Volunteer Spotlight: Laura Olson

Hello BLOOM supporters! Thank you for supporting such a great organization. I look forward to learning so much more about the country of Lesotho and how we can make a difference! I work in the non-profit world and know that it indeed does 'take a village' to not only raise a child, but also to create change for the better. The mission of BLOOM Africa appeals to me because it is not only supporting the immediate needs of orphans in Lesotho, but it is looking for ways to create ways to sustain that support and improve their way of life.

I believe in giving-back. It was instilled by my parents while growing up, and it continues to drive who I am today. I've been fundraising, volunteering and helping locally in my community since childhood. It has guided me to my current profession in fundraising for one of the largest non-profits in the world. But being in the fundraising world, I am always looking for more opportunities for hands-on work. I also work everyday to improve my immediate community, so the opportunity to branch out and travel internationally to help was very appealing. 

If there weren't these things called bills and student loans in my life, my dream job would be to help build needed infrastructure or help run empowerment programs in Africa. Ever since a very powerful class on Africa in college, I've been continuously learning about the cultures, ways of life and challenges within the continent. Specifically, I am drawn to issue of empowerment of women to take care of their families. Africa may be a long ways-away from our own everyday lives, but I believe it is important understand the world outside of our own bubble and to learn as much as I can about other cultures in order to fully appreciate our own blessings. 

I am so excited to learn more. I want to experience the beauty of Lesotho's landscape and culture. But I also want to learn as much as I can about how they live. How does their economy work? How does the culture vary from one village to another? How do they hope to continue traditions and/or change cultural norms? How do they hope to support the orphans in the country? How can we try to change the number of orphans that need help? Most of all, I want to know how I can help. I am looking forward to learn how I can and thank BLOOM Africa for giving the opportunity to do so - Kea leboha!

Laura Olson

Laura is a Senior Relationship Manager with United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.  She will be 1 of 4 volunteers visiting Lesotho on the inaugural BLOOM Voluntour in Spring 2014.

Lead With Love

It is no real secret, if you know me to any degree, that I really love people. I recently heard a quote by Cory Booker that said, “We need to lead with love”. I could not agree more, nor say it any better. It sounds so much like something I would say, I have wondered if Cory Booker stole the quote from me. He didn’t. I give him full credit for his simple, eloquent statement.

I think there are many salient moments in my formative years that shaped the way I move through this world. However, my two trips to the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho stretched and developed my emotional capacity for love and compassion beyond a limit that even I ever thought I could surpass. Working alongside the Basotho was an incredibly special time in my life and the experience was only heightened by the fact that I had the thrilling privilege to share it with Wittenberg college students. For the first time in my life, I could literally see the capacity for compassion in a person grow before my very own eyes. On more than a dozen occasions I saw a student “figure it out” – what it meant to have compassion and share an emotional experience in empathy with someone they hardly knew but understood why it was important to do so. Amazing. Simply stated.

Often I have wondered how we can enliven the compassionate spirit within others around us that we know could use a good dose of it. I have not created a magic potion, or remedy that I can use, although I will quickly market it if I do. What I have been able to do is recognize ways in which growing compassion in people might be effective. I have observed how my young niece is developing a strong sense of compassion and much of it, I believe, stems from sharing my stories and experiences from traveling to Lesotho. My niece, Zoe Sage, has a mother (my sister, Mickey) that believes in leading with love and has instilled much of that attitude in Zoe. Add this rearing approach to the exposure Zoe has had to my Lesotho stories and we have a loving, sensitive 9-year old that finds a space in her heart for even a piece of trash. That sounds humorous and as if I am exaggerating but I’m not. This young girl has a capacity to find a place for everything in this world and for everything to have a shared community in which it can grow and be loved. Yes, even trash. When Zoe was 7 years old, Africa was the second continent she could clearly point out on a world map, or globe, after indicating where North America was. But my favorite part of Zoe’s big heart is how often she references the children in Africa and Lesotho specifically. When we wrote a letter to Santa two years ago, one of Zoe’s items on her wish list was to provide all the “cheldrin in Afrika with shoos, soks and gud cloths”. That moment was imprinted on my heart so much that I still remember the beautifully expressed – albeit incorrectly spelled – words she used. This past spring when Mickey and Zoe were doing some spring-cleaning, Zoe suggested that they send “some of my old stuffed animals to the children in Lesotho so they have something to play with”. Priceless. Simply stated.

If I was going to experiment with how to build compassion in people, I may use the model of Zoe’s young life as the template as it appears that she has developed the care and understanding about the importance of our global brothers and sisters without much resistance. It proves to me that the ability to have compassion for others is an innate sensibility that we are born with and, if cultivated at an early stage in our childhood years, will be unveiled to the benefit of those who surround us.  To tell the story of my time in Lesotho with family and friends, while feeling futile at times, has proven to generate some shared compassion about a cause that is dear to me, including in my niece, Zoe. That is some rich residual impact of the growth of compassion in my own heart. Fulfilling. Simply stated.

I will continue my pursuit to share the development of compassion and empathy in others around me, whether they are 9, 19 or even 99 years old. As much as I can, after my time in Lesotho, I will always aim to do my best to Lead with Love. Simply stated.

Sarah

Sarah Jurewicz is a founding Board Member and currently resides in Springfield, Ohio.

Team Lesotho Visits Leratong

On Saturday, we went to Leratong Community Learning Center to celebrate the big day of BLOOM Africa.  Irrespective of the distance between our two countries, we are one team.  So as BLOOM Africa was celebrating a re-launch in America, we wanted to volunteer in solidarity.  So when I got to Leratong my with teammates, we were amazed by the number of kids we found there.  On a daily basis a number of +/- 100 children go to Leratong.  They are being tutored by 3  women volunteers from the Roma community.

