me

March 12, 2008

Firstly, thanks to Danny for setting this up for me.

I’ve never done a blog before so this is a first.  I suppose the idea is something I can’t really take credit for.  Late one Wednesday night, Menzies, Danny and I stayed back to have our usual Wednesday night hang-out.  We talked about where I was going and what I was thinking of doing and as John yawned, Danny’s eyes lit up as thoughts of the internet stimulated his brain:

Danny: “You could do a blog!”

Me: “No way… I’ve been bagging those things out since I was in year 8. I can’t do it.”

[Danny does his trademark laugh]

Over the next few weeks, Danny, in his unique way, managed to overcome (or help me to ignore) my premonitions about blogs. For the sake of accountability and staying in touch, here it is.

Nothing that I write here will at all be prescriptive. After all, who am I to tell you what to see, what I hear, think and feel?  I can only share with you what I see, what I hear, think and feel.

So what is it I’m doing?

I had some options this year.  Time off to travel or to do something else.

Initially, I had thought of going somewhere overseas to teach English, or to get some other overseas work experience.  My mind drifted and I contacted a mission organisation to talk about what I could do if I had a year to spare.  Then other volunteer opportunities with NGO’s around the world came to mind.  Mind you, all this thinking was during the last few weeks of my practical legal training.  Any excuse to think about anything other than studying.

Why Africa?

As I thought and bounced ideas to and from people, I was introduced to Hands at Work in Africa by John Menzies who knew someone who had gone there.  

Hands at Work is a charitable NGO based in Mpumalanga, South Africa.  They are a relief and development organisation working to care for the dying, widows and orphans of the AIDS pandemic. They seek to fulfil the biblical mandate to care for those in need. 

Tim Costello, minister, lawyer and CEO of World Vision observed that… the problem of AIDS was a result of poverty.  Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Africa. 

Nelson Mandela said “AIDS is no longer just a disease, it is a human rights issue. It affect people of all ages, but in particular it affect young people in Africa…”

In South Africa, poverty is prominent in the Mpumalanga province.  Recent statistics show that nearly one in three people are HIV positive. 

Having grown up in Australia, I cannot even fathom those kind of numbers. 

I don’t know whether there is a ‘logical’ reason for me being drawn to Africa. There is something about the dark continent that seems to just beckon. I can’t really explain it.  (I had actually originally thought of going to Asia, since I won’t look too out of place). Many people have told me how dangerous it is; the civil unrest, the crime rates.  Strangely, none of those things puts me off.

Hands at Work probably puts it the best as follows:

…an opportunity for you to make a difference in the lives of many people living with the effects of HIV/AIDS in Africa. An opportunity for you to learn and grow; an opportunity that may just change your life.

I don’t know what it is.  But I want to see it. I just cannot stand idly by.