlogged that it takes years sometimes to process applications for
financial support, and then only if there is "proper" documentation
like birth certificates, etc. But, of course, many people don't have
any. There is apparently also a lot of corruption. Even after
funding is granted it is sometimes misused by the care givers.

The church, which could be a great resource for people in the
community, instead seems too often to shame and reject them. HIV and
AIDS is still so shameful here that it isolates people. And, of
course, even in this life-and-death crisis most church officials
still preach the official doctrine against the use of condoms. Those
few priests who preach otherwise get a lot of resistance and trouble
from their superiors.

Thus far, I only have a few ideas for recommendations of ways to help
address the AIDS and orphan crises, but nothing spectacular. Everyone
seems so despairing of dealing with all of the forces. I have to keep
reminding myself that we are not hoping to solve all the problems,
just nudge them in the right direction. Even if we HAD all the
resources, it would take decades to alleviate the suffering. But we
know from our work in helping Viet Nam that progress can be made. I
just don't know what could be done to give these people the hope and
determination they need. That might be the greatest poverty they have!

Love to you all,
Kate

Kate Dahlstedt
SANCTUARY INTERNATIONAL
18 Van Schoick Ave.
Albany, NY 12208
(518)463-0588
www.mentorthesoul.com