The children at Leratong CLC & Team Lesotho

One of their projects really had an impact on me.  It touched me to see hats and other items made out of recycled plastic bags.  The children have become very skilled at doing this.

Items made of plastic bags during life skills training

This made me realize that there is great potential at Leratong to make BLOOM's vision a reality.

This can be made possibly by us, Team Lesotho, giving them the support they need.  I believe if we can invest our time and brain power int his CLC, something good will be produced and BLOOM's name will go places,

This can be possible by providing daily supervision, as well as more projects and activities on site.  There is a a real potential in this CLC.

Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity.  You guy's don't only put a smile on the faces of the children who attend the CLC, but also Team Lesotho as well.  We are grateful.

Team Lesotho: Mammeisi, Bokang, Malefa

May the almighty bless you and your efforts.  We love you.

Khotso,

Mammeisi Manyeli
Team Lesotho member
  

A Very Special Re-Launch

Since January I have had the date July 27, 2013 circled in red on my calendar. The date is special to me on a personal level and after our BLOOM Africa quarterly board meeting in January, it become even more special. At the meeting we selected the date of our BLOOM Africa re-launch event – July 27, 2013 – therein commencing the big red mark making on my calendar. By the way, red is my favorite color, so when I use it, it means something special.

Saturday IS a special day – the BLOOM Africa re-launch event. We will be unveiling a new brand, announcing our relocation to Chicago and sharing with attendees the new and exciting steps we are securing to fully fund our new Community Learning Centers (CLC) in Lesotho. Although BLOOM Africa has been working hard completing projects since its first official launch in April 2010, recently we have picked up momentum thanks to three successful golf benefits, two proactive trips by Andrew and William to Lesotho and the support of generous donors. This re-launch event will expand the notion of what a small group of passionate and compassionate individuals can do to make a difference on a global level. I have been amazed at the persistent growth of BLOOM Africa as I have been able to have a special perspective as a founding board member. As an organization run strictly by volunteers – not a single executive or board member is paid a single itty-bitty cent – to be preparing to establish our first CLC after three years of planning, friend-raising, fundraising and promoting, is impressive.

Sometimes it is hard to relate the loving passion for Lesotho that I have – that each of us with BLOOM Africa have – and I understand that for many people without a first-hand experience it’s hard to grasp the importance of our work with the Basotho. However, the growth of BLOOM Africa and the continual story-telling of how we have impacted and can impart growth of the orphaned and vulnerable children there has proven that our hearts can be read and our emotions can be translated. If you haven’t taken a lot of time to understand what BLOOM Africa is doing, now is a terrific time to get informed. Talk to a board member, a team member, a volunteer or our founder and just listen to the loving fire that ignites as you hear about a personal exchange with a Masotho child or a Basotho family. One story into the conversation I am certain you will be convinced that the work BLOOM Africa is doing is genuine, sustainable and meaningful. These stories will be one thing that is NOT new at the re-launch; these are the stories that have stuck in our vivid memories since the moment we interacted with the beautiful people of Lesotho.

BLOOM Africa truly does plant seeds of hope – hope for a better future free of HIV/AIDS, full of empowered and courageous young adults and firmly united in a global sense of sister and brotherhood.

-Sarah Jurewicz

Sarah has been a Board Member at BLOOM Africa since it's founding in 2010 and currently resides in Springfield, Ohio.

Stepping Back

One of the things many of us on the BLOOM Africa team love the most about Lesotho is the fresh perspective it brings to our own lives.  Visiting our friends and the communities we work with at Leratong, in Roma and Ramabanta, often leaves us with a renewed sense of purpose for how to contribute to a community, a greater appreciation for the small things in life, and a realization of what matters-our relationships with each other.  it is the ability to step back and see a big picture that attracts us to our work with the communities in Lesotho.

And it is in that spirit that i am heading off on a new adventure, to serve two years in the Peace Corps in Botswana, Southern Africa.  I will be serving as a local government capacity building volunteer as part of a larger HIV/AIDS Capacity Building Initiative.

In light of my commitment to the Peace Corps, I have decided to take a step back from the BLOOM Africa Board of Directors.  It has been a true pleasure getting to know the members of the BLOOM Africa team and their many supporters.  I will continue to support BLOOM, both here and in Lesotho, as much as possible and look forward to sharing my experiences with everyone!

Ka Khotso,

Erika

Erika has served as a Board of Director since 2012.  She will continue to provide her skills & expertise to BLOOM Africa in an advisory capacity. 

Not Trying To Save Africa

I first traveled to Lesotho in 2005 with Wittenberg University.  As for many, the trip opened my eyes to a different culture, a different way of life and and different definition of community.  The taste of Africa I received on the Lesotho trip led me to return to Africa, to Tanzania in East Africa, and next up, to Botswana in Southern Africa with the Peace Corps.

As I have pursued a career in international development, I am constantly searching for the best approach, being very mindful that we are not here to "save" a country, a people, or certainly not an entire continent.  Africa is rich in resources - with it's greatest asset being its own people.  It is easy to come to a community and impose your own ideas of what and how things should be done.  What I enjoy so much about working with Bloom Africa is that this organization "gets it."  Our job is not to "save" a community, but to empower a community.  We work closely with the people in Roma at Leratong Community Center, and soon hopefully other communities, to listen to how they define their challenges and how they see solutions.

To implement the community learning centers, we will need patience, determination, strong partnerships and support.  The aim is to be local solutions to local problems, and we simple help facilitate and empower those doing the work.  We are not the heroes or the miracle workers - the members of the Leratong community are.   We are not trying to "save or change" the world, but the experience certainly does change us.

