Tuesday, December 13, 2011
WOW, HOW "BIG" I HAVE GROWN
When TK first took me on a tour from the enclave of Soweto Kliptown Youth where he grew up,(where he also looked after 6 small orphans himself)around his Soweto community, and guided me through the maze of streets sharing his wishes for his self and the community; little did I know that at that moment we would start a lifelong connection.
In our journey of contact and visits we has been allowed him to persue his personal growth assisted by monthly calls, and then we assisted him to complete on his wish to take on personal education through the Landmark Forum with Landmark Education in Cape Town, his subsequent completion of his tourism certificate and then the trip to Australia where he under took Business Development training, along with experiential travel through out Victoria, South Australia and Tasmanian, the TK of today is not the shy, stammering boy.
His delight recently in a three way call sharing with Ben the real impact he has made on the community of 650, where a small 10 year old boy from Australia took on makiing a trip to Soweto TK and Bob Nurango soccer balls for competition soccer for the kids.
Where soccer now replaces violence, and gives the boys an outlet where pride, and skill are replacing bad habits. On a recent tour of Normay, the boys participating in the Norway Cup.
What a difference a 10 year old made to a community on the other side of the world sharing his love of sport.
TK aand the community also received recent exposure with Mr Richard Branson through his Virgin Airlines publication, and then on the 4th November 2010 escorting Prince Charles and Lady Camilla through Soweto, TK has grown and his dreams and being realised all because of a "chance meeting".
I am so thrilled about his personal transformation,and equally proud of the change he has created in his community...a transformational change that has created ripples throughout the world.
Labels: Prince Charles and Lady Camilla, sport
draft
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Recycle and save a life- in South Australia
What happens to your cans and bottles?
Out of sight out of mind?
Do you put them in the kerbside rubbish never to be seen again?
If you could recycle them and save the life of a child, would you be prepared to recycle differently?
What would it be like if you and your neighbours all recycled differently, maybe your company recycled differently instead of putting the recyclables into the councils bin, created a new bin and they were collected and recycled and the money used to save a life?
Would you be interested?
In our complex, there were dozens of bottles and drink cans just being placed in bins without a care often, and not even in the right recyclable bin.
With a little retraining and a promise for someoneelse to collect and take to the recyclers, we have been able to collect $64.00 to this point. We only require another $90.00 and we can feed,educate and school a child for 12 months at SKY, Soweto Kliptown Youth.
If someone hadn't taken a change of course a young adult like TK wouldn't have the future he has now, where he can make a difference to his community and the lives of other abandoned and starved AID's affected children.
Are you prepared to rethink, and email me so that we can set up a collection strategy in your neighbourhood.
Geraldene: geraldenedeboo@gmail.com
Email and make a difference too.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Fish a plenty......just catch one
It is now some 10 years since I first meet Tk at Soweto Kliptown Youth. As he reluctantly volunteered to take me on a tour of the Soweto township, his stamma controlling his life and his destiny.
There was a quality in this young boy, that demanded an opportunity, and it was upon my return to Australia I remake contact and his life and mine changed for ever.
I proudly watch his progress, from completing the Landmark Forum in Cape Town as the only black man, his Tourism certification, his travel to Australia to learn business development, recycling, spend time with the Sunnycliffs primary School students and now his own business Ntokozo TKD Dube Tours, I see a young man finally reaching his fullest potential.
That is worth taking a risk to "feed and educate a man...as he now feed and educate thousands......"
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Time flies, and things are happening
It is now 2011.
TK has grown since he came to Australia. He has learnt recycling, set up his own business, ( Ntokozo Tkd Tours Dube...tourist guide at Soweto Kliptown Youth) and is now smart with money, and works tirelessly for other orphaned and abandoned children.
He commenced his life in much the same way and through his belief in God, he has created a world for other children. The children come, and in whom he developes a "faith" that all will be great in their lives, and that they, have been put on this earth to do "amazing things".
