As most of you know I am back on US soil and braving the cold and snow. Just a week ago I wrote about visiting a site for a future boys and girls club. It's in a very rough township called Manenburg, as Vernon and I drove through the streets I couldn't stop thinking about what an incredible need there is here for a place for kids to stay safe and busy after school. The sheer number of teenagers, children and very little children hanging around, walking the street with no where to go, living in a very impoverished area. We got to the site and from the outside it doesn't look like much. But the inside was a beehive of activity. It is currently being used to feed people in the neighborhood with lunch being served every day from 11:30 to 1:00.
I couldn't help but be overwhelmed when we walked in and approached one of the Nuns who helps run the lunch program. I could hear the clatter of babies, children and teenagers laughing, it was coming from a large room that looked like a gymnasium. We were greeted with curiosity, at the front door. I'm not sure they are accustomed to seeing a white woman in their neighborhood, not to mention traveling alone with a man. This is a very large Muslim community.
I tried to take it in and picture the possibility of running a program where kids could go and do homework after school, get a healthy snack and stay off the streets. I expected to see a few people waiting for lunch to be served. I wasn't prepared for what I did see. The gymnasium was filled, I mean packed with young mothers, babies, children and some teenagers. Thinking as a nurse I couldn't help but see the amazing possibilities for this facility. If we were to work with the existing program already there and add our talents this could be a very important place for the township.
there is a lot of gang crime in this particular area, hospitals are far away and ambulance transport is not quick or efficient. Because of this Johns Hopkins Medical School sends students to run a trauma treatment program. This is where the people in the township are taught basic trauma services in the case of a shooting, how to respond to keep the victim alive until help can get there. They also provide trauma recovery support groups for people that have been affected by trauma in their lives.
Back to the lunch room. I walked in with Vernon and immediately was drawn to all the adorable children. One little girl caught my attention and I started talking to her mother.
the mother was a very beautiful young lady, probably around 18-20, and smiled as I made a big deal about her little girl. When Vernon and I left the mother followed us out and obviously wanted to talk to us. She introduced herself and wanted to know where I was from. When people find out I'm from the States there is an automatic response "I love your President Obama". Anyway, I told her we were looking for a good place to run some programs, that I am a nurse and would like to help bring a structured program for the township. Personally I envision classes on hand washing, food preparation, parenting skills and women's health with a focus on reproduction and HIV transmission prevention.
Her response will always inspire me. With a beautiful little girl on her hip, who she was clearly very proud of, she said to me "this is something we need so much here, we need to work together, together we can make a difference". Then she raised her right arm with her fist in the air and said Ubuntu, my response was to hold my fist to hers in solidarity. I know this sounds dramatic, but it was so spontaneous to follow her. Nelson Mandela had always told his people that with our hands spread apart we have no power, but if we put all our fingers together in a strong fist, the power is ours. That is what she was eluding to with her gesture. With the active mourning of Mandela's death still in the air, I knew what she was saying to me. When I said good bye she told me she hopes to see me again and gave me a big hug.
I left with my mind racing, it still is one week later.....
Thursday 19 December 2013
Tuesday 17 December 2013
Farewell Dinner Party
On Wednesday before we left the School of Nursing (SON) sponsored a party for the clinical sites, administrative people, our drivers, people from the University etc. Basically anyone that has helped make this incredible learning experience possible. Now anyone who knows me, knows that I get a bit crazy about putting on events, making sure everything is perfect. Don't get me wrong, I always love doing it and usually I am pretty happy with my results. I have to admit, I like to run the show and have control over most details, not trusting others to follow through.
Now with that in mind I will tell my story. From the very beginning I knew I had to put on this big party at the end of the semester. So when I got to Cape Town and settled in I asked Vernon what I should be doing for the party. He is a very relaxed person, you never get a feeling of anxiety from him and he told me "don't worry, just have the students make up a list of who they want from the sites". Right! So, I hound the students to make a list, hound them to give me an invitation to print up, and again hound them to give them out to everyone. In the meantime I needed Vernon to look it over to be sure we didn't forget anyone important. All I can think of is how this is all going to come together. Vernon has assured me that he has the venue, band, food ordered etc. That he just needs a list. Not that I don't trust Vernon, but let me tell you I was pretty anxious about the whole thing. I had no idea how many people would be there, the guest list was 70 people - so you see it wasn't just your typical backyard affair. On top of that I heard that last year many more people than invited showed up and we went way over budget.