Khotso,

Erika Franz

Erika currently serves as a Board Member with Bloom Africa. 

A Request and a Promise

As a medical student, I have learned about the health impact of HIV/AIDS for the individual patient. I have learned about the anticipated disease course, treatment regimens, preventative measures, and support groups for patients and their families. In the United States, an HIV diagnosis has a troubling prognosis but has improved greatly in the last three decades since the disease emerged. The medical research community may be years away from a vaccine or cure, but HIV may be considered a chronic condition in some patients. However, the impact of HIV/AIDS on any individual, regardless of country or wealth is tangible and dramatic.

HIV/AIDS has dramatically changed the landscape and culture of Lesotho. In a country of 1.8 million, there are an estimated 160,000 orphans and vulnerable children. The impact is noticeable in every village, despite improvements in detection and treatment. The need for change and improvement is apparent. The problem-solving (and public health) part of my brain wants to assess communities and villages, design programs in collaboration with the villages, and record results and improvements in the outcomes for these orphans to celebrate their successes. However, my motivation and passion to improve the lives of Basotho children is not driven by the analytical part of my brain. My motivation and passion comes from my heart and a promise to a young mother in Lesotho in 2009.

On my second trip to Lesotho in 2009, a brief conversation with a young mother changed my life forever. We were at the Baylor Pediatric Centre of Excellence, a treatment facility for HIV positive children, to play and interact with the children while they waited for their appointments at the clinic. It was relatively quiet near the water tap and I was taking a moment to enjoy the smiles and laughter around me. The mother approached me with her youngest child on her back, secured by a Basotho blanket. We exchanged greetings and I explained why we were at the clinic. Then she asked me one of the hardest questions I’ve ever had to answer, “Will you take my child back to the United States? I’m HIV positive and I can’t take care of her.” I fumbled over my words and held back tears as I tried to explain that I couldn’t take her child. A laundry list of reasons and excuses ran through my head, but they all seemed insufficient. So in that moment, I did the only thing that seemed to do justice to the young mother’s request. I promised that I would finish my education and work as hard as I could to improve the lives of Basotho orphans and vulnerable children. I could not make an individual promise to the young mother and her children, but I could promise to never forget her children or her country. It wasn’t enough for her that day, but it is the best I could do.

Every morning I am reminded of her face as she made such a challenging request and I work tirelessly to fulfill my promise to her. I have a few more years of medical school ahead of me, but I am able to work on my promise by volunteering with Bloom Africa. Bloom Africa has allowed me to accomplish more than I ever could as an individual, a true example of Ubuntu. “You cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do” (Anonymous).

Khotso & Lerato (Peace & Love),

Betty

Betty Cheney currently serves as the  Secretary of the Bloom Africa Board of Directors. She is a medical student at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

We Took A Chance

We took a chance. We went.  Because we went, we saw.  Because we saw, we felt.  We felt deep pain and innocent joy.  We questioned with struggles too complex to answer.    We served, we laughed, we cried, we sang, and we danced.  We danced a lot.  But above all, we loved.  And in this love formed the truest bond between two different groups of people from two different counties and two different backgrounds.  We had different skin color and we spoke different languages.  We had different opportunities in life based on the family we were born into.  And yet, we were all the same. 

We are all the same.  So now we talk.  We teach.  We tell.  We find ways to advocate and we embrace in the hope of a another chance.  A chance to make a change in a country that so badly deserves an opportunity.  An opportunity to live.  To be healthy.  And an opportunity to sustainably live in a country devastated by poverty.

So we serve with Bloom.  We write.  We dream.  And we raise funds to support the most vulnerable children of Lesotho.  We communicate.  With the people in our country and the people in their country.  We continue to serve alongside. 

But we cannot do it alone.  

So we ask for your help.  Because you can make a difference.  A small one.  And together our small acts of love will transform.  Into a bigger change.  A greater change.  Centered around the love that was started from a chance. 

Ka Khotso,

Katharine         

Katharine is a senior at Wittenberg University and intern with Bloom Africa.

Savor the World

At the age of nineteen, I encountered the country of Lesotho in a state of wonder. How could such simplicity be so beautiful? How could we provide hope amidst so much brokenness? How did I get to be born into a comfortable lifestyle while other children lacked education, health care, or even an actual pair of shoes to play outdoor games? It was four weeks of an emotional overload of images; there were trees visible because of the outline of stars behind them, there was Scott Hospital in Morija where patient after patient presented symptoms of tuberculosis resulting in a chest x-ray resulting in an HIV test, there were children laughing on a playground while they waited to be called into the Baylor Pediatric AIDS Clinic for their appointment, there were conversations around a fire where college kids tried to make sense of the world they were witnessing each day. 

Almost two years later I still find myself struggling between trying to save the world and trying to savor the world. Every day it seems I pick up lessons that make the work done in Lesotho more worthwhile. The Wittenberg trips led by Dr. Rosenberg, as well as Bloom, truly do service the right way in how they work directly with the Basotho to learn their needs and then build projects that address them rather than having an outside agenda that they to implement on the country. However, recently through a few community service reflections sessions I have been a part of, I’ve begun thinking of our time there in different ways. One professor labeled service as a way of interrupting death; there are people in this world who humanity has written off and declared dead in a sense, but through service sometimes we have the blessing to interrupt that and remind the individual that he or she matters and has a role to play on this earth. Another professor spoke of the importance of viewing service as a healing of loneliness rather than trying to fix something. Lesotho cannot be overwhelmingly changed by one group of Wittenberg students travelling to the country, but we could show love and heal through that, and we could create conversation in ways other than spoken language to remind a child that we are all the same.

