Submitted by Sara Cannizzaro on the 2019 winter session study abroad program South Africa sponsored by the School of Nursing…
This week we traveled to some places in the Eastern Cape. First, we started off at a township in Port Elizabeth where we volunteered and taught hygiene to the primary school. We brought toothbrushes and the children had so much fun! We also helped wrap Christmas gifts. The community volunteers spend all year collecting gifts in order to give each child a present on Christmas. It was really rewarding to do and it was incredible to see the dedication these women put into the cause. Every child deserves a Christmas gift, and although small, the children are extremely grateful.
Next, we spent a full day in Mazeppa Bay! This new area is a very rural town on the beach. The views are beautiful, and it’s also so nice to be in a quiet area. For the people who live here, the houses are miles apart, the road is dirt and very bumpy, and there aren’t many resources close by for the people who live here. As nursing students, we thought about all of the struggles they must face when trying to get health care. Transportation to hospitals is expensive (about $42 one way) and a 15 mile walk. We learned that the mobile clinic rarely shows up, sometimes not for months. We were excited to see how many people walked all the way from their homes to meet with us today, and hoped we could help answer some of their questions and concerns.
A large group of women came into the community center and asked us questions about childbirth, contraception, and women’s health. Many of them give birth at home by themselves because hospitals are so far away and so expensive to get to. We used a translator, because they speak Xhosa, to translate our teaching and each of us added something valuable to the discussion. The women were so grateful and also taught us a lot about their own customs, traditions, and struggles.
Then, a small group went over to the high school to teach sex education to a group of teenage girls. The rest of us stayed behind and got a head start on our big project. We brought fabric and supplies to teach the women how they can make their own reusable sanitary pads. We set up stations and all worked together to make sure each woman had a pad to go home with. It felt amazing to not just give donations, but teach a skill that can be used for generations to come! Thanks to everyone who donated to our program, we were also able to leave baby supplies, clothing, and medical supplies for the community as well.
Afterwards, we all went for a walk on the beach with our tour guide Jeremy and wrote in our journals before dinner.
Even though this hotel is far away from everything else, we’re having so much fun together.
