Dear Karito Kids,

Today my day was awesome. Today I and my group painted an elephant in a high school library. But the other groups had interesting animals such as lions, zebras, rhinoceros, and giraffes. It was fun painting because we were so creative with the elephant. We named her Sophie, we gave her two bows and we even painted her toe nails pink. I thought that was fun because no one else would have thought to do what we did.

Ambassadors with Sophie the Elephant

Also we had a tour around a village in Utah . We saw more houses and where they get water from. The community in New York and this community are different. I say that because if we wanted fresh water all we have to do is go to a local store or get it from a fridge. But they don’t have resources like we do. So if they want water they have to walk 2 miles to the nearest water tap. While the other people had to walk 1 mile and a half to the next one. And another thing that’s different is if we wanted to paint we could have gotten paper and painted. But we had to paint on a wall. Even if we had to paint on a wall or paper we still had fun helping other people even if we’re not getting anything out of it. So I think we should appreciate what we have even if it’s not the best because the people here have nothing.

Sincerely,
Kaela Jones 12 yrs old.

August 29, 2010

Journey For Change Global Ambassador

Today we went and visited a village called Utah. The village had only one high school and there was about 500 kids in the small school. In New York there are many different high schools for each zip code. The roads are bumpy here and little rocks on it too but in New York the roads are paved and straight.

We painted the school’s library with animals my group had an elephant and we made her into a little cute baby. She had pink nails, and 2 pink bows. I believe that the paintings will be able to make a bunch of kids happy because it makes school look fun. In New York people don’t paint on classroom walls but we use art paper to paint and hang it on the wall. Painting onthe walls makes the room look a lot more interesting then just writing on the walls.

Today was one of our first community service work in the village. On our way to the village, I noticed that it was in bad condition. Their roads were sandy with so many bumps that made it seem like it was a rollercoaster. In New York, our roads are concrete and there are lanes for cars to have a separation. Another difference that I noticed is that in the village, there are about 1,500 people who only have one tap for every citizen.

Another bad thing about that issue is that the tap does not work! In New York, the difference is that in the city, there are more than 2,000 people and we have water fountains, bottled water, and clean tap water in sinks. Us Americans should be more grateful because we have ample water and South Africans have little.

Ambassadors Work on a Mural

The next task was to paint a mural in a high school library. Our group included Raynese, Nia, Dara, Chanell, Angelia, Terrian, and I. We drew an elephant, what I noticed that the school is that their bookshelves are not stable and they do not have computers to research their homework. The difference between New York high school is that their libraries have internet computers, and stable bookshelves in alphabetical order. But to see that just painting the wall can make a smile is worth a lot to someone’s heart and that someone cares. That’s why each and everyday I am grateful and glad that I can experience something that can change my life.

When we arrived, we had free-time which I spent jumping Double Dutch.  Afterwards, it was dinner time which I enjoyed a lot. Later on, there was a performance by little African children. One of them, chose me to participate by dancing. I really enjoyed it and I hope to have another day like it tomorrow.

Dear Karito Kids,

Today was our 1st rural service work. We went to a village, and let me tell you what happened:

1st we went to a village

At the village we just went to a place to see the person in charge of the village but, he was in a meeting .

2nd we went to view the village.

3rd We ate lunch. I had chicken and bread.

4th We went to paint inside a high school. My group painted a leopard with a tree and a hill in the background. I liked it, it was light brown and dark brown.

Lastly, we back and ate dinner at Timbavati. We ate steak and bread. For desert we had vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.

Then we danced with the performers, it was lots of fun.

Our day started off with a tour of Utah Village. We ate lunch which was yummy. But before that, we learned that there was only one running water faucet sink that the whole village used. Sometimes, the water hardly even worked. After that, we heard a little speech from the Chief of Utah village, which was very educational. We painted the school, which was a building for the kids because there is no other school around. We painted animals so after that we came back to Timbavati where we had dinner. So that’s how my day went.

Dear Karito Kids,

Today was a fun day. This morning we first went to a village called Utah. Utah is a place where the commonest high school is at. The village has 1,500 people in it. The same 1,500 people share one tap pipe and sometimes it goes out. When we went on the tour of the high school it hardly had anything. The students that attend the high school have no desk, no library, no gym, and no auditorium. They are very glad for what there have. In most high schools in New York you see big buildings , nice classes, and activities, but in Utah, South Africa they don’t have that. Africa and New York have a lot in common and a lot of stuff in different. Sometimes common can be good, but not different. 4 more days left.

Today was a good day, though we had to wake up earlier than usual. We went to Utah village and learned many things about the village. The things that hit me the most was that there were over a thousand people who live in that area, but there is only one clean water supply. This was real shocking to me and it made me think. Another thing was that there was only one high school in that area and there was no transportation. Most of the kids have to walk to school every day.

Group Photo with Kids from Journey for Change 2 and Utah Village

Today we eat at the school in group. It was fun. I never thought I would be the one to paint a mural, but it came out pretty and it wasfor a good cause. After the painting of the school, we came back to the lodge for free time. This also made me happy. Dinner was also exciting because there was a nice performance.

Today we traveled to Utah village by bus. It was our first day of service in a rural area. While we were going to Utah village, there were a lot of bumps on the roads. They gave us a tour of the village. They talked about the history of the village. The population in Utah village is 1.500. There is only one working water spout for them to use. In Utah village 400 people go to the one local high school. Their only form of transportation to school is either on their bicycles or on foot. It takes 2 ½ hours to get to school . We met the village chief: Babba Dabba.

Utah Village Tribal Leader Speaks to Ambassadors

Karito Kids,

Today was a very tiring day. We went to Utah village in South Africa. It was a long drive.  It was about an hour and a half. In Utah village we went to a local school. After that we took a half an hour walk around the village. Along the way we stopped at a water spout. We were told that for a village of 1,500 people that was the only where they could get water. That was a big difference to the way we live in New York. To learn that sometimes it doesn’t work was even worse. Another thing I noted that was different was that in the high school the students like paintings of animals while in Brooklyn most of our schools wouldn’t paint animals on the walls. Lastly in Utah village there is a village chief, not a president.

Today my experiences were worthwhile. Today I went to the village a took a 2 hour walk. I took a walk around Utah village. I saw the main high school. I actually painted a mural in a high school. Now, that is not the crazy part. The crazy part is that the water spout is not always working. Also, that is major because that the one water spout helps people get water. That amount is an estimation of 415 people. The crazy part is when it does not work kids from the community have to go to different communities to access water.

After we went through the Utah high school I painted a mural. My group’s mural was a giraffe, but I ended up helping other groups paint their murals. After that we went back to the resort. We had an hour and a half for free time. I went by the pool and put my feet in the pool. After that I pushed Walk Tall – Anton the security guard – in the pool. His exact quote was:”I heard revenge is sweet!” I was like yeah, right. It was a crazy fun day.

Love,

Marie Solivan