I hope every person can get the chance to witness the gentle beauty of the Mountain Kingdom. When I returned home from the trip, a friend from school interviewed me about the trip for a writing assignment for class. After listening to me, he simply entitled his essay, “Magnificence.” It was the best four weeks I’ve had the chance to live. I feel absolutely blessed by the opportunity I was given through Wittenberg, and continually blessed by what Bloom has continued to do in this nation. There is life without love but it is not found in Lesotho, and I have grown to believe it is not found in those who spend time in that country as well.

-Evan Cameron

Evan is studying medicine at Wittenberg University.

The Chance To Be A Child

It is safe to say that I think about my experience in Lesotho every day. Even though it has only been two months since our trip, I feel like it was yesterday that I was living in the beautiful Mountain Kingdom. My experiences, the people I met and the friendships I made will forever be memories that I hold close to my heart. One experience I would like to share with you, is about our morning spent at the Baylor Pediatric AIDS Clinic. It is tradition for the Wittenberg trips to go to Baylor and throw a carnival for the children waiting to be treated. We have tattoos, bubbles, a parachute, bracelet-making and more. My brother, Zac Daniels, went on the Wittenberg trip in the summer of 2011 and told me about how impactful, yet hard the day at Baylor would be. I started off at the bracelet-making station, which is where I met someone very special. A young girl, around 9, came and sat down next to me and started picking out beads for a bracelet. However, her hands and body were shaking so hard that she could not hold the thread steady enough to add beads. I began helping her by holding the thread, but even after completing a bracelet she was still shaking and had not cracked a smile yet. I decided to take her over to the bubbled station to see if I could break her out of her shell. I began by showing her how to blow the bubbles and her face was filled with wonder. I offered the bubble wand to her and as she blew her first bubble, I finally saw her smile. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever experienced.

We spent the rest of the day playing with bubbles, the parachute and on the playground.  I swear I have never seen a child so happy in my life. The transformation I witnessed from a scared and shaking child to a happy, carefree, exuberant little girl was incredible.   She didn’t speak one word of English, so I never even learned her name, but she became one of the most important people I’ve ever met. This young girl reminded me about what it means to be a child again and how to have fun without a care in the world.

Every day I spent in Lesotho was memorable and life-changing, but my experience at Baylor AIDS Clinic with this little girl will forever be one of the most important days of my life. Leaving her at the end of the afternoon was one of the hardest things I have ever experienced. I think about her all the time and hope that experiences the wonder of bubbles and the enjoyment of being a child every day.

Ka Khostso,

Kenzie Daniels

Kenzie is a student at Wittenberg University

Alongside Community

As I sit here at O.R. Tambo International airport, I am filled with that intense feeling you get when you leave home.  After an amazing ten days in Lesotho and South Africa, it’s time to head back to Chicago.  (And a 60 degree difference in temperature! Ouch!)  So much of the last ten days revived feelings, tendencies and even vocabulary words from my time as a volunteer in South Africa.   My long walks up the steep dirt paths of Lesotho brought me back to a time of enchantment and discovery.  Once again, I felt vibrantly alive.  I was home.

Admittingly, we didn't take as many photos during our trip this year as we usually have.  (Don’t worry, we still captured all of those awesome High 5 photos!)  The main reason for this was because, for the first time really, we were really part of the community.  Instead of being outsiders from America, fascinated by the intricacies surrounding us, we were members of the communities we were in. 

We walked alongside friends as we learned of new villages.  We danced alongside Team Lesotho as we celebrated a newfound friendship and partnership.  We sat alongside members of the community as we held our first pitso, (community conversation) in Roma.  We laughed alongside children who found our goofiness contagious.  We drank tea alongside old friends and family as we caught up on life.  We asked questions alongside those we wish to serve.  We were wholly, fully, in community with those we are serving, and what an incredible realization it was for us.

I cannot wait until the days when we are amongst the Maluti mountains once again.  I firmly believe the seeds of hope have not only been planted by Bloom Africa, but they have now been watered.  Our new and passionate volunteers in Lesotho will help cultivate the empowerment and hope that these seeds will provide.  I cannot be more excited about the possibilities that rest along the horizon of the future. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us in our journey and supported us through reading our blog, following us on Facebook and Twitter, or who simply wished us traveling mercies.  You are our fire and we will continue to strive for an empowered Lesotho together.

Ka Khotso, (In Peace)

Andrew

The Village in the Sky

Our last two and a half days were spent in Ramabanta, a village about 45 kms up into the mountains from Roma.  It’s a village high up in the Malutis, overlooking gorgeous mountain peaks and waterfalls below.  We didn't witness one cloud in the sky the entire time we were there.  Only blue skies at day and crystal clear constellations at night graced our views.  We have been to Ramabanta on a number of occasions in years, past, and we had to go back.  Over time, we have developed a love for this very special place.  It’s as if there is nowhere else on Earth as peaceful and beautiful as this secluded area in Lesotho.

 On Thursday morning, we went with Tsili, an employee at the guest lodge and friend of ours, to his home in Thaba Bosiu.  We wanted to see his newly established piggery, where 14 new piglets were recently born.  It was fascinating to learn how small pig farming can produce some serious profit for a family.  After spending some more time at his home, we headed up to Ramabanta.

Ramabanta is such a peaceful place that it is hard not to take advantage of the natural surrounding beauty.  We spent some time fishing that evening in a nearby river, which we unfortunately did not catch anything.  We also enjoyed the cool mountain breezes as we sipped our 5 Roses tea and breathed the fresh mountain air.  But it wasn't all R&R for us while we were there.