Since he completed the Landmark Forum in Cape Town and through this, and his educational and family connection trip to Australia, he has now seen that there is in fact a world outside Africa. The books were telling the truth, that he can be an intruement of change, and the he can make a difference. As he says " mamma, my eyes are now open".
For me I will never forget him standing on a walking track at the top of Lake St Clair in Tasmania, in the mountain mist, with eyes wide and the slow flow of tears down his dark skin, " Mamma pray with me....you have given me more than any money can, you have given me a life.." " Thank you".
Isn't it amazing, one visit to a far off land, a connection, and a new life gets reborn...
TK has grown since he came to Australia. He has learnt recycling, set up his own business, ( Ntokozo Tkd Tours Dube...tourist guide at Soweto Kliptown Youth) and is now smart with money, and works tirelessly for other orphaned and abandoned children.
He commenced his life in much the same way and through his belief in God, he has created a world for other children. The children come, and in whom he developes a "faith" that all will be great in their lives, and that they, have been put on this earth to do "amazing things".
Since he completed the Landmark Forum in Cape Town and through this, and his educational and family connection trip to Australia, he has now seen that there is in fact a world outside Africa. The books were telling the truth, that he can be an intruement of change, and the he can make a difference. As he says " mamma, my eyes are now open".
For me I will never forget him standing on a walking track at the top of Lake St Clair in Tasmania, in the mountain mist, with eyes wide and the slow flow of tears down his dark skin, " Mamma pray with me....you have given me more than any money can, you have given me a life.." " Thank you".
Isn't it amazing, one visit to a far off land, a connection, and a new life gets reborn...
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tk's time to do overseas learning
July 1 2008
It has been a harrowing couple of months. The unbelievable lengths that I have had to go to to get TK on the plane to Australia from South Africa, beauracy, red tape, and then stupidity, has all been a revelation.
It all started in February when we commiteed. Yes it was possible for him to come to Australia to learn about recycling, children and business. Three refusals follwed. Finally on the 6th February it was all worth it. Seeing the light in his smile, tears running down his face as he got off the plane, and then seeing him travel four and half hours to meet SunnyCliffs Primary School children. It was amazing. Dreams do come true, even for orphans in Africa.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Teach a Man to fish.....and he feeds 1000's
June 2008 was a dream come true.....an impossible dream, that's what we thought...
Imagine a visit to a far flung land, a connection with a child in a far away place, 1000's of miles from home.
An impossible task to offer support, encouragement and love, making a difference to his life, without creating unfair expectations, and making each of our lives miserable with unfullfilled dreams.
That's how is was, for TK, myself and my now 12 year old grandson Ben.
I first travelled to South Africa in 2005 and met TK as part of my travels into Soweto, then again in 2006, and then I returned with Ben completing on a promise that we made to make a difference to children in Soweto through sport last year.
TK in meeting Ben and myself, felt that he now had a family, that we were his real family, non blood, but connected.
There have been many trials since then, in having us all be together here in Australia for a month long holiday....five refused visa/passport applications. And today the 2nd June 2008 today the same thing.
Only this time it was going to be different.....so I said to myself......, and finally after hours on the telephone the day before his booked and paid for flight, after again being refused, I demanded a much needed decision review, and with more re-assurances given, we finally got the red light for TK to come.
TK was excited and apprehensive about what was next, but always trusting the process and as he packed and was at the airport to leave his home country on a plane to a far away land. He found himself once on the plane, literally pinching himself and asking the passengers next to him, if he was dreaming...he was sure he was going to wake up soon.
In his world, he had never travelled outside of Soweto/Johannesburg area, since his birth in Tanzania to an aids affected mother who died and he found himself alone, and being rasied by a lady in Soweto whom he thought was his biological mother.
His trust and apprehension, part of the new journey, of discovery and adventure. In my world an opportunity to have him be the leader he knows himself to be, to help his own people, but also to reconnect to his other family here in Australia.
Wow what a sight, seeing him putting foot to soil, the enbrace, the tears, and the reality check again for Tk, am I really here....... in Australia and in Adelaide, as the first stop of an amazing month long journey.
