THE EDGE OF AFRICA
By Madonna Goodyear
A PARENT WHO HAS BEEN THERE AND DONE IT!
Around October of 2008 my daughter Sioban Goodyear announced to me on her way to Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada that she and her best friend Melissa Jackman would be going to South Africa, to work with a volunteer organization called the “EDGE of AFRICA”, based in the tiny town of Knysna. They would be working with an out reach program for children and youth called, “Sinethemba.” It would be lie if I said anything other than the fact that my heart dropped through the bottom of my feet and my mind raced wildly with the many thoughts of the things that could happen to them there.
We tried with all we had to convince Sioban not to take this trip, but to no avail. With the realization that there was no way to change her mind and not wanting to be the person who spoiled her dreams I dug in with everything I had to help the girls raise the money they needed to succeed with this goal. I started to look at the fact that at 22 years of age it would be a lifetime adventure that she would always remember and that I would probably never forget!
The process of the trip was the hardest of it all. We had to make sure that all the proper things were done: passport, needles, airplane tickets, flight agenda’s, essential items that they would need and times to check in with us which we agreed would be every airport they landed and left from on their trip.
After months of preparation, and the trip being the sole conversation with my daughter every time we spoke, the time finally arrived for their departure. It would be far from the truth if I said that at the airport there was anything but apprehension, fear, and many, many tears when the plane left the ground with them.
My daughter’s voice, every time we spoke to her on the trip over to South Africa was filled with excitement of what was to come in the weeks ahead and the many things she was seeing during each stay at every International Airport that they landed in.
The girls finally arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa where they spent the night in the Southern Sun Hotel while they awaited their final flight to George, South Africa. Sioban told us they were treated like Royalty there from the time their private transportation picked them up until their delivery back to the airport the following day. She said every thing within walking distance was beautiful to look at. There are pictures of this hotel on line to ease any parent’s thoughts of the conditions that they think their child may stay in. This hotel stay was simply because we couldn’t get the plane tickets to coincide with the pick up times, and we felt safer with them in a hotel with private pickup and delivery back to there next flight to George where they were to be picked up by the EDGE of AFRICA staff Dayne and Roger.
After their arrival in George and their trip to Knysna, the girls were taken to the place they were to stay. Sioban sent pictures via Internet so that I could see their living quarters. I was amazed at the house, the cleanliness, and beauty of it in addition to the security around them and the protection that the girls received 24 hours a day.
The arrival of my daughter in Knysna began the start of hundreds of emails, pictures and stories of her adventures. I can truly say that I had never heard my daughter so happy, content, and full of life as those weeks she was in Knysna. The constant fact that I could have contact with her and the staff of EDGE of AFRICA with an email or a phone call eased our minds immensely. The following is an excerpt from one of her emails:
“Hello; Hope everything is good at home! Everything is perfect here, we spent the day playing soccer and ‘diski dancing’ with like 2000 kids, everyone from the townships all came together, it was a great time. I love it here!!!!!!! And sissy made fat cakes (toutons) for us today and Sinethemba, so of course that was fantastic! Ha, ha. We have been pretty busy so that’s good too. Jon’s clothes fit most of the kids perfect of course; Jon was thrilled about that when I told him! They said “Tell your man he’s an African King! ha, ha. They call us their “African Queens” they keep calling us names in Afrikaans but I can’t remember what they are ha, ha. I’ll tell you when I get home. Mom stop worrying about us, we are perfectly fine and perfectly safe!!! So safe it is annoying in fact! We can’t so much as walk to the bathroom without someone with us, always watching over us. I just wish I had some cheery sauce!”
Your child like mine, depending on what they choose to do on their time off there will see things that most of us only dream of doing. Things like walking with and feeding the elephants, visiting protected game areas where they can see anything from a snake to an owl, lying in the sand on a beach made in heaven that lies just behind their house, travelling to other parts and towns surrounding them, taking part in the African culture and celebrations, visiting the townships where life is gruelling, sad and poor, where they can give of their hearts and help these children. Depending on what area they are going to work in they can give of themselves, to teach like my daughter did. Teach things like language, knowledge of their own home, which ours is Canada, teach sports to the kids, crafts, hygiene, help in the orphanages with the smaller children and most of all show them love, and care which many of these children know nothing of. In return, they receive self-satisfaction, growth as a person, knowledge of what the word poor really means, an understanding of another culture, religions, languages, barriers, and make new friendships that they will seal during their stay there and hold close to their hearts for a lifetime.
