hey again, in Stellenbosch enjoying the likes of the internet cafe AGAIN. Had a pretty busy morning teaching 2 classes at the highschool, which went quite well. Its given me an idea of what it would like to be teaching but i suppose a big advantage of teaching in the UK is that the students cant use the excuse that they 'don't understand English' (when its quite clear they do) as an excuse for not answering questions. Its more challenging than i originally thought, particularly when I teach on my own but the more i do it the more confident i think i am becoming. I've also joined the Jubilate choir at the church that we are connected with in Kylemore so we had our first rehearsal on Sunday. Definitely an enjoyable time and i love being back in a choir again. It sometimes feels a bit intimidating when there are so many people in the choir that have these amazing singing voices, but i think they like having us there - the first whites in the jubilate choir! I spent the last weekend in Cape Town with some of the other volunteers there which was good fun. The house there is right by the beach on Blouberg Strand so its 2 minutes walk down to the beach for amazing views of table mountain and the sea breeze. Then of course you cant go to the city without doing something rediculous such as a dance party on an ice-rink. Well its fun until you fall over but thankfully that was only once and as far as im concerned as long as you fall in style your good to go! Im also leading on a camp next weekend for the kids in the kylemore ara which should be fun so looking forward to that, hopefully the weather will improve though as its raining and i am not impressed - this is South Africa!!

Hello again, sitting in the YFC office now after a staff meeting and thought would fill you in on latest news. Since monday our team in Cape Town has become much smaller as around half of the volunteers have left. However things are still running very well in Kylemore. I have now started working in the highschool in Kylemore, teaching lifeskills training to 9th-12th graders. This was a very new experience for me and i had been told that i would be working with one of the other volunteers but on thursday i had to teach on my own - very scary!!but it actually went quite well and its exciting to do something new. We've got another program this evening which we have just started up called Dare2Care which we are running for 16-20 year olds and so been planning for that and looking forward to that tonight. I'm quite busy at the minute with planning and doing projects but still very enjoyable and enjoying having a smaller team in that we are growing together as a team and getting to know each other more. Sorry this is so short but will try to write soon. If anyone isnt on my mailing list but would like to be please let me know. With love xx

Holiday with mum and dad

Coming to the end of a really lovely holiday with mum and dad now. They arrived 2 weeks ago and met up with me a few days later in Knysna where i was at the time having a weekend away seeing some friends i had met at training. Then we travelled on to Storms River, spending time on lovely sandy beaches and seeing lots of animals. We had one lovely afternoon at an elephant park feeding the elephants and getting up close to them. Another very memorable day at a wild cats sanctuary where Dad found great enjoyment having some quality time with two tame maribu stalks, the most ugly birds in existence but yet Earl and Edwina were quite a catch in their own ways. We then went up into the mountains to a retreat in the middle of the mountains which required travelling over a rather hairy mountain pass for 2hours in second gear - very memorable and amazing views. We then had a few days around the winelands area which also overlapped with where im living here, allowing us to do a little winetasting and also show mum and dad the house and the kindergarten. They seemed to really enjoy themselves and now have a better idea of what im doing. Was also lovely to see my team and the kids again after a week away, it was surprising how much i missed it. Not just my team but the kids in the area and of course the tots in the kindergarten. Cant imagine what its going to be like when i come h0me!So now we're back in the Cape Town area staying in a very nice B&B on the Cape Peninsular. Went to Boulders beach to see the penguin colony there, as predicted there was much waddling and flapping going on and beautiful scenery to add to that, and then on to Cape Point, the very end of the peninsular and tip of Africa. Having last few days in Cape Town before seeing mum and dad off so hoping for good weather so we can go up table mountain. Altogether a great time with them and a lovely break but also looking forward to getting back to work. Hope everyone is well and will try to write more often - sorry!! xxxxx

Hi again. Ok i am so sorry that i have been so pathetically bad at updating this blog accounrt. very very sorry. Have been having an amazing time here though. Staying in a house with 8 other volunteers from Germany, Holland, USA, Canada and Norway. Proudly the only english person here and within about a 10mile radius so teaching them all how to speak properly but dont think they're too happy about it. At the minute I'm working in a Kindergarten in the village we live in in Kylemore. There are about 75 children and 4 staff at the minute and we spend time playing with the kids and building relationships with the staff. Also have our house open to the kids in the area and they are often around the house, playing or drawing. Its so good although can be very tiring!Had my first birthday away from home today - im 19!!hurray!was very different to normal but so good at the same time!the principal had the kids all on chairs and singing happy birthday to me in Afrikaans - was so cute. Got some amazing friends here and God has been blessing me so much. Hes changing me as much as hes using us so much to reach ot to the people in this community. Also got people in our team working in the highschool and primaryschool teaching lifeskills and doing some councelling/friendship building with the students. Its amazing! hope everyone is well and its great to hear from you and recieve comments, sorry if i take ages to reply! with love and best wishes xxxxxxx

greetings from afar!

Hello!!greetings from South Africa!!all is good here, had a bit of a culture shock and been bit hard since i arrived but getting better. the flight was fine, no sleep of course but God has blessed me so much already, i met a christian lady who ws so lovely in the security queue of Heathrow airport, got to know her and stuck with her as she was on same flight then we saw were sitting next to each other on the flight!!was amazing and so comforting, just what i needed!At a Youth Week camp YfC are doing at the minute - cross between soul survivor and crusader campso all a bit manic. worship is amazing, they were doing the gum-boot slapping dances - was so good!! and this morning were doing tribal war calls, was mad but really funny and very fun. Lots of african drumming going on - its brilliant!! anyway will write soon. hope everything is well in the UK and be great to hear from you at some point.

with love, Amy x x x x

What am I doing?

SOS Children's Village
The SOS Children's Village is an international organization which has 'children's villages' set up for orphans all over the world. In these villages the children live with their 'family' which normally consist of one house mother and about 8 children. The children go to school at local schools in the surrounding community and are allowed to live in the village until they are 18 (or longer occasionally) YFC's goals within the village are to build up a relationship with the children by visiting twice a week and helping the kids to develop skills and abilities that they can use when they leave the village. To facilitate this YFC run a Life Skills and bible study programme for ages 13+, working on core concepts like self identity and basic values and also discussing topics like drug and alcohol abuse and HIV/AIDS.

Vissershok Primary School
This overcrowded, rural primary school has students ranging from 4 to 14. Here YFC volunteers will be teaching life orientation lessons in Grade 6, leading sports classes and leading creative workshops in drama and arts. We will also be running a Christian Union and helping with a Feeding Scheme twice a week.

Ysterplaat Junior Primary School
This is YFC youngest project. The school is situated in what would have previously be known as an ‘Underprivileged White Community’ with students aged 4-8years old. Currently volunteers are operating as Teachers’ Aids which normally involves explaining maths, reading with learners and playing and building relations with them during break time.

Adventure Outreach and Camping (AOC)
In this project, YFC aim to develop skills in the young people such as team building, demonstrating the importance of independence. Camp is also a time for the young people to take a break from their studies and have some independence from their parents whilst having a great time.