Siyathuthuka 2

It's been an amazing journey so far... we are a team drawn from different parts of the world thrown together to learn and grow and it's been awesome but challenging to face up to the realities of life which some people face.

In Siyathuthuka they usually get water brought by the Government in a tanker every two weeks...but last time it didn't come and they don't know when it will come again. So instead of a regular water supply for the family, the Grandparents we met were having to fetch it from across the hillside container by container. These 25 litre containers are really heavy- I could hardly walk straight with one- but they carry water from a young age and make us feel very weak and unfit!

The parents of these children have died. So Gogo and Tata ( Granny and Grandpa) are supporting everyone off a meagre state pension.This particular Grandfather - a pensioner-and his 2nd wife try hard to meet the needs of their dependants, but it's tough. In small bare, breeze-block shacks, he shares his home with a wife, 6 kids and 5 grandchildren. The other 16 of his children live in the surrounding area.

Last year there was so much rain it was no good for the crops. This year, on his land, he planted a field full of maize- but there has not been enough rain and so only a little will survive. Pray with us that rain will come here in Mpumulanga...

Ruth