LADY GEE-GEES: the University of Ottawa Womens Ultimate Team

Follow LadyGGUltimate on Twitter

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Update on the RSA Initiative
















First off we would like to thank everyone who contributed to this initiative. With their help and that of VC Ultimate who generously matched all the clothes purchased we have delivered the t-shirts, sweatshirts and discs to South Africa through one of our players and we have managed to also raise almost $300 in funds to help our team achieve its goal!
Hereby attached is a copy of Rochelle's (our player who delivered the goods) update to our team and pictures from her experience.

"Dumela!

I don’t know how many of you actually saw the mound of clothes that we got together, but I can say that I was astonished. So thank you for everyone who participated!! Anyway, I wanted to make sure that the clothes really went where it would have the most impact, so I chose (with the help of my grandmother) a place called “Rising Eagles”. It is a Christian organization that has really good goals and strategies to improve the surrounding communities for both the students who participate in the program, and everyone that they come in contact with.

The facility is a big farm just outside of “Somerset West” (Cape Town area) that was donated a few years ago. Currently, they are able to accommodate approximately 40 students, giving them food shelter. The students are selected on the basis that they showed potential to succeed at school, work, or around the community. Typically these students come from squatter shacks around 6m x 6m in size with 10 people living under the same roof. What the program is aimed to do is to educate them in life skills (ie manners, how to cook, wash, how to act in a professional setting etc. etc.) so that they may further their education or find a well paid job, as well as give them the opportunities and “connections” to start a better life for themselves. Each of the students get a piece of land where they learn to farm, water purification and then go on to learn how to make use of what they have grown. They also go on to teach the people of the community these skills, and with the help of the organization, teach them how to start independent businesses for example.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet any of the students because of the holidays (which is when they graduate the program) but read a few of the stories that they wrote about their experiences. Most of the students come from the “village” (which is more the size of a city) Khyalitsha. As you can imagine, there are no washing facilities, and often have to walk for hours to get water. (These villages are being improved, but that’s a story on its own). One of the girls wrote that they had one outfit for the entire family- so when she went to school her parents and two brothers would stay home… providing that she brought food/water/ money for the family. She was 12 when she started supporting her family as well as her father’s alcoholism. The stories go on of victims of gang rape, abuse, hunger and is really beyond anything we can understand. One of the organizers said that they have never had a student enter the program with more than two shirts, and one pair of shorts. So what we sent will really be some of the first new clothes that they will ever get. I did get to meet the "youth advisor" who graduated from the program a few years back. He ran away after his father who was a witchdoctor offered him up to "the spirits" and came across the program. He is a great guy, and is extremely excited about the clothes and especially the frisbees. I showed him the basics, and is absolutely STOKED to get started with the rest of the students.

Anyway! They do a lot more but I thought I’d give you a little overview! They promised me they would try send a picture of all the new students wearing the clothes, and will pass that on as soon as I can. I hope that everyone is happy with where the clothes went. Please contact me if you have any other questions. would like to find out more.

Thanks again for all the contributions!

Roch

ps. The pictures are of Khyalitsha, and arent very clear.... but the little shacks go on to the horizon where the mountain is. (I wasnt allowed to stop to take good ones :( But it gives you an idea at least!"