A Day in the Lowveld
We spent Thursday touring the lowveld, the region of Swaziland most affected by the drought. Swaziland is in its third year of famine, with about 1/3 of the population dependent on food aid, up from 1/4 last year. Swaziland's population is 1 million, and according to Fr. Michael, our tour guide, about 120,000 live in the lowveld. The region is heavily affected by HIV/AIDS. Those who are infected here don't live as long as in other regions, because treatment isn't as effective when people are malnourished.
The landscape we drove through was both stark and beautiful: dry, dusty, and hot, with flatlands and gently rolling hills against the backdrop of the Lumbombo Mountains. It reminded many of us of the American Southwest.
The government seems to neglect this area, perhaps because the rural people are traditional and the king does not have to work hard to keep their loyalty. We spent hours upon hours on some of the rockiest dirt roads I've ever been on. Looking from a hilltop, there were no paved roads to be seen.
We spent most of our time visiting three schools. Students in Swaziland must pay fees to attend school, whether public or private, and must also pay for uniforms and books. The government has committed to pay school fees (approx. $100-200 per student) for the 60,000 orphans in Swaziland, but has yet to come through on its promise.
The first school we visited was one supported by World Vision and is where Pat Johnson sponsors a child, and they were able to meet for the first time. We we return, you must ask for one of us to tell The Snake Story! (No time here, but it is worth hearing!)
The other two schools were Anglican schools. All three schools seemed to be struggling under their responsibility of educating the orphans without the government's help---one school has 49 orphans, another has 180 designated as orphans and vulnerable children. Most schools provide at least one meal per day, if not two.
The children we met all seemed very bright, though, and excited to meet us and learn about America or whatever else we had to tell them. Very hungry minds and great senses of humor. At two of the schools, students were forced to stand in line for 10-15 minutes in the heat and sun while someone told them who we were and what on earth we were doing there. They were SO patient and well behaved for this!
Our final stop was a visit to a small hospital. It is relatively clean and orderly. There isn't much room, though, and patients are allowed to stay for two weeks before being sent home again. Patients lie on the floors and in hallways, often on foam pads with no sheets. So many dying, and so many way too young.
This was a hard day for us, to see such suffering all in one trip. I'll close with Fr. Michael's words: "We thank God because they still strive."
Peace and love,
Karen
The landscape we drove through was both stark and beautiful: dry, dusty, and hot, with flatlands and gently rolling hills against the backdrop of the Lumbombo Mountains. It reminded many of us of the American Southwest.
The government seems to neglect this area, perhaps because the rural people are traditional and the king does not have to work hard to keep their loyalty. We spent hours upon hours on some of the rockiest dirt roads I've ever been on. Looking from a hilltop, there were no paved roads to be seen.
We spent most of our time visiting three schools. Students in Swaziland must pay fees to attend school, whether public or private, and must also pay for uniforms and books. The government has committed to pay school fees (approx. $100-200 per student) for the 60,000 orphans in Swaziland, but has yet to come through on its promise.
The first school we visited was one supported by World Vision and is where Pat Johnson sponsors a child, and they were able to meet for the first time. We we return, you must ask for one of us to tell The Snake Story! (No time here, but it is worth hearing!)
The other two schools were Anglican schools. All three schools seemed to be struggling under their responsibility of educating the orphans without the government's help---one school has 49 orphans, another has 180 designated as orphans and vulnerable children. Most schools provide at least one meal per day, if not two.
The children we met all seemed very bright, though, and excited to meet us and learn about America or whatever else we had to tell them. Very hungry minds and great senses of humor. At two of the schools, students were forced to stand in line for 10-15 minutes in the heat and sun while someone told them who we were and what on earth we were doing there. They were SO patient and well behaved for this!
Our final stop was a visit to a small hospital. It is relatively clean and orderly. There isn't much room, though, and patients are allowed to stay for two weeks before being sent home again. Patients lie on the floors and in hallways, often on foam pads with no sheets. So many dying, and so many way too young.
This was a hard day for us, to see such suffering all in one trip. I'll close with Fr. Michael's words: "We thank God because they still strive."
Peace and love,
Karen
posted by Mission Team ~ Iowa at
9:18 PM
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