Fishing for trout in Ramabanta

We spent a day in the village, meeting as many peoples as we could.  Our friend, Lerato Nkesi, is the eldest daughter of the village chief.  She walked us through the village and helped us understand the community better.  We visited some small farms, piggeries, library, a primary school and even met with the village chief to explain Bloom Africa’s vision.  We also stopped by the newly built medical clinic, and had time to ask the nurses their questions about the health issues facing the community.  We spent an afternoon with the principal of the local primary school, and discussed some ways the school and a Community Learning Center could work together. 

High 5!

An exciting development is also taking place.  Later this afternoon, Lerato will be meeting with the Principal Chief of Ramabanta, who has political and traditional jurisdiction over a wide span of land.  She will be discussing our organization and vision of empowerment for the community in Ramabanta.  These are some of the initial steps in a very promising partnership in the years to come.

Lerato walking us through her village

We will soon be heading to South Africa, where we will be attending a special church service in the morning, as well as meeting some young adults who are interested in developing their own NGOs.  As always, we’ll keep you posted along our journey.

Thanks for your continued support.

Ka Khotso,

William & Andrew

Mokhatlo

Today, we participated in our first pitso, or gathering of the community (mokhatlo), to have a conversation.  This is a common way for a community to learn about what is happening and for them to express their opinions.  Usually, the village chief learns of a requested pitso or requests one himself, and then spreads word to the rest of the community that they are encouraged to attend. 

Since Bloom Africa is very interested in what is happening in the Roma community, we were able to be active participants at a pitso held at Leratong Community Center.  We can’t lie; it was a bit intimidating to be participants in this formal meeting environment.  We simply wanted to make sure we were respectful, appropriate, and that the community would understand our mission as an organization.  It took some time, and some critically thought out questions, before the community truly comprehended Bloom Africa’s purpose here.  We were able to explain that we wish to work in partnership and not provide handouts.  We also made sure that we were clear that we wished to work together to empower people, especially the most vulnerable.  After about 3 hours, the pitso concluded, and the community was happy to learn of our work.  There’s a lot of work ahead of us, but this was a giant step in expanding the awareness for our organization.

In the afternoon, we walked up the mountain and deeper into the village.  It’s always special to visit friends we’ve made over the years.  And we think it’s crucially important to simply spend time with people, build the relationships and trust, and get to know them for simply who they are.  So we climbed the mountain to visit with a family we’ve gotten to know, and just spent time talking.  To learn of the good grades the boys are getting in school is so encouraging, and we relished the opportunity to accompany them on a beautiful afternoon.

In the evening, we headed to Maseru, where we had a braai (BBQ) with Team Lesotho.  This was our way of showing thanks to the amazing team that has done so much for us this week.  Team Lesotho not only helped us with the little things, like translating at the pitso, but organized meetings and made invaluable introductions for us.  We are quickly realizing how important Team Lesotho will be for our success as an organization.  So, we hung out and ate some great food.  We also danced.  A lot.  Like, all night.  And it was amazing.  As we danced under the blanket of stars, catching a few shooting stars throughout the night, we cemented friendships that will last a lifetime.  Thank you Team Lesotho!

We will be heading up to Ramabanta on Thursday morning, where we will continue to spend time with the community and having some important meetings high up in the Maluti mountains.  Just a FYI, we will be without internet until Saturday, so stay tuned for more updates in a couple days.

Stay well,

Andrew & William

Wow!

Well, today was William’s first driving experience in Lesotho.  The good news is that he did well, and thankfully for us, he perfected the Lesotho driving by the end of the night when we really needed it.  Today was a very busy and productive day.

William's first Lesotho driving experience

The day started in Maseru, where we met with Ntate Thabong Lerata, whose jewelry we have been selling on our Etsy shop.  It was great meeting Ntate Lerata and learning his story.  He once worked in the mines in South Africa, but because of its closing, he had to return to Lesotho where there was no work.  In order to support his four children, he began making jewelry and other art to create an income.  He makes many items, from straw hats to painted plates to the beautiful earrings and necklaces.  We are thrilled that our support of him and his work will help his family attain stability and allow him to continue to provide for his children.

This afternoon provided one of the most fruitful meetings we’ve had as an organization.  We had a meeting with the Committee that oversees Leratong Community Center.  The Committee is comprised of 8 community members who have been with Leratong since its founding.  We were able to discuss our partnership, and learn about the recent successes and challenges.  One of the amazing parts of the meeting was the inclusion of Ntate Lesoli.  Ntate Lesoli was once served by Leratong, by means of a scholarships and sponsorship.  He was able to attend and finish school, and has recently graduated with honors in business information technology.  And now, Ntate Lesoli is going to build Leratong its first ever website.  Talk about empowerment!

As soon as our meeting was over, he had to jet over to the National University of Lesotho (NUL) to sign in to our live video Google+ feed.  But, when we got to the University, we learned that it’s internet wasn’t going to cut it.  So, we hopped into the car behind William’s brilliance, and sped back to the Guest House where we are staying.  We ran into the house and asked if we could sign into the internet.  With two minutes to spare, we entered our Google+ Hangout.  We apologize to anyone who was frustrated with our being late, but thanks for going with the flow, which is part of life here.

While we were having our Live feed, Team Lesotho was starting a meeting with NUL students.  Over this past week, Team Lesotho has been spreading the word about a meeting with Bloom Africa, and the chance to ask questions and give input.  And, just as we raced to our Google+ Hangout, we zoomed back to NUL and entered the lecture hall out of breath from running to the classroom.  We were ecstatic to see about 50 students waiting to learn more and get involved with Bloom Africa.  And we think the students were relieved to see that we actually exist. 

