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Coco's Foundation South Africa
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  • Karen Maxey

Coco's Foundation South Africa

Met at Reigate Park Church
Heathrow
Flight taking off 4th April 2024 hopefully! Read more
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    Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 17 Final leg of our journey

    April 20, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Overnight flight 11 hours from Johannesburg to
    Heathrow UK
    Difficult to sleep in a very cramped seat at the back of the plane with some airline meals which we may have some complaints , but
    after our Coco's Foundation trip what have we got to complain about ?
    Touched down after a smooth landing at 5.30 .
    South Africa were 1 hour ahead but I think fatigue will be inevitable having had such a long journey .
    Minibus was waiting for our return to Reigate Park Church ;so after a fleeting goodbye too long would have been too emotional!and a hug with Chris the Founder of this amazing charity and my team members, who I'm sure will remain good friends we grabbed a coffee bumping into the Sharks South African rugby team again! , we made our way to the airport carpark loaded the luggage and after an hour we were back where we'd started back to our families.    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 14 Completion of the House

    Apr 20–23, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We've finished the house !What an achievement....ignoring the fact that we're the oldest group of volunteers that have accompanied Chris ,and that he actually forgot to mention ...the fittest !!!
    The result was not only rewarding and emotional ; but as Nkosie said
    "It's an amazing thing you've all done. You've given a family prosperity and they can hold their head up high as they have a bed to sleep on"
    If we can do this for
    someone in 5 days think what we could do in each of our lifetimes .
    My gratitude needs to be also given to the support of the team I have been lucky to come away with for Nkosie and his team but also Chris who is a beautiful person with a generous heart, whose inspiration has given me the opportunity to experience and give some joy to a beautiful family in a beautiful country.
    May I always be thankful .    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 16 Journey back Durban/ Johannesbur

    April 19, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Up early in order to leave at 7am for our return journey .
    Most of us had packed the previous night before having a meal out at the first restaurant we'd eaten out in the first week , saying a Farewell to the many inspiring people we had met over our visit .
    As we travel back to the UK these people with so little, have made an impact on my life and I will endeavour never to forget them, to be thankful and continue to support the Coco's Foundation .    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 15 Kosi Bay

    April 18, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Last blog from the fit and fast Gogo group!!!
    Memorable day with our lovely team whom we are going to miss but we got on so well we'll be continuing this friendship .
    Having completed the house for our special family we had a relaxing day at Kosi Bay which is a couple of hours away from where we are staying .
    We swam and picnicked on the golden sands .We were very close to Mozambique.
    We also viewed where the fisherman had planted reeds in curved shapes to catch the shoals of fish as the tide turned, trapping the larger fish and allowing smaller fish to return to the sea .
    Our last evening was spent with the soulful, inspirational people we have met during our stay who have made such an impression on us all.
    Ubusuku obuhle konke-
    Goodnight all .    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 13 Mdwina school After School Club!

    April 16, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Day 13 What a daunting start thinking we were entertaining 200 excitable children at the 'After School Club' yes its changed from actually after school finishes with a few children to 11 o'clock which then involved anyone attending school that day !
    Our resources were limited but we were very resourceful and with a couple of footballs, 3 Frisbees and 6 tennis balls plus the enthusiasm which oozed from the smiling, joyful children our inhibitions deserted us.
    We introduced ourselves where we'd come from and our roles and careers, hopefully inspiring the children to work hard and make the most of opportunities.We taught and played Four Ball rounders, football, Cat and Mouse as well as teaching singing and clapping games .
    We finished with bubbles which surrounded the happy faces and left elated and hopefully the children having had a joyful morning .
    We travelled to our build and saw what we can now call a house ;..roof on, doors hinged and building site tidied .We bagwashed with watered down cement and we coated the surface of the outside walls to make it water tight...hopefully we did a good job! I think a few of us are also waterproof !
    As we cleaned our brushes we heard the most beautiful joyful sound .We walked to where the singing was coming from a small corrugated building, the local community church and we listened as the people sang praise and thanks ....It's the people that are important praising and having such a strong faith and it doesn't matter about the church building.
    As mentioned in the Bible
    'Where two people are gathered together in worship you have a church'    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 12 Recuperating!

