Thursday
1st April
Karnagie
Sharp's diary: Day 2 |
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| An
example of South Africa's squatter camps, an area where
Africans have settled to get away from
harsh conditions. |
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On
Tuesday April 27 South Africa celebrates 10 years of democracy.
BBC Radio Berkshire and six local schools have launched a project
to help provide a congratulatory meal to a deprived school in South
Africa.
Our
reporter Karnagie Sharp is in South Africa to help get the project
off the ground.
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Karnagie
Sharp's diary
Day
2
Today was an extremely difficult day for me. It was one of those
times when you try to convince yourself that everything in life
happens for a reason, or at least that's what my parents always
told me.
The day
started at 5:30 am, with the "normal" routine. A nice warm shower
and a decent breakfast. I had the choice of fresh fruit, freshly squeezed
orange juice, eggs, bacon and all the things we take for granted.
I settled for a glass of fruit drink and two slices of toast.
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| Karnie
meets pupil Philamon |
My mission
today was to walk half the distance two children at Nonhlevu Secondary
school normally walk on a daily basis. The distance to school and
back usually covers about 12 kilometres both ways.
I finally
got to their homes at about 6am and once again I was greeted with
respect and a deep sense of appreciation, as if going to their homes
and being interested in their lives was going to be a turning point
in the way they lived.
The children
start their day at about 4:30 each morning, they have chores to do.
They take cold baths and eat basic food, in some cases they don't
eat at all.
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| Breakfast
for Andile |
Dry bread
is a common quick and accessible food. These children don't know any
better…or do they?
They must
know that life is built on economic greed, that not far from their
dilapidated homes, people live in luxurious places, that there just
might be a way out of their situation…but have they been taught to
dream?
I grappled
with the idea of feeding them with fragile information about chasing
their dream. I felt guilty. I wanted to help these children.
These
children are appreciative, they are hopeful and they listened when
I told them that they need to chase the furthest star, that life will
be good to them if they were determined.
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| An
example of South Africa's squatter camps, an area where
Africans have settled to get away from
harsh conditions. |
Their
hopeful faces took that in, they were pleased and they were grateful.
They are practical though, they know that we can't perform miracles,
they're just excited that their situation has been noted and perhaps
we could help them in small ways…
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