The promises that EDGE of AFRICA makes about a lifetime of memories are very true to their word. They fulfill every expectation these young volunteers may have in their minds with the impact of a few added ones that they never seen coming like an overwhelming love for these people and sadness they experience when the time comes to leave them. Strong feelings that they can’t shake off even after their return home. After my daughter’s first trip I knew her heart belonged to these people and when she announced her plan to return again in the spring of 2010 it wasn’t the surprise I received the first time and my heart only dropped half way to my boots this time. I knew that Dayne and Roger who ran this organization and who are now looked as part of our family, would always take care of our precious daughter and would always keep her safety and well being as a top priority on their list.
The program itself is affordable; their housing is immaculate in a safe area, with their food being brought to them according to their likes and dislikes. Their laundry is done for them and their transportation to and from their work areas is supplied for them on a daily basis. During their time off there are strict rules they must adhere to at all times; these are of course, for their own safety and well-being.
My daughter is now planning her third return to Africa this spring since her first adventure, with a longer stay in the progress this time. She has, I’m sure, many memories, which I haven’t even heard of yet in the back of her mind. They have already started their lists of things to take back with them this time for the kids. Things like the simple everyday things we take for granted, like sneakers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and clothes. Money is of no value to these children unless it is given to EDGE of AFRICA team, to distribute to the centre in a meaningful and sustainable way.
These children at the youth centre spend much time making crafts, soccer, reading, learning new games and doing things to make their day-to-day lives more bearable. My daughter brought back some of these crafts, which I can say are absolutely beautiful, although they are made from nothing more than some, wire and beads. So, keep that in mind if you decide to bring any craft supplies with you. Anything and everything is appreciated by these children especially your love and time, things that money can’t buy in any culture.
My daughter’s hands on knowledge of this volunteer group, its organizers Dayne and Roger, staff and the children of Sinethemba, have brought many stories of her time in Africa into our lives. Her memories are now apart of our memories.
The apprehension and fear that this trip brought into our lives in the spring of 2008 as my daughter loaded her bags aboard the car to leave us has since diminished. My heart at that time was filled with fear for her safety, her dreams, and her knowledgeable but still naive understanding of the adventure she was about to embark on.
As my big hearted, funny, life loving daughter, whose worse decision to make was the next courses to take in University boarded the plane leaving behind the security of her home, family, and life to undertake what would become the biggest adventure of her life my heart pounded with fear.
As her time there passed and her emails and phone conversations with us continued I learned though her words the following things: She left her home where the statement: there’s nothing to eat here became the reality of seeing what nothing to eat really means to these people. A home where I have nothing to wear really means nothing to wear. Where these shoes are to old to wear to no shoes at all. She saw that a night’s entertainment out here, would be a great day of ball there played with anything that could be used for the purpose in bare feet. A new dress would become some clean clothes to wear and a 30-minute shower for her here is water to wash in, period for these children.
She would experience a gift from the children, which would cost nothing in money value simply a great day out quietly fishing with the children at their favourite spot in which the walk to would kill her feet. She would learn that care, love and attention which she had at all times at home, were a treasure for these kids, which they achieved through those volunteers that went there and gave from their hearts to them. She would learn that the Macaroni and Cheese that her and Melissa cooked for them was in essence a gourmet dinner for them, which made these children feel, loved and cared for. She would learn at the orphanage that holding a small child in her arms and have them look into her eyes would give her feelings that she couldn’t explain, not even to me. She learned their culture, their religion, experienced their foods, saw their hardships, and made life lasting friendships with the children, the people and the other volunteers and welcomed it all with open arms and a chance to learn things first hand that she could only read in books or see on TV. In turn, I learned with each new email or phone call I received from her.
From Africa, I received back from this adventure a daughter whose greatest qualities have grown. One who has learned threw her experience the real meaning of poverty. A girl who has grown beyond every possible dream I could have ever had for her. A girl whose dreams have reached places that I have never seen coming. A young person whose adventure in Africa has had their mind opened to many possibilities in life and the things she wishes to accomplish in the future. A person who has seen the true meaning of sharing, giving and loving until it truly hurts. A person who has left their heart in Africa. I am proud of my daughter for all she has done there to help these kids both in 2009, and 2010 and again this coming spring.
I would, as a very concerned parent would recommend this trip to any young volunteer that is looking for a fulfilling thing to do in their lives. To the parents I would say help your child to accomplish this dream, with the thought that the staff at the EDGE of AFRICA will care for your child like he or she is there own. Your child will return to you changed yes, but in every positive way.
If any parent would like to ask me any questions about anything, contact me at mgoodyear49@hotmail.com. Please note in subject line that it is about the EDGE of AFRICA Program otherwise I will delete the email as I do with any from people I don’t know.
Thanks for your interest in my thoughts,
Madonna Goodyear
Mother of Sioban Goodyear (EDGE of AFRICA Volunteer 2009 & 2010)
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