Ubuntu Fundraiser

Last night, we had a fundraiser for the Ubuntu Orphanage. It was to raise money to buy food, beds, and toys for the kids. We had it downtown at the City Hall. We got there early to help set tables, prepare food and clean up, and then around 8pm, Magic and all the kids arrived. Earlier in the week, we had tried to gather people to come to the event – but the turnout was definitely not what it should have been.
The night consisted of a few singers, a speaker, and lots of dancing. The speaker that Magic got was a priest, so the whole service was a lot like being at church. We had a very good South African meal – which I unfortunately did not get to eat. I had one of the little girl’s from the orphanage curled up and asleep on my lap, so by the time I finally got up to get food, it was pretty much all gone. But it was well worth it :)

I’ve still been going to Ubuntu Crisis Center to play with the kids and help them with homework, about 2 times a week. This coming weekend we’re having a sleepover and on Saturday I’m finally going to finish painting the outside of the house. Last time I was there, the kids put on a Zulu dance for us, everyone took lots of pictures of the event. I’m still having trouble at the end of the day when I leave the orphanage. I haven’t pinpointed exactly why this is, but I just feel extreme turmoil over the photographing of the children living at these places as if they were a sight to see. These kids really enjoy having their picture taken and once they realize what’s going on and they automatically want to use your camera, and to my disagreement, many people hand the cameras right over to the kids and had them take pictures. I have just as big of problem with this, even though I know it probably isn’t that big of a deal. I guess I just have an ethical issue with it, that they only way to get these kids excited and to like you is to flash your $200 digital camera, rather than just playing with them and giving them old-fashioned attention. I understand it’s cute to have photos of them to show all your friends back home, but seriously, take a step back and realize what’s going on here. These kids will never see concentrated wealth like a digital camera represents so is that really the best way to spend an afternoon with them? I brought my camera to the orphanage for the first couple weeks, but I just can’t bring myself to do it anymore. I can’t pinpoint why… I just feel like it's unfair for them to see that division of wealth.
Moving on… Stephanie and I went out and bought paint today for this weekend. I’m hoping we can do more reparations with Ungogo’s house too – we’re nowhere near complete with that. I feel like my time here in running out and there’s still SO much to do.