Addressing the students 

We quickly started with our presentation, and gave a brief background of ourselves and Bloom Africa.  We then discussed our current vision and focus on empowerment, rather than hand-outs.  We then received some wonderful, critical thinking questions about our work and their role in it.  It was so encouraging to see the student’s though process and willingness to speak up and encourage our work.  And as is common with Bloom Africa events held at NUL, Team Lesotho asked everyone to provide anonymous opinions and suggestions after the meeting.  One reaffirming comment read “I’m feeling so inspired with your organization because it empowers orphans, and that was my concern.”  If we can inspire others to inspire others, empowerment is possible.

Bloom Africa and NUL students

Tomorrow we have a pitso, or community meeting, at Leratong Community Center, the first for us.  We will be there with the village chief and other community members, discussing our role at Leratong and how we can be more effective.  The ongoing dialogue between us and our Basotho partners is providing invaluable communication we’d otherwise be without.  It’s truly wonderful to be here.

Ka Khotso,

William & Andrew

Working Together

Well, right after we posted our blog last night, a huge thunderstorm rolled in.  We quickly jetted back to our rondavel (round hut) that we were staying in to avoid being rained on.  Almost as soon as we entered our room, the rain broke and a massive storm rolled in.  The thunder and lightning was simply awesome.  Because we usually visit Lesotho during their winter, experiencing thunderstorms is a bit of a rarity.  And, as the storm build strength, it knocked out our electricity and we had to light candles in our room for light.  It was a great way to wind out our first night in Lesotho.

We are busy getting our high fives for the Put 5 On It campaign

We started the day with Team Lesotho at 7:15AM so we could visit Manonyane High School.  Manonyane (meaning vultures) High School is in a rural setting, about an hour’s walk from where we are staying in Roma.  Team Lesotho set up our first pen-pal program at this high school, so we went to visit the students and teachers who helped set this up.  The pen-pal program was very popular, and many of the students enjoyed writing their new friends in the United States.  We were able to get a tour of the facility and spend time with the principal who explained to us some of the challenges he faces at his school.  After visiting the school and many of its teachers, we were off with the next part of the day.

Andrew & William addressing over 500 high school students

The rest of our day was spent at the National University of Lesotho.  There, we walked around campus greeting students and professors, introducing ourselves.  In anticipation of our meeting with the students tomorrow evening, we were able to greet some classes and invite them to come and hear more about Bloom Africa tomorrow.  But the highlights of our day were our meetings with two NUL faculty members with collaboration being a main topic of discussion.

Our first meeting was with Ledzadzo Kometsi, a lawyer and law professor at the University.  Ntate Kometsi is helping us draft a constitution so we can become a registered NGO in Lesotho.  We will be also working together to help create a Bloom Africa chapter on campus.  He has helped facilitate workshops on campus on behalf of Bloom, and is very involved in advocating for social issues in Lesotho.  One amazing, exciting, thing he does is walk.  This common way of life in Lesotho has given Ntate Kometsi the vision to use walking as an advocacy tool.  Each month, he orchestrates a two day walk, up the mountains of Lesotho, for a cause.  This past month, his group walked to promote advocacy for environmental and wetlands protection.  What an awesome, mission driven person. 

Our next meeting was with Ntate Maraka, the HIV/AIDS Coordinator at NUL.  Ntate Maraka is responsible for creating and stewarding partnerships with NUL and other organizations and institutions when it comes to HIV/AIDS.  He has conducted fascinating studies and research projects about HIV/AIDS and how it affects NUL.  He works closely with PEPFAR and the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS.  He also expressed his excitement to have a Bloom Africa presence on campus.  In addition to providing his professional expertise and support, he will help us partner with the myriad of other organizations working to combat HIV/AIDS in Lesotho.

Team Lesotho and us with Ntate Maraka

The common theme of today was working together to impact orphans and vulnerable children in the community.  After such a wonderful and insightful day, we decided to go for a run before dinner.  At first we didn’t understand how counter intuitive running for “fun” is in Basotho culture.  As we were jogging down the dirt roads and up the hills during a setting sun, people passing us would laugh and smile.  We must admit, we looked pretty darn goofy running, and insanely out of breath. But it was still a beautiful experience, especially since many of the children in the village recognized us and called out our names.  Tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to spend more time in the community and Leratong Community Center to plan out specific next steps collaboratively.

Khotso,

William & Andrew

The Journey Begins

There is something truly beautiful about being welcomed at an international airport after 24 hours of travel.  And we were lucky enough to be welcomed by two good friends at the O.R. Tambo International Airport when we landed last night, around 10pm local time.  Kristen, a good friend of Andrew’s who lives and works in Joburg, and Mosa, Bloom board member from Lesotho, were both waiting to welcome two tired and straggling travelers.  After a nice night of unwinding after a long day of travel, we hit the hay.

The adventure to Lesotho than began early this morning with the rental of our car for the week.  Because neither of us can drive a manual (we know, we know) we opted for an automatic.  But despite the easier maneuvering, the roads in South Africa still turn you into the most attentive driver on the planet.  Driving on the left side of the road, while sitting on the right side of the car, sure does play games on your brain.  But thankfully, we were able to get accustomed to it quite quickly.

We stopped in Bloemfontein, where Andrew surprised his host family from his volunteer time in South Africa.  It was such a joy to see them and catch up.  After a nice meal, we headed to the Maseru border crossing.  On the way to Lesotho, we saw large, dark and ominous clouds rolling across the koppies and grasslands.  All of a sudden, a massive rain storm hit us.  This was truthfully unlike any rain storm I had ever seen in Africa.  The rain drops were hitting the roof of our car so aggressively, that it sounded like little rocks being pelted at us.  And then, it hit Andrew.  His African name, given to him by his host family, was motlalepula, or “the one who brings the rain.”  He instantly felt like at home. 