This started the most amazing time for each of us, the many happy and elated tears of joy, the lost amazing experiences followed.
Till this time we had never spent any more than 16 hours togther face to face.
We travelled to Mildura, spent time with my family, introducing, and experienceing all that it offered. For me seeing my beautiful 79 year old mother, embrace a man whom she never met and see how excited and full of love she was for him....my 82 year old father taking TK to see kangaroos, dinner, and talk and laugh together, then Dad serenading Tk whilst playing the organ and sing hymns with this amazing man, TK spell bound at each new thing......
my amazing children and their children opening their hearts, and giving Tk the sense of family, the laughter, the play and seeing our children and grandchildren embrace, laugh, play and literally love their adopted new family member...
We spent time travelling Tasmania, Launceston, then Mole Creek, going into the ground to see timeless caves, and then walking the trails around Cradle Mounain, snow, sleet, rain and experiencing the sheer joy and euphoria of being on a mountain, connected to the life force that gave its beauty....hearing Tk say...Mamma can we pray..and the tears running down our faces as we shared the amazingness of the occassion, his experience of the beauty in the world, never before seen, the true gift of love he has in the experience of being alive....and as he shared "Mamma I feel like I have lived in a box all my life, my fears have been swept away by this gift you have given me....I truely can't thank you enough, I love you"........
We stayed in the lodge and then the next day travelled though Talla, Derwent Bridge down to Hobart, staying at Glenorchy, and visiting the Cadbury's factory, going on a cruise up the Tamar, travelling on a double decker bus seeing the sights of Hobart.
We then drove down to Port Arthur, a place of amazing duality with Kliptown and the Soweto riots during the Aparthaid time...for TK.
For myself it was overwhelming, seeing again and visiting the site where two of my mothers friends were killed, remembering the many days when I rode to school seeing Ron in the block, in his red jumper and seeing his big smile and always cheery greeting to the day..knowing that I was either late or early depending on what he said...
The gift of life, so present and to be treasured.
We left Port Arther, and staying in a wonderfull B&B on the way back to Hobart and then flew out back to Adelaide.
During our time TK completed voluntary work at the Australian Refugee Association, assisted in the Master Builders Association, completed a small business course, and equiped himself on ways to teach his community about recycling, the importance of nature and trees.
We again went back to Mildura and TK spent time working with the teachers at the Sunnycliffs Primary School, and set the ground rules for a shared exchange school project with the students.
It was an extraordianary time. The in the final few days we travelled down to Victor Harbour, met with friends and just experienced the environment.
His visit touched many people.
Dr Keith Mc Nider and his stunning wife have sponsored TK to complete the Landmark Forum in Cape Town and this happens at the end of August. Their gift to hime to assit him in making a bigger difference to his people.
A time full of living palpable exchanges, love, learning, openess and a shared experience that will deliver ripples in the lives of those that met him and in his life back in Soweto for a long time to come.
As Jesus said..." teach a man to fish, and you can feed thousand's"....
Ben and my gift to humanity in a form that makes a difference....funded by my wonderful company People Possibilities ACN.
Imagine a visit to a far flung land, a connection with a child in a far away place, 1000's of miles from home.
An impossible task to offer support, encouragement and love, making a difference to his life, without creating unfair expectations, and making each of our lives miserable with unfullfilled dreams.
That's how is was, for TK, myself and my now 12 year old grandson Ben.
I first travelled to South Africa in 2005 and met TK as part of my travels into Soweto, then again in 2006, and then I returned with Ben completing on a promise that we made to make a difference to children in Soweto through sport last year.
TK in meeting Ben and myself, felt that he now had a family, that we were his real family, non blood, but connected.
There have been many trials since then, in having us all be together here in Australia for a month long holiday....five refused visa/passport applications. And today the 2nd June 2008 today the same thing.
Only this time it was going to be different.....so I said to myself......, and finally after hours on the telephone the day before his booked and paid for flight, after again being refused, I demanded a much needed decision review, and with more re-assurances given, we finally got the red light for TK to come.
