Medical & Community Project Knysna, South Africa August 2010

Medical & Community Project Knysna, South Africa August 2010

“I have been doing the Medical and Community project with EDGE of AFRICA & Medforce. My project lasted for four weeks. Before I arrived here I did not know what to expect. I was a bit nervous and a bit excited. However, my time in Knysna has been an amazing experience. Everyone, whether the staff of EDGE of AFRICA, the doctors at the Provincial hospital, or the home based carers, all have been very friendly and welcoming. I volunteered at the Knysna Provincial Hospital, the pre-schools, Sinethemba Youth Centre, hospice and also the THAT’S IT clinic. I have gained both medical experience and have also had the chance to contribute to the community. Through my work at the medical projects I got to examine patients with different illnesses and also learned about how the healthcare service works in South Africa. The highlights have definitely been watching the caesarean section and natural delivery! Working at the community projects gave me an insight into the social, financial and cultural backgrounds of the people living in Knysna. Overall, it has been an interesting experience, one which will definitely help me in my university application as well as my later life!”

Toozy Nanda, UK

"Volunteering with EDGE of AFRICA & Medforce has been the best experience of my life, at times it has been challenging but the challenges have definitely helped me grow as a person. I had never travelled to South Africa before or travelled anywhere by myself, in addition I have never had the opportunity to live in a house with 8 other people that I had never met before. I was encountering new situations that were already widening my life experience before I had even begun the project. I find it quite difficult to summarise everything I have done in Knysna over the past four weeks, however, the most prominent memory I have is from the Knysna Provincial Hospital. I was volunteering on the maternity ward and while in the labour room I met a patient, she was having contractions every few minutes that appeared to be extremely painful, therefore, I decided to talk to her so as to become a distraction.

The fact that I was able to just go up to this patient and start talking is an achievement in itself, this is because I was an extremely shy person before I came to South Africa which limited my experience as a volunteer in England. Since being in South Africa, I had become accustomed to the friendly nature of all the locals and this made me feel so comfortable in this new situation. Moreover, when I started to talk to the patient I only had to ask a few questions and from that she was so open with me that I learned about her whole life up until I had met her. The most inspiring aspect of this patient is that fact that she was a single mother who was also HIV positive. She told me that she had found out her status and that she was pregnant within a week of each other. Knowing all this, I was stunned by her evident mental strength; she did not exude any hostility or negativity towards her situation. In addition, she was very educated about the HIV virus and that was very refreshing and made me optimistic about HIV education for all South Africans. I became quite attached to this patient within a matter of minutes and spent the whole day with her, talking about her life, she was also curious about my life in England which seemed so simple and easy when I was telling her about it.

When I returned to the volunteer house that afternoon, I was in a very pensive mood. I was thinking about my life and any "struggles" I thought I had encountered and it all seemed so trivial. I though about that patient and how she was facing so many challenges in her life all at once, her positively was so inspiring to me. I have definitely matured as a result of volunteering in Knysna, before this experience I feel as though I lived in a bubble and was completely unaware of the struggling some people face in their lives on a daily basis. All the people I met in Knysna have positively altered my perception of life; they have shown me that no matter what adversities one faces, one will always prevail when you remain optimistic. I will never forget the time I spent in Knysna and am forever thankful to all those who made the experience so amazing for me."

Zahrah Dad, UK

‘Day in the Life’ of an EDGE of AFRICA Medical Volunteer

‘Day in the Life’ of an EDGE of AFRICA Medical Volunteer by Eavanna Maloney.

Its 07h00 and our EDGE of AFRICA volunteer wakes to another day at the EDGE of AFRICA volunteer house and sits down to a light breakfast of cereal, toast, tea and fruit. Breakfast at the volunteer house is a crazy time consisting of running around, laughing, shouting, eating sometimes simultaneously and sometimes resulting in the odd collision!

At 07h45 our volunteer is transported to the Knysna Provincial Hospital where she spends the day assisting various medical staff on the Pediatrics Ward with their daily duties. At about 11h00 after her tea break she takes time out to sit, read and play with the children in the ward. Today, one of the kiddies is lucky enough get a piggy back ride! Which she thoroughly enjoys! This is a time when the children can forget that they are in hospital and they can really just enjoy themselves!

At this time other EDGE of AFRICA Community Medical volunteers are walking in the local township of Kayalethu. They are visiting locals and helping Hospice Home Based Carers with their rounds. This is a great opportunity for EDGE of AFRICA volunteers to meet local people and learn about the cultures of Knysna.

At 14h00 after a satisfying packed lunch it’s time for our HIV/AIDS & TB Awareness volunteers to go to the Sinethemba Youth Development Centre in Kayalethu, a centre of hope, development and learning for local kids, to conduct an HIV Awareness workshop with some of the teenagers. In a fun, relaxed manner the teens ask questions and express their views while learning about the virus and how to protect themselves.