Well, it was a beautiful night and a wonderful party. I walked into the function room and it was beautifully and tastefully decorated, china, crystal flowers etc. There was open bar for the guests (with the exception of the students, UConn is not allowed to provide alcohol regardless fo being over 21), band playing softly in the background and waiters going around getting drink orders. I met the chef and the rest of the crew and immediately relaxed...well, just a little bit.
In South Africa for an invitation it is customary to announce the time like this
6:30pm for 7:00. I guess that means to come anytime in that range. Just a few days before I found out that Cape Town was having a huge memorial concert for Mandiba so I was a little concerned that our turnout would be low. As 6:30, 6:45 and 7:00 came around I got even more worried that people weren't coming, there was only a few people there some I recognized, some I didn't. Then all of a sudden the place was full and the festivities commenced. First with Vernon saying a few words of thanks to everyone. Vernon is a Reverend and a very accomplished speaker, his words are always like magic. Then he says a few words about somebody that he "has had the honor and pleasure to work with etc." "Speaking as the official spokesperson for the University of Connecticut School of Nursing... Professor Denise Bourassa" of course at this point I look around because I'm not sure who that is, lol. Honestly, I knew I had to say a few words and had worked on something all afternoon. So, I got the microphone and I would like to have been as natural as Vernon, but let's face it, he's done it a lot more than I have. So, I give my words of thanks, that felt ok, but a little stiff because I had to refer to my notes. I covered that up with letting people know that speaking in front of large crowds makes me nervous. After a couple more people, Vernon came back and asked the band to accompany him and began singing "lean on me" directed for the students. They were all in tears, not only because it was beautiful but also because they know they will be on the plane back to the States in less than two days.
Dinner was great, music was fantastic and we all had a great time. Boy do those Sisters know how to have a good time. The dance floor was never empty - the students had such a good time with the Sisters that helped guide them during the semester. It really was a perfect night. See Vernon was right!
Here are a few pictures.
Now with that in mind I will tell my story. From the very beginning I knew I had to put on this big party at the end of the semester. So when I got to Cape Town and settled in I asked Vernon what I should be doing for the party. He is a very relaxed person, you never get a feeling of anxiety from him and he told me "don't worry, just have the students make up a list of who they want from the sites". Right! So, I hound the students to make a list, hound them to give me an invitation to print up, and again hound them to give them out to everyone. In the meantime I needed Vernon to look it over to be sure we didn't forget anyone important. All I can think of is how this is all going to come together. Vernon has assured me that he has the venue, band, food ordered etc. That he just needs a list. Not that I don't trust Vernon, but let me tell you I was pretty anxious about the whole thing. I had no idea how many people would be there, the guest list was 70 people - so you see it wasn't just your typical backyard affair. On top of that I heard that last year many more people than invited showed up and we went way over budget.
Well, it was a beautiful night and a wonderful party. I walked into the function room and it was beautifully and tastefully decorated, china, crystal flowers etc. There was open bar for the guests (with the exception of the students, UConn is not allowed to provide alcohol regardless fo being over 21), band playing softly in the background and waiters going around getting drink orders. I met the chef and the rest of the crew and immediately relaxed...well, just a little bit.
