Turbo Week with Mari💃🏻

I always have great expectations when I travel down to South Africa and Zulufadder. The expectations are ALWAYS fulfilled, but not always in the way I had imagined! It’s almost impossible to plan anything because you become a different person when you get down there. Not least, you must realize that TIME is a relative concept. So patience has to be your friend. And that can be a good thing! I don’t think I’ve ever met ANY stressed Zulus, actually. There’s something we could all learn from them! But when we do get started, then it’s FULL SPEED AHEAD 💯😅

See also photos below the article | Video (4 minutes)

A bit of history

It is always as exciting and rewarding to come to Zululand and Zulufadder. It’s fun to think that the first Norwegian missionary, Bishop Hans Peter Schrøder, came to South Africa in 1844 and founded Eshowe in 1860. I came here in 2004. I’m not exactly a missionary, but I started Zulufadder and still help the Zulus in the same area that Schrøder did almost 200 years ago. I mean WE, because it’s Silvia from Vesterålen who LIVES in Eshowe and runs everything. And wow, she does an AMAZING job!

So, we started in 2004. Now it’s 2024! Imagine, we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary! YAY!!

Doremi kindergarten

One of the FIRST things we did (in addition to distributing hundreds of food parcels to needy families) was to build the DOREMI kindergarten, with help from Doremi kindergartens in Fredrikstad. Then we built a larger kindergarten, which accommodates around 50 children. But Popi, the world’s best kindergarten manager, took in ALL THE CHILDREN in the area, and a few years ago, she suddenly had 117 children! That might have been a bit too many… even though she managed it well.

On the last day I was in Eshowe, we arranged cakes and snacks and surprised Popi and the children with a party to celebrate the 20th anniversary 🎈💃🏻❤️

Gratton school

Since 2010, we have run Gratton School (with boarding) with such high teaching standards that it has made it possible for many Zulufadder children to pursue education at colleges and universities.

No sooner had I arrived in Zululand than we visited the school. You feel joy deep in your heart seeing how well everything works and how great the school’s results are. This week, Gratton had a visit from Leeds University from England, which held leadership courses for all the 7th-grade classes. Other schools in Eshowe were also invited. One of the days, the students wanted to give a concert for them. And we got to join in. Let’s just say; it’s a long way from “No livnar det i lundar” to when the Gratton school choir goes all out… They sing and dance so fabulously that the roof and walls tremble in rhythm.

In addition, I got to meet Minenhle again. A very popular teacher at Gratton School and a beautiful woman. I am infinitely happy about her story. When she was little, she needed a sponsor because times were tough at home. She got a sponsor from us who supported her through her school years, and when she didn’t get into teacher training initially, she asked to volunteer at Gratton. There, she proved both to the school and herself that she was meant to be a teacher. She worked hard in the following years, and now she is a qualified teacher. She is a BIG proof that IT WORKS, and a role model for all the students at the school ❤️

Seedlings

Seedlings are an important contribution to the grandmothers, who often live in incredibly worn-out houses with many grandchildren. But when they receive cuttings and gardening tools from us, which make their lives easier, they HAVE to sing and dance! (There should be more spontaneous singing in Norway too!) Their joy makes US grateful and happy! We have to dance a bit with them. So, once again, thank you so much to sponsors in Norway who purchase these on our website.

Used clothes

I always bring used clothes in my suitcase, wonderful things I’ve received from friends and acquaintances. I think that’s great in many ways. You take care of nature by reusing, and you get to share with people who have very little.

Driving out to a grandmother, who expectantly stands outside her house or by the roadside, is one of the best things there is. Because in our car lie things she could never have afforded to buy, which give her and her family food on the table and a sense of pride in having grown this themselves.

Gifts from the sponsors

Thank you so much to everyone who has bought gifts for the sponsored children! It is a great joy to travel around and meet the children and to see the joy in their eyes when they receive the gifts. Your support makes a big difference in the children’s lives, and we are incredibly grateful for it!

Storytime

Storytime at Gratton kindergarten. Here was a bunch of eager little children. It’s NO WONDER if they hadn’t heard of Snow White! That’s perhaps not so strange when you live in Africa. I hope they are read to at home too! It’s an important part of life to be read to, to hear stories, and to learn songs! At Gratton kindergarten, they also have a great time. Skilled preschool teachers who take care of everyone. You can immediately sense the atmosphere of a place, how things work. And here, it was great!

Christmas decorations

Part of our income comes from grandmothers decorating Christmas decorations. They are sold, among other places, before Christmas at Heimen and Husfliden in Oslo, as well as on our website. The fun thing here is that the core is deodorant balls! A brilliant solution. They collect and boil the balls, and then they have a completely unique way of applying beads around them. (Don’t ask me how THAT’s done) But ask me if they are BEAUTIFUL! Because YES! They are gorgeous on the Christmas tree. And this is actually a great way for the grandmothers and Zulufadder to make money. I brought several kilos of Christmas balls home in my suitcase!

Expectations, challenges, and joys

You become so happy to experience these things! Every day brings new expectations, challenges, and joys. And I must not forget to write that we are surrounded by opportunities that sponsors, companies, and others have contributed to, and we experience so much joy and so many surprising experiences and encounters, which have truly enriched me deep within my soul.

I’ll carry this with me into the autumn and winter darkness.

Best regards,
Mari

See also: Video (4 minutes)