    April 15, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Blog
    A chilling day at Foundation Lodge,as in relaxing !
    We caught up on sleep read organised the 28th service where we will give our experiences from the trip .
    Chris, Lesley and Karen went for a walk along the sandy path photographing the local environment, and then two handsome men offered us a lift so we we recklessly Continuing the blog.....the afternoon was spent preparing activities for our visit to the After school club held at Mdinwa using their motto as
    inspiration
    'Knowledge is Light' bukkie....don't fret!... it was Chris snd Nkosie!!!
    Continuing the blog.....the afternoon was spent preparing activities for our visit to the After school club held at Mdinwa using their motto as
    inspiration
    'Knowledge is Light'    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 11 Childrens home

    April 15, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Hi Chris,
    We all jointly worked on the blog for today - see below - we’ll choose photos and send them as well……

    We started the day slowly while we were waiting for the children from the children’s home to get back from their church. When we arrived, they were all very excited to see us again as they hadn’t realised we were making another visit. We had brought several different craft activities with us along with some extra purchases we’d picked up on the way. The children filed in eagerly and patiently waited for us to set things up. We set up four tables with different craft activities including fortune tellers and friendship bracelets. We were pleased that all the children joined in with all the different activities even though there was a wide age range.
    In the afternoon we played a variety of ball games outside and they all particularly enjoyed ‘dodge ball’ and ‘duck, duck goose,’
    We were feeling exhausted so we encouraged them all to have a break with squash and some biscuits that we’d brought with us.
    To finish the afternoon off, the children were thrilled that we’d brought along some bubble wands which they had great fun with.
    We all felt sad to leave but delighted that we’d been able to catch up with them one more time.
    Before returning back to the lodge, we did two more food drops. One to an 80 year old Gogo who lives on her own. She was very pleased to meet us.
    We also visited the home of another Gogo with three grandchildren. Chris C and Nkosie are planning two sponsored events to raise money to build them a new house. The family were delightful. The Gogo was so excited at the possibility of having a safe and secure home built for her family - she picked us up in turn and swung us around in her exuberance.    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 10

    April 15, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Day 10 Saturday
    Rise and shine before sunrise and greeted with a cup of tea made by Lesley and Karen aka two turtle doves’.
    We were ready to roll at 6:00 am as requested. By 6:08 am we had seen a tower of giraffes, a confusion of guinea fowl and an implausibility of wildebeest.
    As we drove through the water there were a family of terrapins.
    We did a little detour to the river as the rangers had been told of the presence of a lioness and her two cubs. We saw her disappearing along the river bed with her two energetic cubs following. We carried on venturing into the wilderness and saw a bark spider that eats her web to replace the nutrients she needs. A bit further on we passed the sausage tree that provided great hilarity amongst the team.
    Next we stopped to have a tea break and took in the scenery where wedding ceremonies are held under an impressive fig tree. The sound of baboons echoed as we warmed up with hot drinks and chocolate muffins and rusks - not Farley’s!
    Moving on we found ourselves looking at a beautiful eland gazing at us for a few minutes. We saw another tower of giraffes a couple mongoose and then came across a troop of mischievous, playful vervet monkeys eating berries. Nestling in the savannah we spied a black jackal that posed for a photo before nimbly running into the bush. Opposite perched in a tree was an eagle searching the surroundings for prey.
    On our way home to the lodge we saw a group of wart hogs, another dazzle of zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes.
    Once we had got back to the lodge some of us had a last minute swim before breakfast and headed out.
    Little did we know that we were going to be treated to an elephant interaction with Rambo and Rachel. This was a once in a lifetime experience.
    We drove up a dusty, rural road to see Ghost Mountain. The views from here were indescribable. We took pictures which will not do the view justice. It was breathtaking to see such lush vegetation which is very unusual. (See pics.)
    We stopped to see the Jasini Dam and see what an enormous structure this is before heading home on a bone jarring road. As always Nkosie navigated his way through pot holes, goats dogs and parts of the road that had been washed away.
    What a memorable day to add to all the others.    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 8

    April 15, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Chris blog.

