Africa, Compassion, Inspiring Others, Latest News, Overseas Volunteering, Solidarity, Uncategorized, Volunteering
23 Jul 2014
MSC Volunteering on Safari
It’s another day in the Holy Family Centre ( HFC ) during the winter holidays. Along with the staff the MSC Volunteers took the kids out to Moholoholo Animal Rescue and Game Preserve. The children were roared at by lions, got chased by a cheetah and were able to pet a hawk. When you follow that up with a picnic in the park it makes for an amazing day and a typical one for our volunteers. This is the second year that we’ve run the MSC Volunteering Project in South Africa. It’s an opportunity to give a number of young adults from Ireland and the UK an experience of making a difference by sharing their gifts and talents in the developing world.
MSC Volunteering Team 2014
Our volunteers this year, Clare Brady, Michael Roe and Joe Baker have been hard at work for the last four weeks. Clare is a nurse from Monaghan. Michael is a teacher of English as a foreign language based in London. Finally Joe has just finished Uni in Keele and comes from the MSC Parish of Ss. Alban and Stephen. They’re spending two and a half months in the HFC, which is home to almost seventy children who have lost their parents to HIV / AIDS or TB. Here the children learn, play and grow in an atmosphere that is fun, professional and above all loving.
Volunteering in South Africa
It’s busy and I mean really busy. During the winter holidays the team are running a full day programme with the HFC staff. Michael supports Louisa, the Centre’s teacher, with the children’s educational needs. Clare spends her day in the clinic looking after the health care of the children, sorting out knitting and giving out way too many sweets. Finally Joe organises the football for the older kids and the activities for the younger ones. We’ll keep you posted on all the developments over the next month and a half. Needless to say there isn’t a dull moment!