2010 June - Report from Hans Ludolph
I have spent the day at Itsoseng. It is a real blessing to have the time to do so.
Firstly the Itsoseng Clinic has now benefitted the most of the annexation of the former Rhema Container. William has agreed to use one office for CAFCAR. The adjoining office is going to be used for VCT (Voluntary Counselling and Testing) for the time being, a fully fletched kitchenette and a restroom with two toilets. Although there is a modern toilet on the property, this is used by all and sundry and is not kept clean regularly enough. Our female patients, especially the ante natal ladies can now give their urine samples discretely and in hygiene conditions with loo paper and soap. This is now possible as we have connected the borehole water over the weekend. I bought more cleaning material and a mop and phoned Emily, one of the health workers to meet me at the centre.
All three rooms are now in tiptop shape, ready for clinic day tomorrow.

Water is life. When water supply is disrupted in Sandton we turn to Joburg Water. We phone and shout at them to get rid of our frustrations. Today Itsoseng was without water. As there are no longer storage tanks in position action "self help" was started and from all corners of Itsoseng wheel barrows were mobilised to make the trip to the centre for borehole water. Another moment I relished. Not the fact that Itsoseng was without water, but due to two outside water taps being available the centre was coping with the demand. Those who had to wait, took the opportunity to exchange the latest gossip with a neighbour not recently seen. A remarkable thing happened. Everybody arriving paused at the gate and ask for water. I have taken a photo in the early morning when there were only six or seven wheel barrows waiting. The amount later doubled when two taps could hardly cope.

There was another novelty I was able to inspect. A double outside sink had been installed on the outside of the Kids Club container. This will help washing dishes and, more importantly, dirty hands before the kids help themselves to their (finger) lunch. The old sink was a leftover from my recent alteration at home.

I also went to buy 4 x 5 litres of grey floor paint, turpentine and a brush. The floors of the Kids Club container has never been coated is as rough as the floor of the new computer lab. This makes cleaning very cumbersome and splinters could also hurt crawling kids. I have paid R2050 at Builders Warehouse and also hired Frans to apply the paint at minimum 2 coats per container at a cost of R450 for three days work. (The paint has to dry between coats and Frans will also be paid watching paint dry...)

The other news is that the CAFCAR offices will be designated to being a training room for 20 young guys and girls to acquire building/construction knowledge for the development of Itsoseng (Malibongwe Ridge). A further 80 youngsters will be trained at Nooitgedacht School. The building is set to start in twelve months time.

It is gratifying to know that we can be a part of the upliftment of the community.