After the Workshop at about 15h30 our EDGE of AFRICA volunteer plays games and talks with the children and teenagers that are attending Sinethemba. The teenagers have really enjoyed the workshop and say they have learned a lot.

As the day comes to an end our volunteer returns to the EDGE of AFRICA volunteer house to enjoy a traditional South African meal, and everyone’s favourite – Bobotie (traditional South African Cape Malay dish).

At 19h00 all volunteers are treated to a discussion by Dr Laurel Giddy - a local HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) Clinic Doctor. Volunteers have found this discussion interesting and very informative.

For those not ready for bed then a local DVD, ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’ – a South African classic!

For those really not ready for bed ….. a night out on the Knysna Tiles! Usually visiting, Swing Café, Harry B’s and the Shabeen. But not too late another busy day looms!

Until next time…

http://www.EDGEofAFRICA.com

Sleepless in Knysna by Eavanna Maloney

04h00 Its pitch black, not a sound to be heard, I see the intermittent passing of the lights ……….Neighbourhood watch. I will myself to sleep.

04h05 I’m tossing

04h06 I’m turning

04h07 I’m Stressing

04h08 IM REALLY PANICKING!!! I start work in 3 hours!!!!

………………………..I have been awake for 16!

04h09 I am resigned.

At exactly 04h10 I am up, awake and wired to the moon, which at this exact moment is yellow, murky and its light is dimming!

I move to my window to inspect the lights of the distance. I am trying to identify the various houses I have visited and I think of the people I have met that live there.

04h13 I think I have spotted Siyafunda! Although I haven’t had coffee yet….

04h13 I am at the kettle………… Coffee

I move slowly and silently (this is very difficult in a wooden house especially carrying coffee and a laptop) I do not want the volunteers I live with to think I am an unwelcome guest!

04h15 I move to the office with torch in hand.

04h53 I am working. I am preparing timetables for the next group of volunteers I am placing these volunteers in various medical projects throughout Knysna here they will meet wonderful people from healthcare workers to patients.

05h00 I don’t know if I am tired or alert? Awake or asleep?

I’m definitely not sure whether my timetables are making sense!!!!

More coffee more typing!!!!

05h30 The sun is rising over white location and the moon is falling into the lagoon.

I can here the Bokmakierie and the turtle doves singing their morning songs.

06h00 I am no longer stressed I am no longer anxious

I am at peace.

06h10 I head to the shower and get ready to start my day.

By Eavanna Maloney – Medical Volunteer from Ireland

HIV/AIDS Volunteering in South Africa

Volunteering in Knysna for a very worthwhile cause!

Privileged is how I feel to have experienced a project as eye-opening as TB/HIV Awareness in Knysna, South Africa. I am a qualified Nurse I have been in the health industry for the past five years. I think I learned more in my five weeks with EDGE of AFRICA than I did in the last five years!!

I have met some truly wonderful people from Healthcare workers to patients. I have seen strength in people I didn’t even imagine could be possible. Smiles that would melt your heart and tears that would break it. Although AIDS has a devastating effect on its victims and indeed their families the patients I met just exuded positively, courage and strength. One of the most shocking things about aids in South Africa is that it has no face. It affects people of all ages, from all backgrounds, people from all walks of life. This as a foreigner was shocking for me. All part of my learning process!

I worked in the community Kayalethu and Hornley for the most, which for me was very special, seeing patients in there homes. I was invited with such genuine warmth and kindness that I often had a little tear in my eye. During my time at the clinics and at the hospital I saw such dedication in the staff. They work with an efficiency and kindness that was admirable. I now have many people to aspire to in my future career.

Volunteering experience what can I say about that? Well, I have never in my life laughed as much, talked as much, or had as many special moments as I did with the people I volunteered with! What an amazing group of people! I think the bond you form with people when you are volunteering and doing ‘good’ is very special. Everybody is having new, exciting and emotional experiences. To share these experiences can only strengthen and build lasting friendships.

Knysna is a beautiful place with plenty to do with its vibrant night life and surrounding nature and wildlife parks. There never was a dull moment in my experience! There was always something to do, somewhere to go even on a shoestring budget!

I was really looked after during my stay with EDGE of AFRICA it reminded me of being home, or as we in Ireland would say being “mammied”! Beautiful food, a beautiful house. Everybody was so friendly and helpful!

This truly was a life changing experience I will be returning home a changed person for the better!!

For more details visit www.EDGEofAFRICA.com or follow volunteers on www.facebook.com/EDGEofAFRICA.

By Eavanna Maloney