July has been a very busy month...

Building Progress. I am completely amazed at how fast the classroom is finishing up! It's blending in with the rest of the building and it will be so exciting to get in there and start working.

Presents for the Creche. Dina from the creche requested some new guidebooks and workbooks for the teachers and kids. Taking part of the donation from the "Rock it for Kurland" benefit concert (organized by Joanne Platten, a former volunteer), DFC purchased two guidebooks, one in english and one in afrikaans, as well as five english workbooks and five afrikaans workbooks (pages will be photocopied to provide every childe with activities). These books will provide curriculum guidance for the teachers, and will also allow volunteers at the creche to jump right in and be able to organize learning activities alongside the teacher.

Joanne also requested that part of the "Rock it for Kurland" donation go towards purchasing new lunch boxes for the kids at the creche. I almost fell over with the mob of little kids all giving me hugs of thanks for their gifts. They were VERY happy and full of smiles.

Generous Visitors. A group of 14 volunteers from ages 15 -18 and their two leaders stopped by Kurland on their way to Cape Town where they would be flying back to the states. They were from all around the US and were traveling for a month as a group called Windsor Mountain International. After spending the morning with them while they helped out at the creche and telling them about DFC, the group donated R700 (about $90)! Many thanks and safe travels home!!

Back to School. The first week back to school after the July holiday, DFC after school kids researched the new AIDS Vaccine that was developed at the University of Cape Town. The vaccine research has been heavily criticized as some activists believe money is better spent towards HIV/Aids education as a preventative measure, rather than medical research. However, South Africa has the highest population of people living with HIV in the WORLD (5.2 million).

The kids worked hard to get all the statistics firmly in their mind and spent a couple meetings practicing their interviews in which they would go out into the village, educating people about this news, and asking them where they think the money should go. It was VERY exciting to have them come back with their flip videos and results.... This was one of the best projects yet as it got the kids educating other people in their village and initiating conversation about this serious issue that affects all of them.

Parents' Night has been booked for the 30th of September in the Community Hall. The kids and I will be putting together a big presentation showcasing all their projects from the year so their parents can see all the great work they've done for their community. Looking forward to it...