Category: South Africa

Today we visited the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean at the southern most point of the African continent. WOW! After that, we visited a very special orphanage, HOKISA. This is the orphanage who was one of the beneficiaries of the Walk for Hope and Ben and I personally donate money to this orphanage each month. I was so inspired by the work being done there. HOKISA operates in the center of a township. In addition to taking care of children who are seriously ill with HIV/AIDS, they also employ people from the township to work in the center. They try to work with the community to help break down the social stigma that keeps many people in South Africa from seeking treatment for HIV/AIDS. I am inspired and excited to get back to OC so I can double my recycling efforts so we can support HOKISA even more. The kids there looked so happy, its hard to believe they are so sick. There is so much work that has to be done in South Africa, but people here are so enthusiastic about the future of their country. I talked to a man today who volunteers at HOKISA and lives in a tin shack in the township. He is so excited about the progress his country has made in the 10years since apartaid ended. I found it ironic that he was so positive about his country in spite of some pretty horrible conditions that exist in the townships, and the lingering racial issues, and HIV/AIDS, and I live in the richest, most advanced country in the world and I dont have even a fraction of that enthusiasm about the situation in my country. This trip is only half way over, but so far its been heartbreaking, shocking, joyful, and inspirational… and this is only day 5!!!

Today is only the 4th full day of our trip. It feels like a long time. We have experienced so much. We cleaned an orphanage,, from cleaining toilets to creating a “slip and slide” floor for the kids while attempting to mop a large hall! We had a picnic with street kids and listened to their life stories like little kids. Drums were pounced and dancing was non stop on the sand…. that even tourists above near the streets stopped to watch. The kids had alot of fun, as did we. We all visited the mountain that provides the vitality of cape town….water. An absolutely breathtaking place, better then the pictures. We also visited Agape orphanage last nite, interacted with the kids, bathed and feed them and put them to sleep. Some good old fashioned love. Just 3 days.. and I have experienced so much. I have so many feelings and thoughts that I have not even had time to process them; which is ok. I will just accept them for now as they are. Missing everyone much back home. We are all truly blessed to have what we have.

Love Karuna