When we finally crossed the border “Team Lesotho”, or Bloom Africa’s newest group of young adult volunteers, from Lesotho, greeted us as.  The sun had already been down for an hour or so, and they waited patiently for us to arrive.  It was so wonderful to finally meet them in person.  After a short bit of hanging out, we discussed our busy schedule for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

Our drive to Roma on the pitch black roads was exhilarating.  Perhaps it was the dark turns, and not knowing what was ahead.  Or maybe it was the twinkling of lights from homes in the distance, looking simply like stars in the sky.  We rowed the windows down and took in deep breaths of that uniquely Lesotho air.  Ahh, it’s good to be back.

As we settle in for the night, we wish to thank all of you for your continued support.  Stay tuned for more updates soon.  We can’t wait to work with the community here, and to learn even more ways we can work together to help plant the seeds of hope for the orphans and vulnerable children.

Salang hantle,

Andrew & William 

A Return to Where We Belong

Tomorrow, William and I leave for a land many people are unaware of.  We leave for a land of Mountains, waterfalls, and dirt roads.  We venture to a picturesque landscape, scattered with sheep which seem to just be white dots in the distance.  The constant cooing of the doves and the heckling of the Hadeda birds will greet us each morning.  The smells of burning rubbish.  The sounds of cowbells passing by.  The setting sun over rolling hills and sandstone cliffs.  A nation of beautiful people…awaits us. 

Tomorrow, we leave for Lesotho.

It’s been just about a year since William and I have been back to the land that forever changed us.  So much has happened since that time, both in our own personal lives and the life of Bloom.  So many exciting, wonderful things. 

And returning to the Mountain Kingdom in the Sky adds to the fruitful blessings we’ve endured over the past year.  I am so excited to see old friends, surprise family members, and meet new and inspiring people.  No visit to Lesotho and South Africa is the same.  The plethora of diversity will be abounding, and I look forward to the simplicity and complexity of Africa.  I can’t wait to walk alongside my brothers and sisters again.

Striving towards a life lived through Ubuntu has been a challenge over the years.  But with each visit to southern Africa, I am reminded of the gentle and natural hospitality expressed by my brothers and sisters.  I am eager to hold the hands of those I have not seen for a year.  I am ready to serve, humbly, and learn new and fascinating facets of Basotho culture and life. 

And with every breath of fresh mountain air I will take, you all will be with me.  My family.  My friends.  My colleagues and co-workers.  Our supporters.  And those who wish they could be with us.  As Ubuntu has taught us, we are only who we are and able to do what we do because of all of you.

I thank you, and can’t wait to share more of our travels and experiences with you.

Sala hantle, (stay well)

Andrew    

A Trip That Changed Me

Hello to all!

First and foremost, my name is Nikki Georgeson and I am proud to say that I am an incoming intern at Bloom Africa. I have just recently returned from my first trip to Lesotho and I can confidently say that it has, and will be, one of the most timeless and touching moments I’ve witnessed. When I returned, I viewed the world through a different set of eyes. Being exposed to a different way of life has opened so many new ideas, questions, and goals. Being an international studies major along with a spanish and sociology minor at Wittenberg University, I always dreamed about going on adventures such as this one. However, how I dreamed of it, is nothing like how I experienced it. It was more than I expected.

             The beauty of the trees and the laughter of the people left me memorized. I was more than proud of the projects we accomplished with the Basotho people and it was amazing learning and spending time with the kids that surrounded us. We began the process of building two homes, built playgrounds, planted frui t trees, and other smaller projects throughout the areas of Maseru, Ramabanta, and Roma. I call it an accomplishment not because we completed each task, but because of the smiles that we received from the Basotho people as a result. The fact that we did it together meant everything. I stopped and I realized that this was proof that if people came together, great things can happen. That is why I am thrilled to be a part of Bloom Africa. This organization is an opportunity for me to progress with those who have the similar belief of working together to perform life changing projects in the country of Lesotho.

             The Basotho people taught me a new way of life and a different definition of humanity. Throughout my trip, I learned so much about myself by just simply interacting with people and it is something I wish to continue during my internship and college experience. Bloom Africa is a movement that gives me the chance to not only stay connected, but to work with a great team in order to aid and assist those in Lesotho.

-Nikki Georgeson

Nikki is serving as Bloom Africa's Social Media Intern and is currently a student at Wittenberg University.

Rural Poverty Reimagined

I used to believe eradicating the rural poverty experienced by my countrymen was a challenge that was impossible to tackle. I’d ask myself where does one begin, and even how. It is widely known that the rural population of Lesotho experiences poverty and the impacts of HIV/AIDS on a much larger scale than those living in urban Lesotho. I would like to believe there is no argument to this. My understanding of rural poverty in Lesotho is that it is perpetuated by resource scarcity. The resources I’m referring to range from educational, economic to even social. These are aspects that drive a state and its people. This type of situation is not unique to Lesotho alone, economic/social centers are usually found in urban areas. However, what I believe further intensifies rural poverty and the lack of resources, is the geographic setting of Lesotho.  Lesotho is entirely mountainous, so we have villages that are quite difficult to access. You find that even the most minimal of services are not provided for people living outside the city. As a result, all across Lesotho we have communities unable to reach their fullest potential.  There is such a distinct difference between children living closer to the city and those living in the outskirts. You find that the children in rural districts are not as optimistic about their futures, they dream but they do not dream big.  And this is because they don’t have the positive channels they can tap into that can encourage them to see beyond their surroundings.