In South Africa for an invitation it is customary to announce the time like this
6:30pm for 7:00. I guess that means to come anytime in that range. Just a few days before I found out that Cape Town was having a huge memorial concert for Mandiba so I was a little concerned that our turnout would be low. As 6:30, 6:45 and 7:00 came around I got even more worried that people weren't coming, there was only a few people there some I recognized, some I didn't. Then all of a sudden the place was full and the festivities commenced. First with Vernon saying a few words of thanks to everyone. Vernon is a Reverend and a very accomplished speaker, his words are always like magic. Then he says a few words about somebody that he "has had the honor and pleasure to work with etc." "Speaking as the official spokesperson for the University of Connecticut School of Nursing... Professor Denise Bourassa" of course at this point I look around because I'm not sure who that is, lol. Honestly, I knew I had to say a few words and had worked on something all afternoon. So, I got the microphone and I would like to have been as natural as Vernon, but let's face it, he's done it a lot more than I have. So, I give my words of thanks, that felt ok, but a little stiff because I had to refer to my notes. I covered that up with letting people know that speaking in front of large crowds makes me nervous. After a couple more people, Vernon came back and asked the band to accompany him and began singing "lean on me" directed for the students. They were all in tears, not only because it was beautiful but also because they know they will be on the plane back to the States in less than two days.
Dinner was great, music was fantastic and we all had a great time. Boy do those Sisters know how to have a good time. The dance floor was never empty - the students had such a good time with the Sisters that helped guide them during the semester. It really was a perfect night. See Vernon was right!
Here are a few pictures.
Wednesday 11 December 2013
Beautiful Gates Garden, Thembacare, Boys and Girls Club
I am waiting for Vernon to pick me up to visit a few places before I leave. A couple weeks ago, before Thanksgiving the students and myself went to an orphanage called Beautiful Gates. They are a small facility that takes in children who have HIV/AIDs and for whatever reason their families could not care for them or did not want to. Adjacent to the orphanage there is a large plot of land that the orphanage has given to another NGO who is working on creating a sustainable garden to benefit the local women and children of the orphanage. The point person for the NGO is a local gentleman whose name is Happyboy. Mama works in the garden and does most of the weeding, planting and general maintaining. She is mostly Xhosa speaking so communicating is difficult, however, she is always smiling and very proud of the work they are doing. Some of the products go straight to the orphanage and the other products are sold to a local distributor as a form of income for the people who work the garden.
Vernon wasn't able to join us that day and I want him to see how great the garden looks. We spent 4 hours preparing then planting rows and rows of vegetables that Happy Boy thought the children would like and they would get good prices for in the market. I went to the local nursery with him to pick everything out and was amazed at how wonderful the plants were and inexpensive. I noticed on the property that they didn't have any fruit for the children. Happy Boy and I had talked about the connection between nursing, healthy food, nutrition and what else the children could benefit from. I suggested an orange tree and blueberry bushes. You would think he won the lottery and could't stop thanking me for buying what the garden needed especially the orange tree. He flattered me and said that when it bears fruit he will think of me exclusively.
From the garden we are going to a possible future site for a Cape Town Boys and Girls club like the one in Soweto that we volunteered at during excursion. The gentleman Casey who runs the one in Soweto is scheming with Vernon and I would like to say myself in securing a site for the same facility here. There is a huge need for children, especially teen agers to have a safe place to "hang out" when school is over. My thoughts are racing with the possibilities.
From there I am going to Thembacare which is a palliative care orphanage for children with again, HIV/AIDs. This is a clinical site for pediatrics that I haven't been to yet and the students have continued to volunteer at after their formal clinical rotation started. The director from that facility, Pricilla and I discussed at length last night some ideas we both had for connecting nursing students in Cape Town with our students so they could exchange ideas and learn from each other. Her connection to nursing school is personal in that her daughter is a first year student at UCT.
It is a beautiful day again, sunny, warm, breezy. My office at the beach beckons me as do the mountains of grading I have to do, but I am going to resist both. Ok well, maybe just the grading, I might go sit in my office later. I have so much more to write about but it will have to wait. Be on the look out for pictures from the various sites when I get back.
Vernon wasn't able to join us that day and I want him to see how great the garden looks. We spent 4 hours preparing then planting rows and rows of vegetables that Happy Boy thought the children would like and they would get good prices for in the market. I went to the local nursery with him to pick everything out and was amazed at how wonderful the plants were and inexpensive. I noticed on the property that they didn't have any fruit for the children. Happy Boy and I had talked about the connection between nursing, healthy food, nutrition and what else the children could benefit from. I suggested an orange tree and blueberry bushes. You would think he won the lottery and could't stop thanking me for buying what the garden needed especially the orange tree. He flattered me and said that when it bears fruit he will think of me exclusively.