    Up at 5am today to ensure we left at 6am sharp, to allow time to get to Mdwina School to serve porridge to the children before they start school.
    This is the only meal many will have all day. It contains all the vitamins and minerals they need and once digested it quadruples inside them.
    It’s 7am and many are already waiting, they are quiet but pleased to see us. They line up and we can now see that many do not have shoes or if they do, they have no laces. Most are holding a plastic container in various sizes, colours and condition.
    We take turns to serve...
    We think it's going well then we start noticing porridge on face's, eyes down bowl held out.
    Hang on you've come around again, one has taken his jacket off and queued again.
    We try and police this worried we will run out until all have eaten. But Chris helps saying give them seconds but a smaller amount. It turned into a little game, cheeky smiling face's but thankfully everyone ate.
    This fuels them for a day of learning.
    Assembly, lovely singing in straight lines and one child reads to us all.
    They all file into class, 1 teacher can have 70 children in a class!
    All learn in English and have a book containing all the subjects for that grade. Lesley asked about science, but everything is from the 1 book, no other resources.
    We help give the school uniforms we raised money for being given to children by
    Vamsile, who made them.
    We visit classes. It's very moving and I think its fair to say we all became emotional at some point. For me it was when the children say thankyou, I don't feel worthy of thanks, as my life is so easy by comparison.
    We leave having been touched by the oppurtunity to meet them.

    We rejoin the house build and as we are getting to know the builders we joke saying ahh the Gogo's are back! But they are so patient and I'm taught how to cover the lintels with pug and make it smooth. I stand on blocks to reach. We move the remaining blocks to the home and I find a small lizard called a gheko inside one! Heather helps scoop it out and it makes us both jump when it skuttles.
    Everyone helps and we are all bonding together as a team.    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 7 Building and Sodwana Beach

    April 15, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Here we go team- today’s blog! ‘It is all about me!’ Wednesday
    As soon as breakfast was over the seven of us hurried out of the lodge and quickly clambered into the mini bus. Well almost all of us as Karen leapt on and the off as her phone had decided to hide itself in the bedroom!
    Once on the move I noticed there was a buzz in the air as everyone anticipated the days work ahead of them also there was a real buzz as a big was released back to the wild.
    Building.
    We started the days work with a photo opportunity and Chris asking who was going to write the blog. Eagerly I raised my hand and said, ‘Yes’ to which Chris replied, ‘ So it’s all about you today!’
    So today’s blog is all about me- not!
    Today we had music to sing along to and to show our off our dance moves much to the amusement of Skodo Seeing Karen showing the Gogo’s granddaughter how to accomplish the twist and her joining in was priceless. Lesley managed a near perfect Zulu leg lift without straining a muscle.
    Imagine our delight when Dumo arrived and immediately exclaimed - not once but thrice- what a wonderful job we had done on building the house. Soon we had completed 10 rows of bricks and were moving onto building the dividing wall. Well done to Chris and Heather who took on the mantle for starting this task.
    No more cement meant we could finish for the day and this meant we could visit the BEACH.
    Sodwana beach is a ‘mighty fine beach’.
    Frolicking in the waves was a perfect end to a busy day.    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 6 visit to Ebenezer School

    April 10, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Building was on hold as we woke up to tremendous thunderstorms so visited the school which was in the same vicinity as the children's home we had visited earlier on in the week .
    We met the Head and then in pairs visited one of the different aged classes
    Busy Bees 2-3years
    Eager Beavers 4-5 years and a class of 6-7year
    Their learning for that week focussed on transport.
    I read a story Lynnes Birthday cake surprise as they hadn't any books associated on the subject to read .
    We then talked about modes of transport on the road ,in the water and in the air .
    We then made vehicles out of junk modelling -
    Fire engines, train , car and lorry ...the children painted add wheels and funnels .We used our initiative as resources were limited, i.e., toilet rolls, string, bottle tops and empty milk cartons .
    All painted and the children were proud of their transport models .
    After lunch with the children where they eaten
    bowls of rice and meat
    the children placed outside on swings which showed their aged patina, colourful, striped heavy canvas hammocks provided adventure and stimulation for the children s play.    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 5 Monday

