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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Matthew's Ground! The other side of South Africa's Rainbow!

The next time you stop to take tea....

Spare a thought for the "forgotten people of Matthew's Ground". This is an area just outside my hometown where impoverished people live... there is no running water, they share 3 communal taps and use a bucket toilet system.
It is a close knit community living below the bread-line comprsing 50 families. Those children that are lucky enough to go to school have to walk kilometres to get to the nearest school..most don'y go to school and unemployment and Tuberculosis are  rife!
They rely on the Anglican church for a decent meal once a week which consists of soup and bread!
Most of the elderly don't have identity books so have no hope of getting a state pension.

However, they don't want to move, saying they feel safe in their area, which looks like a garbage tip.
This is a very sad affair and one of many in Sourthern Africa.







I am saddened by the thought that there are people who have to live under these conditions, not only here in South Africa but all over the world! I salute people like the jounalists that bring the plight of these people to the fore and I truely wish that there was more that I could do for them!
My grateful thanks to the local paper, especially the journalist, Lynn Shaw, who wrote this article. PS I trust I'm not treading on toes but just wanted to highlight the plight of these people.
You can read more at http://www.theheraldonline.co.za/
Should you wish to get involved please email me at edterbconstruction@yahoo.com and I will put you in touch with the Anglican Church.
All photos were taken by "The Herald" .
Have a Blessed Day!
Shel

I am linking to http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/ for Teatime Tuesday. There are beautiful teascapes there, please join me.
I am also joining Susan at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ today! Always love visiting all the tablescapes there!
for Show and Tell.

11 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing! I have thought about this as we post pictures of wonderfully prepared and plated food and there are those that are just trying to survive. My heart breaks for these circumstances that are so common throughout the world.

    Our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a Humanitarian Fund that we do projects for several times a year and give money to monthly and it is wonderful that in situations where money can't make it past the government's hands, churches can get things to people.

    Keep up the good work. If we all join hands together we can make a difference!

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  2. Shel, Your tea setting is so beautiful, then followed with the sadness and poverty. I need to be reminded every once in awhile of how very fortunate and blessed I am. You did that for me today. Thank you, Shel.
    blessiings, Beth

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  3. What a thoughtful post, Shel. Your tea table is lovely.

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  4. What gripping photographs. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. I'll pray for God's perfect will for the protection of those people in such a sad situation. i enjoyed your sophisticated take on tea. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

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  6. Thank you to all of you for stopping by! Your prayers for these people will be appreciated. I will continue to follow up on situations like these. X

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  7. Such a very poignant post this week. And beautiful tea set.

    My link for you... WIZARD OF OZ
    Do come by to say hello if you have time!

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  8. My oldest daughter went on a trip with her school to feed children in Nicaragua last year. The children and their families lived in a literal dump. The trip deeply affected my daughter and she came home grateful for what she had. I think everyone should go on a trip like this so. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I wanted to say Thank You for this post and for sharing the information about their hardships, which the majority of us couldnt make it through for a day.. Surely if these lovely folks can SMILE, then we all should be able to..
    I will think of then each day and tea time and pray that their plight will be massively improved..

    Sonny

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  10. No I had not seen this post!! How wonderful that you are calling attention to these people and the conditions they live in! It amazes me that more people don't get involved in helping. My husband and I are really pushing in our church to get people outside helping. We have several programs now started and are in the process of trying to start more.

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