From the garden we are going to a possible future site for a Cape Town Boys and Girls club like the one in Soweto that we volunteered at during excursion. The gentleman Casey who runs the one in Soweto is scheming with Vernon and I would like to say myself in securing a site for the same facility here. There is a huge need for children, especially teen agers to have a safe place to "hang out" when school is over. My thoughts are racing with the possibilities.
From there I am going to Thembacare which is a palliative care orphanage for children with again, HIV/AIDs. This is a clinical site for pediatrics that I haven't been to yet and the students have continued to volunteer at after their formal clinical rotation started. The director from that facility, Pricilla and I discussed at length last night some ideas we both had for connecting nursing students in Cape Town with our students so they could exchange ideas and learn from each other. Her connection to nursing school is personal in that her daughter is a first year student at UCT.
It is a beautiful day again, sunny, warm, breezy. My office at the beach beckons me as do the mountains of grading I have to do, but I am going to resist both. Ok well, maybe just the grading, I might go sit in my office later. I have so much more to write about but it will have to wait. Be on the look out for pictures from the various sites when I get back.
Sunday 8 December 2013
"What would Mandela do"
This question has been long known to nurses as the foundation of decision-making but stated as such: "What would Flo do", meaning Florence Nightingale. Now we are encouraged as a people to consider what would Mandela do? A now popular phrase in South Africa. This question is one of integrity, what is the right thing to do, what is the purest, unselfish action? Of course this application is different in the nursing profession, largely because it entails the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, and implementation of actions best for patient care. However, when applied to everyday decision making about who you decide to be, how you decide to treat those around you and more importantly how you choose to live your life, Mandela and Flo had the same ideals in my book.
How, so one may ask? Florence Nightingale didn't face jail time for 27 years as a result of her beliefs, nor did she go on to unite a rainbow nation as Mr. Mandela did, but for the nursing profession her message was just as strong. (she did suffer the scorn of her family as she went against everything that a well-bred woman was supposed to be at the time) Always advocate for the patient, let in the sun light to aid healing, keep the patient clean, safe and warm, consider the patients emotional health, feed the patient good wholesome food. All these actions will lead to healing of the body and spirit. Nelson Mandela's quest for equality and democracy for all is based on the same precepts. Advocate for those who need support, let the sun light in, however you can accomplish this, a card, a phone call, a smile for a stranger on the street, letting someone go in front of you in line when you're not in a rush. Keep people clean, safe and warm. Just thinking about the informal housing a townships that I have been in makes me realize that Mandela was talking about the basic needs of any human. Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the very basic physiologic needs to maintain life that so many don't have. What about the emotional health of the individual - how did Mr. Mandela live in an 8X8 cell for years on end? Only to come out into the world not seeking revenge, but moving forward with a pure heart. We see every where that good wholesome food is expensive, fat laden, calorie deficient food is cheap and abundant. It is not so different here in the Cape Town area. The disparity between what some can afford in the grocery store is a plain as the reputation each grocery store carries. Woolworth's equivalent to Whole Foods, Checkers equivalent to Stop N Shop, Pic N Pay equivalent to Shoprite. One can't shop at either place and see the distinct profile of the average shopper.
This makes me ponder the even more complicated question of how we integrate the real world and the ideals of Flo and Mandela? Especially in our rapid, technologically advanced world, how do we "care for the patient", where does the science of evidence based practice come into this equation that we as nurses are taught and teach to consider. Is there a way to combine the two actions? How to fulfill Flo's ideals while dealing with the realities of the world we live in. I honestly don't have the answer, but since being in South Africa, especially now during a time of national mourning, I hope to come closer to the solution.
Another one of my favorite office spots, Cocoa Wah Wah, picture taken with Precious, one of the young ladies that fed me breakfast, dinner and sometimes lunch. Most definitely a large decaf cappuccino "take away" as they say in South Africa.