TK was excited and apprehensive about what was next, but always trusting the process and as he packed and was at the airport to leave his home country on a plane to a far away land. He found himself once on the plane, literally pinching himself and asking the passengers next to him, if he was dreaming...he was sure he was going to wake up soon.
In his world, he had never travelled outside of Soweto/Johannesburg area, since his birth in Tanzania to an aids affected mother who died and he found himself alone, and being rasied by a lady in Soweto whom he thought was his biological mother.
His trust and apprehension, part of the new journey, of discovery and adventure. In my world an opportunity to have him be the leader he knows himself to be, to help his own people, but also to reconnect to his other family here in Australia.
Wow what a sight, seeing him putting foot to soil, the enbrace, the tears, and the reality check again for Tk, am I really here....... in Australia and in Adelaide, as the first stop of an amazing month long journey.
This started the most amazing time for each of us, the many happy and elated tears of joy, the lost amazing experiences followed.
Till this time we had never spent any more than 16 hours togther face to face.
We travelled to Mildura, spent time with my family, introducing, and experienceing all that it offered. For me seeing my beautiful 79 year old mother, embrace a man whom she never met and see how excited and full of love she was for him....my 82 year old father taking TK to see kangaroos, dinner, and talk and laugh together, then Dad serenading Tk whilst playing the organ and sing hymns with this amazing man, TK spell bound at each new thing......
my amazing children and their children opening their hearts, and giving Tk the sense of family, the laughter, the play and seeing our children and grandchildren embrace, laugh, play and literally love their adopted new family member...
We spent time travelling Tasmania, Launceston, then Mole Creek, going into the ground to see timeless caves, and then walking the trails around Cradle Mounain, snow, sleet, rain and experiencing the sheer joy and euphoria of being on a mountain, connected to the life force that gave its beauty....hearing Tk say...Mamma can we pray..and the tears running down our faces as we shared the amazingness of the occassion, his experience of the beauty in the world, never before seen, the true gift of love he has in the experience of being alive....and as he shared "Mamma I feel like I have lived in a box all my life, my fears have been swept away by this gift you have given me....I truely can't thank you enough, I love you"........
We stayed in the lodge and then the next day travelled though Talla, Derwent Bridge down to Hobart, staying at Glenorchy, and visiting the Cadbury's factory, going on a cruise up the Tamar, travelling on a double decker bus seeing the sights of Hobart.
We then drove down to Port Arthur, a place of amazing duality with Kliptown and the Soweto riots during the Aparthaid time...for TK.
For myself it was overwhelming, seeing again and visiting the site where two of my mothers friends were killed, remembering the many days when I rode to school seeing Ron in the block, in his red jumper and seeing his big smile and always cheery greeting to the day..knowing that I was either late or early depending on what he said...
The gift of life, so present and to be treasured.
We left Port Arther, and staying in a wonderfull B&B on the way back to Hobart and then flew out back to Adelaide.
During our time TK completed voluntary work at the Australian Refugee Association, assisted in the Master Builders Association, completed a small business course, and equiped himself on ways to teach his community about recycling, the importance of nature and trees.
We again went back to Mildura and TK spent time working with the teachers at the Sunnycliffs Primary School, and set the ground rules for a shared exchange school project with the students.
It was an extraordianary time. The in the final few days we travelled down to Victor Harbour, met with friends and just experienced the environment.
His visit touched many people.
Dr Keith Mc Nider and his stunning wife have sponsored TK to complete the Landmark Forum in Cape Town and this happens at the end of August. Their gift to hime to assit him in making a bigger difference to his people.
A time full of living palpable exchanges, love, learning, openess and a shared experience that will deliver ripples in the lives of those that met him and in his life back in Soweto for a long time to come.
As Jesus said..." teach a man to fish, and you can feed thousand's"....
Ben and my gift to humanity in a form that makes a difference....funded by my wonderful company People Possibilities ACN.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)