Mpendulo Project Weekend

Hello again,

As I write this on Sunday afternoon, there is a rescue type boat accompanied by a few jet skis that my flat mates and I are assuming searching for something at the beach across from our place.  Hopefully it is not a body.  The rip tides on the beach are very strong sometimes, and this morning they were particularly strong when I went with a group.  There are lifeguards on duty and designated areas that we also go to as a group, so don’t worry too much Mom.

Me and Isaak in front of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 

Moving on to some more exciting topics, I must mention going to a soccer game last Wednesday night at the World Cup soccer stadium here in PE.  It was a lively event that had great atmosphere.  It was a between the Kaizer Chiefs and the Jomo Cosmos.  The Chiefs had about 90% of the fans even though they hail from Johannesburg.  There were plenty of vuvuzelas being used along with supportive fans.  It was great and the stadium was stunning.  It was smaller than I expected as it only holds about 40,000 people.  The architecture was very impressive though and it is truly an icon of the city.

On Friday, I went to Jeffrey’s Bay as I mentioned to work with the Mpendulo Project.  I was accompanied by two others that had shown some interest in the program.  We met with Jill who is a St. Ben’s graduate that has been living in Africa since she graduated about 30 years ago.  She has called South Africa her home for the past eight years.  She is a passionate person that has lived an inspiring life.  It is easier for her to name the countries in Africa that she has not been to (she was only able to name 2 off the top of her head).  As far as the project goes, it is a micro-savings project as opposed to some of the bigger micro-loan programs that are around.  The project gets groups together and really just teaches them how to save.  Group members save their own money through the project.  Each group is made up of 6-20 people and they are given supplies such as a calculator, record books, and a lock box with three locks.  The lock box is held by a group member and each key to the locks a different person for security.  A training officer from Mpendulo helps the group set up rules and hold meetings. 

I really like this type of project compared to the micro-loan programs because it reinforces good budgeting techniques.  After talking to some members, they seem to have a good idea of the need for saving to accomplish tasks and for the use of emergencies.  During Friday and Saturday we were talking to group members about their experiences along with going to Humansdorp (nearby J-Bay) to try and persuade a few people on the fence about the program.  In the future I will help the training officers with teaching better budgeting techniques for long-term.  The program is set-up to work on a yearly basis.  The members I talked to knew that saving was important, but didn’t understand the total effect of interest or even saving for the long-term such as saving for a child to go to school or something like that.  The member that have “graduated” and have been saving for 3 or 4 years had plans for what they wanted to do with their lump sum that they get at the end of the year as opposed to new members who are just saving because they have heard it helps.  I will also help set up some basic budgeting ideas for a daily basis. 

Backyard of the backpacker house I stayed at in J-Bay.

I also need to mention the backpacker’s house that we stayed at for the night.  It was quite the experience in itself.  J-Bay is a HUGE surfing town with about 10 surf shops on the small main drag, and this house embodied every bit of that.  The lingo, the decoration, and the style of living were all about the free flowing hippy nature of a surfer.  There were walls full of pictures of waves that one could admire while music like Bob Marley serenaded the viewer.  The people there were very nice though and I met a couple people from Switzerland that had been there for a few days.  Many people stay for a long time, and one of the people I talked to was a bit surprised that I was only staying for one night.  Just the total mentality and what you would expect from a place like that I guess. 

I must get going now as we are cooking up some pasta for dinner that I should help with making.  There is more volunteering and classes in the upcoming days.  I look forward to each day as it comes because there is always something that I know will be something to remember.  Thanks for reading as always.  Much appreciated.

Cheers!

Bobby

On a side note, this is a picture of the rugby stadium at NMMU.  It is no Clemen's Stadium, but very cool none the less.