PS - I hit "publish" with a little hesitancy...so many private thoughts, yikes!
How, so one may ask? Florence Nightingale didn't face jail time for 27 years as a result of her beliefs, nor did she go on to unite a rainbow nation as Mr. Mandela did, but for the nursing profession her message was just as strong. (she did suffer the scorn of her family as she went against everything that a well-bred woman was supposed to be at the time) Always advocate for the patient, let in the sun light to aid healing, keep the patient clean, safe and warm, consider the patients emotional health, feed the patient good wholesome food. All these actions will lead to healing of the body and spirit. Nelson Mandela's quest for equality and democracy for all is based on the same precepts. Advocate for those who need support, let the sun light in, however you can accomplish this, a card, a phone call, a smile for a stranger on the street, letting someone go in front of you in line when you're not in a rush. Keep people clean, safe and warm. Just thinking about the informal housing a townships that I have been in makes me realize that Mandela was talking about the basic needs of any human. Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the very basic physiologic needs to maintain life that so many don't have. What about the emotional health of the individual - how did Mr. Mandela live in an 8X8 cell for years on end? Only to come out into the world not seeking revenge, but moving forward with a pure heart. We see every where that good wholesome food is expensive, fat laden, calorie deficient food is cheap and abundant. It is not so different here in the Cape Town area. The disparity between what some can afford in the grocery store is a plain as the reputation each grocery store carries. Woolworth's equivalent to Whole Foods, Checkers equivalent to Stop N Shop, Pic N Pay equivalent to Shoprite. One can't shop at either place and see the distinct profile of the average shopper.
This makes me ponder the even more complicated question of how we integrate the real world and the ideals of Flo and Mandela? Especially in our rapid, technologically advanced world, how do we "care for the patient", where does the science of evidence based practice come into this equation that we as nurses are taught and teach to consider. Is there a way to combine the two actions? How to fulfill Flo's ideals while dealing with the realities of the world we live in. I honestly don't have the answer, but since being in South Africa, especially now during a time of national mourning, I hope to come closer to the solution.
Another one of my favorite office spots, Cocoa Wah Wah, picture taken with Precious, one of the young ladies that fed me breakfast, dinner and sometimes lunch. Most definitely a large decaf cappuccino "take away" as they say in South Africa.
PS - I hit "publish" with a little hesitancy...so many private thoughts, yikes!
Friday 6 December 2013
Cape Town Memorial
I'm not sure what the news is portraying in the US about Nelson Mandela's passing and what is happening here in South Africa or Cape Town in specific. I have fears that in our typical US fashion everyone is speculating that there will be riots in the streets, mayhem and discord because of his passing and increased racial tensions. Maybe that is just me being a bit dramatic, but I can assure you that my experience so far is far less dangerous than everyone envisions.
The memorial today was not as crowded as I thought it would be, getting into the city via train was very easy and the streets were not a mob scene as I originally expected. I think that many people were still at work and nothing has officially shut down yet in formal mourning. There were representatives from almost every religion sending their prayers and memorializing what a great leader Mendela is, I can't say was, because I think for the people of South Africa at least in this area, he will be immortal. There is no past tense for a man as great as him.
Scanning the crowd I saw faces of every color, maybe it really is the Rainbow Nation that he worked so hard to achieve. Black, white, Colored, Indian, all celebrating his life and reflecting on his wish for the world. His message was not just for South Africa, but for all of us to live a life of commitment to others, strive for a world where equality is expected and rejoice in the differences that really make us all the same.
I watched the faces of my students soak all this humanity and history in and I couldn't help but be a little jealous that they are having this experience so early in their lives. Although I feel envious that I never experienced anything as worldly as this at their age, I am so grateful that we are providing our younger generation with opportunities to experience the world in a way that most of us didn't. They are such an open group of individuals and to think that they will be taking back to the US not only their new found nursing skills, but will be better equipped to take care of people from all backgrounds with a new understanding of cultural differences.
