Caring for the Carers - Nov 2011

There are many unsung heroes around us, people who quietly do what needs to be done every day.  And no matter how busy we are, there is always time to say “Thank you.”   And it means the world to others.  The Annual Carers Day Outing is a thank you to all those who care for children and those who are sick.   This year, carers from three children’s homes , St. Michael’s in Plumstead, St George’s in Wynberg and St. Francis’ in Athlone attended.

Although Cape Town weather is never a sure thing, the sun shone brilliantly out of the clouds over Bishopscourt.   A delicious picnic lunch was prepared by the St George’s Cathedral HIV and AIDS Task Team (CHATT) with platters of chicken, frikkadels, vegetable hors d’oeuvres, green salad, potato salad, bean salad, buttered rolls, ice cream, fruit salad, cake and custard and everyone enjoyed the meal while sitting in the sun outside with a stunning view of Table Mountain and the terraced gardens.  Shireen Vambo and Liz Welsh from CHATT made sure all the arrangements for the day ran smoothly, and deserve a warm thanks.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba arrived and welcomed everyone as the carers stood in a large circle around him.  He said “Thank you for caring.  At times you have to move out of that space and rest to withdraw from caring and nurture yourself.  What you are doing is really Christ-like.  May God bless you.”  He then personally thanked each carer and presented them with a certificate and gift bag prepared by the CHATT team. Mrs. Lungi Makgoba attended as well, and made us all feel at home with her bright smile and warmth.   The carers then began to sing and we all joined them.

After a break, Walter Loening led a reflection on the daily work and challenges of being a carer.  Tessa  from St. Michael’s  Home said the inspiration for her work is  “ I have made a change in one child’s life.  We aren’t able to help everyone ..  that little bit of change - a child who never wanted to go to school, now she goes to school.  One is sitting next to you, now she’s a carer and social work student at UWC.”  The young woman smiled and said, “I had a team that invested in my life, so this is my way of giving back, [to] model to young people. “  It was a wonderful moment, to see her so clearly happy and able to draw strength from her own experience to now care for children herself.

But we mustn’t believe it is easy.  Pearl Molteno of CHATT, who has worked as a child psychiatric nurse, in her wonderfully frank way then said “We need to thank every one of you.  You have courage we haven’t got.  We have courage for our own children, but you work with abandoned children.  They don’t feel loved, they feel rejected by their families and nothing can replace their family.  We admire you for devoting your time and loving care to them by doing what you are doing.”

At the end of the day, we all said good bye to each other with hugs and felt like we could stay there in the Bishopscourt garden for the whole day.

Farzaneh Behroozi