Operation Hunger in Cape Town

While in Cape Town we took a field trip to three different locations. First we picked up our guide, Christina, and spent the morning at a day care with sixty children. Our group weighed and charted each child for a nutrition surveillance  program. Then we moved on to Cape Flats, an "Informal Settlement". John Nichols, Project Chairman of Operation Breadline, has set up a library in a cargo container with donated books. His home is a safe haven for hungry, lonely and malnourished children. He cooks a hot meal on Tuesdays and Thursdays and sandwiches the rest of the week. Kids come right from school and stay to eat and do homework. He also engages them in other activities, such as sports, music and always there for them. John receives no help from government. Relies on donations only. On to a squatter camp on the outskirts of Cape Town where Muriel runs a soup kitchen out of her home to feed the children whose parents are working at menial labor in fields of the wealthy. many others have no work and alcohol, crime, and abuse is rampant. We were amazed at the poverty and squalor and again realize how fortunate we are.

Leaving Manaus

Amazon. We are finishing up our stay in Manaus and had our last field trip this morning. We leave tomorrow nite to sail across to Ghana. On our first day we took the city tour and started by walking to the fish market. I could only last about ten min. Because of the smell. Got on the bus and drove whole city from rich to poor. Finished the tour with a visit to the opera house which was super gorgeous. Day two was onto a boat bus, Which is the only way to travel  as there are no roads. The river is like our 35w. Visited a village for some shopping and lunch and moved up river to our hotel. Spent the evening piranha fishing I caught a nice one unlike Mary and Chris. When dusk came we went shining for Cayman crocs. Got a little in the boat and could all touch and hold if desired. Of course couldn,t wait. Next day had a tour of rubber plantation given by our guide, Washington who was spectacular. Operated with Slaves until fifty years ago. When the government discovered this it closed them down and plantation is now operated as a museum. Today our tour was to take special needs children to the zoo.first we visited their living facilities which  was immaculate. Caught up with the kids at the zoo and they were so excited and had a wonderful time. Kinda sad because they were all abandoned but they seemed happy and well cared for. Up until ten years ago these children were left in the street to fend for themselves. MarySueChris

Nepali girls

Just came back from most inspiring talk by speaker who heads a foundation called Empowering Nepali Girls.  Nepal is poorest country in world whose. Gov is. Very corrupt.  Lowest caste girls are neglected and destined to behold into sex slavery -- 12,000 girls dIsappear every  year.  They are considered by their society to be of less value than a goat.

The foundation gives scholarships to girls as young as eight as a way of expanding tHeir future and showing them what possibilities are out there for them.

His message to us was.  Increase your own awareness
                              Talk about it
                               Honor what you are experiencing

We were impressed by his compassion and moved to tears.