The high light of the event for myself and a few of the students came upon us in a very spontaneous way and couldn't be replicated if we tried. As the crowd was listening to different speeches, prayers and performances the students and I heard some chanting and singing off to the left of us and decided to go check it out. The chanting had a distinct, fun, joyful sound to it along with Zulu calls interspersed. We weaved our way through the crowd and came upon a second sub crowd that was celebrating with the ANC flag. The ANC ( African National Council) is the organization that Mandela was president of during the Apartheid years. Anyway....as I was trying to leave the with some of the students we got caught up in their dancing, chanting, singing and celebrating in a way that we could't escape if we wanted to. We were totally part of this incredible mass of celebrating people honoring the man that made freedom a reality in their life time. Of course we had no idea what the words meant or what the dance moves were, but all those around us began including us and encouraging us to join and teaching us the words and moves. I've never been so comfortable being in the minority and never did I feel unsafe.
The memorial today was not as crowded as I thought it would be, getting into the city via train was very easy and the streets were not a mob scene as I originally expected. I think that many people were still at work and nothing has officially shut down yet in formal mourning. There were representatives from almost every religion sending their prayers and memorializing what a great leader Mendela is, I can't say was, because I think for the people of South Africa at least in this area, he will be immortal. There is no past tense for a man as great as him.
Scanning the crowd I saw faces of every color, maybe it really is the Rainbow Nation that he worked so hard to achieve. Black, white, Colored, Indian, all celebrating his life and reflecting on his wish for the world. His message was not just for South Africa, but for all of us to live a life of commitment to others, strive for a world where equality is expected and rejoice in the differences that really make us all the same.
I watched the faces of my students soak all this humanity and history in and I couldn't help but be a little jealous that they are having this experience so early in their lives. Although I feel envious that I never experienced anything as worldly as this at their age, I am so grateful that we are providing our younger generation with opportunities to experience the world in a way that most of us didn't. They are such an open group of individuals and to think that they will be taking back to the US not only their new found nursing skills, but will be better equipped to take care of people from all backgrounds with a new understanding of cultural differences.
The high light of the event for myself and a few of the students came upon us in a very spontaneous way and couldn't be replicated if we tried. As the crowd was listening to different speeches, prayers and performances the students and I heard some chanting and singing off to the left of us and decided to go check it out. The chanting had a distinct, fun, joyful sound to it along with Zulu calls interspersed. We weaved our way through the crowd and came upon a second sub crowd that was celebrating with the ANC flag. The ANC ( African National Council) is the organization that Mandela was president of during the Apartheid years. Anyway....as I was trying to leave the with some of the students we got caught up in their dancing, chanting, singing and celebrating in a way that we could't escape if we wanted to. We were totally part of this incredible mass of celebrating people honoring the man that made freedom a reality in their life time. Of course we had no idea what the words meant or what the dance moves were, but all those around us began including us and encouraging us to join and teaching us the words and moves. I've never been so comfortable being in the minority and never did I feel unsafe.
Nelson Mendela Memorial
There is a memorial this afternoon at 5pm in the center of Cape Town (Grand Parade) that I will be attending with the students, all trains are running for free and this will be a historic event that the students will never forget. They have already been so transformed as young adults by the people here and their experience, this will only add to the depth of how much they have come to love their second home for the last 3 months.
Nelson Mandela Dies
As you know by now Nelson Mandela has passed away while we are here in Cape Town. The mood is both somber and joyful. Somber because he accomplished so much in his lifetime and has directly affected so many people, many of whom I've become close to while here in South Africa and those hearts are full with sorrow. Joyful, because of his memory, his legacy, and what he stands for even in his absence of this physical world.
The students are busy with a test and they have two exams tomorrow morning. We are supposed to have a review session this afternoon, but we have decided as a democratic group that we will have a shortened session and take part in a memorial that will be conducted in Cape Town. Our good friends Rev. Vernon Rose and Ben will be helping us with getting where we need to be.
more later....
The students are busy with a test and they have two exams tomorrow morning. We are supposed to have a review session this afternoon, but we have decided as a democratic group that we will have a shortened session and take part in a memorial that will be conducted in Cape Town. Our good friends Rev. Vernon Rose and Ben will be helping us with getting where we need to be.
more later....
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