    April 8, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    (Day 5)Monday
    Hi ho hi ho it's off to work we go....
    The reason we came ,with a zest of anticipation we
    rose an hour earlier to travel in transit to the family home of Gogo whom we'd met the previous day .
    On route in the capable driving hands of Nkosie avoiding herds of sauntering cattle we called in at his family home to pick up 'Tools of the trade ' ....ok! a wheelbarrow and a spade !
    We picked up two of Nkosie's neices dropping them off at school.
    We arrived to the find the foundations already prepped and a bulk delivery of breeze blocks . As the enthusiastic bunch we all are, we were eager to start, so a cement and sand mix piled high, and strong arms filled 15 litres of water from the JoJo to mix concrete. Taking turns with shovels we watched the expertise of the builder team who were encouragingly respectful as we learnt from their skills and knowledge.
    First level , a learning curve. The concrete blocks were moved singly to dry out in the warm sun ; then carefully positioned resulting in the first level, aquiring skills as we continued, a system emerged to work in pairs to concrete in between .Soon the levels increased until we'd done five!
    Having lunch , the Gogo came over smiled and intimated she was so happy giving us a hug .
    At the end of today's work we felt elated to have achieved a third of the build.
    Bob the builder would be impressed!
    After purchasing bananas which gave us renewed energy which enabled Chris to go on tour of the local bike shops!    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 4

    April 7, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    After a blissful night's sleep set off at to pick up Dorothy teacher from the science project ,to experience an Evangelical free church where we were greeted with such a warm enthusiastic welcome
    Greeted into a rousing Congo of dancing and praising .
    The service was interspersed with sitting listening to poignant readings delivered by Lynne, Chris B and Paula as well as a reading from Sue who handed out prayer blankets to the congregation we were visiting .They felt very humbled that we were visiting and the inspiring musical praise continued .The departing at the end of the service was personal as we shook hands hugged and joined the line to continue the goodbyes .    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 3

    April 6, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Visits to the Ebenezer Children's home run by
    where we were entertained by the various aged children with their recited passages from memory energetic dancing and beautiful singing with one of the children leading with a voice that was memorable. We applauded each performance which the children enjoyed encouraging others to take part as they grew in confidence at the chance of performing .
    They ended teaching a song with actions in English and Zulu .The children departed off to their lesson...
    We had a short presentation on the project that are supported to improve the lives of their children aiming to give the children confidence self esteem and self worth .
    We left as the progressing netball game was in progress with a burst ball !
    Onwards to the wher science and maths is being taught by Dorothy an inspirational lady who saw the need for children to be given the opportunity to learn the basics in science and maths in order to develop critical thinking in order to progress through life .
    Resources were in short supply but the teacher was resourceful.
    Lunch
    Onto deliver food packages to families and see their shelter one room for 12 children one blanket on a stone floor and their belongings all neatly stacked against the bare wall
    Noticeable and thought provoking were the 3 school shirts washed and on a hanging nail for the children who attend school . This particular family were then informed that they were having a house built for them in August by a group of Girl guides
    The face of the Grandma ,said it all as tears welled and she
    went into a little dance of gratitude with a small baby tied with muslin on her back .
    Called into a busy market Spar for supplies including several bags of delicious cashew nuts
    ...think we made the market holders day!    Read more

  • Karen MaxeyCoco's Foundation South AfricaTraveler

    Day 2

    April 5, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    Travelling, travelling .....32 hours!
    Arrived in Johannesburg
    Caught internal flight to Durban and picked up a minibus for 5 hours through green lush landscapes , sugar beet crops and long highways which impressed in comparison with the state of our road network in the UK !
    Arrived at 6 in the dark to a beautiful destination in Sodwana Bay ....Foundation Lodge
    Our home for the next 17 days .    Read more

  • Trip start
    April 4, 2024
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