I can now say Bloom Africa faces the challenge of rural poverty in Lesotho. The vision carried by Bloom Africa to establish Community Learning Centers means we will have boys and girls in communities who are motivated and empowered with various skills and dignity allowing them to take charge of their own destinies. Furthermore, I believe through the programs that will be offered at community learning centers, that the children’s self confidence may be developed.   This would, in turn, help them overcome what could be internalized poverty resulting from the conditions of their environment. Since poverty is experienced and defined differently, by being community orientated, Bloom Africa is able to understand the different facets of poverty, identify what helps reduce poverty, what works and does not work. My view of dealing with rural poverty as an impossible challenge has definitely been challenged!

Mosa Makutsoane is a Board Member with Bloom Africa and resident in Maseru, Lesotho.

If I had words to make a day for you, I’d sing you a morning, golden and true

                Every morning in Lesotho, I would wake up with two significant mindsets that would fill my soul for the day.  I would wake up with a feeling of purpose, and I would be filled with hope.  The mornings would be a promise of the work that would be accomplished, as well as the time and opportunity we had to get our hands dirty into making the future better for the Basotho we loved so dearly.  Throughout the day, every experience I encountered would pull on these mindsets.  I would plant a tree and wonder, “What if it doesn’t grow?”  I would hug a child and think “Will they be able to go to school?”  While the sense of purpose would remain strong, my hope would start to dwindle as I witnessed the complicated oppression they lived in every day.  I knew I was making a small difference, but the problems seemed too big to heal completely.  In the evenings, everyone on our Lesotho trip would come together to talk about what we experienced and how it was weighing on our minds.  We struggled as we talked about the poverty, hunger, and sickness that plagued those we loved, but we also talked about the greater change that was becoming from our small simple acts.  We had the evenings to grapple with this concept; how simple acts, when multiplied by millions, could change the world.  We might have gone to bed feeling confused and overwhelmed, but in the mornings, there was always the beautiful restoration of purpose and hope. 

          

                 I think it was important for everyone on our trip to find that sense of purpose when coming back to America.  In our own way, we each had to find avenues to keep giving out our Lesotho love.  As I struggled to feel at home again, I remembered a conversation I had with a Basotho friend about his country.  He said that in Lesotho, everyone had the opportunity to just be themselves.  There was so much land that they had the time and quietness to actually hear their own voice and really be free.  He left me with the words that in America, we were just a statistic.  Lesotho was a place to become more than just a number.  My mornings under the African sun were a reinstallation that I was called to make a difference.  Returning back to America, I missed the mornings of those beautiful, raw emotions, but was fueled with the desire to never become an invisible number that my friend warned me of.        

No matter our experiences, having been to Lesotho or not, I think every human deserves to wake up with the hope and purpose of a bright day.  We have the power to live out our life as examples of human goodness, spreading this purposeful hope to others who need it most.  Right now, I have the hope of believing I can make a difference as an intern with Bloom, I have the purpose of finishing school so I can use my education to make a difference for others, and I will always have the love of Lesotho in my heart.

-Katharine

Katharine Ritzi traveled to Lesotho in 2011, and is currently a senior at Wittenberg University. She is also serving as an intern with Bloom Africa.

Realized Opportunities

Hello! My name is Corie Cappelucci and I am one of the newly appointed members of the Bloom team. I will be working for Bloom as an intern this semester while I finish up my senior year at Wittenberg University. I am extremely excited to be working for this organization and this opportunity could not have come at a better time. I say this for two reasons, the first has to do with my personal connection to Lesotho and the second has to do with some major life changing decisions that I recently worked through.

My personal experience with Lesotho comes from a trip I took to the country in the summer of 2011. I am not sure there are words that can accurately describe the twenty-eight days that I spent in Lesotho, but one that frequently comes to mind is “amazing”—my experience, the resilient and positive character of the Basotho, the country itself, and the friendships I made were nothing short of amazing. Although that word may seem ambiguous, its positive connotation seems appropriate.

I loved every moment of my trip to Lesotho and I was excited about the projects we had carried out throughout the country. I really felt like we had done our part to help make a difference and improve the future of the people we encountered, and I had ideas about how I could continue to do so once I was back at home. However, I was not prepared for the transition back to America. Upon arriving home, there were many things I realized I would not be able to do, this started with the somewhat menial failure of not being able to make it through the midnight showing of the final Harry Potter movie on the night I returned (I know, it seems kind of silly but it was a big personal disappointment), but soon I started to realize that there were other, more important things that I would not be able to do for Lesotho. Spreading awareness about the country is not easy when all people want to do is look at my pictures and listen to how great my experience was, very few actually take the time to listen and understand the more upsetting issues the people of Lesotho face.

It was not long after this realization that I started to feel very distanced from the country. I felt like I was losing touch with this very important part of my life and I needed a way to reestablish that connection, and that is when Bloom popped up on my radar J This internship is my way to reconnect and I could not think of a better way to do it than through this organization that was founded as a result of the very same type of experience that I had.

While this opportunity with Bloom will help strengthen my connection to Lesotho it will also help me pave the new path I have recently created for myself. As an Art History major my goal was to graduate from Wittenberg and attend graduate school for Art History and Museum Studies and ultimately work as a curator in an art museum. However, about a month ago I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector that was a little more service oriented and more geared towards working with and helping others. As a result of this I have completely altered my post graduation plans and am in the process of applying for a year of service through AmeriCorps. I am so excited about this new path and am even more excited about starting it off by working with Bloom!

-Corie

Corie is a senior at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.