Hello from the Cape.... Our blog has proved hard to keep up to date as we have had no internet access where we could get to update our diary up till tonight.
Our journey down from Newcastle to Jo'burg was very smooth despite a slight delay. Apparently there was a major weather problem the day we flew out which grounded all the aircraft in Dubai and caused the delays.
Peter met us at Johannesburg and we left on time to fly on to East London where we finally arrived, rather weary after 27 hours. The flights were good but none of us got more than three hours of sleep, so the prospect of a briefing when we arrived wasn't really our first wish!
The weather in East London when we finally arrived was warm and sunny and it was certainly apparent it's Summer here. The place is very interesting - you were instantly aware that you are in Africa, with people walking everywhere, even on the main highways.
The last few days have been very very eventful and we have seen the most amazing contrasts from the millionaires houses here in Port Alfred today to the extremes of poverty in the townships. There is an inconceivable gulf between them.
We have now got to understand that timetables and life go at different pace here. Our two days out with colleagues looking at libraries gave us a really memorable experience. We have been to two different parts of the Province, the first day in and around the Alice/Fort Hare area where Nelson Mandela studied at the University.
Our journey down from Newcastle to Jo'burg was very smooth despite a slight delay. Apparently there was a major weather problem the day we flew out which grounded all the aircraft in Dubai and caused the delays.
Peter met us at Johannesburg and we left on time to fly on to East London where we finally arrived, rather weary after 27 hours. The flights were good but none of us got more than three hours of sleep, so the prospect of a briefing when we arrived wasn't really our first wish!
The weather in East London when we finally arrived was warm and sunny and it was certainly apparent it's Summer here. The place is very interesting - you were instantly aware that you are in Africa, with people walking everywhere, even on the main highways.
The last few days have been very very eventful and we have seen the most amazing contrasts from the millionaires houses here in Port Alfred today to the extremes of poverty in the townships. There is an inconceivable gulf between them.
We have now got to understand that timetables and life go at different pace here. Our two days out with colleagues looking at libraries gave us a really memorable experience. We have been to two different parts of the Province, the first day in and around the Alice/Fort Hare area where Nelson Mandela studied at the University. We also visited a library in a township just outside Fort Beaufort which really was an amazing 
experience. The Library habit there is very strong and the purpose of libraries is so apparent - that space in the community which is free, safe and for everyone despite their backgrounds. In the background you can see, on the photo, a group of young lads who are sitting doing their homework which is a health related topic. I was really impressed with the way they just sat and worked together. Outside, although this library is new, and, as you can see, very spacious, the township is a network of dirt roads, delapidated buildings and shacks. It's hard to believe that anyone can manage to keep improving in such an environment but they do.
On our second day out we went in the direction of Grahamstown which was completely different. We visited a community library which really does have it right - and this has been a feature of our visit. Although resources are scant and the bookstocks are not up to date at all, the willingness of many of the staff and the real innovation they show in dealing with their community needs is astounding. Karen, in the picture with Ann is in constant contact with the four local schools in the area and she has a passion for supporting the children there, who have no access to internet or to a wide range of resources in their school. The library here is a credit to her and to her manager.
Grahamstown is a delightful place where we stopped at a very European but very African tea shop! It's a Victorian town in aspic with beautifully preserved buildings.
And today we have been delivering our presentation at the Indaba. The drive down here was very long and very arduous last night but this is a lovely place and we have at last been able to get onto the web to update the blog.
Our impressions of this place then - stunning beautiful, happy and committed people who range from those who have everything to those who have absolutely nothing. Everyone we have met has shown us hospitality we couldn't have dreamed of and our lives are changed.
experience. The Library habit there is very strong and the purpose of libraries is so apparent - that space in the community which is free, safe and for everyone despite their backgrounds. In the background you can see, on the photo, a group of young lads who are sitting doing their homework which is a health related topic. I was really impressed with the way they just sat and worked together. Outside, although this library is new, and, as you can see, very spacious, the township is a network of dirt roads, delapidated buildings and shacks. It's hard to believe that anyone can manage to keep improving in such an environment but they do.
On our second day out we went in the direction of Grahamstown which was completely different. We visited a community library which really does have it right - and this has been a feature of our visit. Although resources are scant and the bookstocks are not up to date at all, the willingness of many of the staff and the real innovation they show in dealing with their community needs is astounding. Karen, in the picture with Ann is in constant contact with the four local schools in the area and she has a passion for supporting the children there, who have no access to internet or to a wide range of resources in their school. The library here is a credit to her and to her manager.Grahamstown is a delightful place where we stopped at a very European but very African tea shop! It's a Victorian town in aspic with beautifully preserved buildings.
And today we have been delivering our presentation at the Indaba. The drive down here was very long and very arduous last night but this is a lovely place and we have at last been able to get onto the web to update the blog.Our impressions of this place then - stunning beautiful, happy and committed people who range from those who have everything to those who have absolutely nothing. Everyone we have met has shown us hospitality we couldn't have dreamed of and our lives are changed.
We have learned a great deal from the experience so far and we will keep in touch beyond the Swallows Partnership I am sure - it's certainly be a very thought provoking and humbling experience to see what is happening here.
It has been hard work but we have found time to visit the Animal Reserve on Sunday when we took the trip round on a very shaky land rover to visit the lions, giraffes, elands, ostriches and impala. Unfortunately no elephants yet, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.
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