Starfish UK and USA visit South Africa Kate Herbert, UK Volunteer Coordinator January 2005


			n January, I was fortunate enough to visit seven of the twenty-five communities that Starfish is currently supporting. While I can’t describe all the things I saw over the four days I drove around South Africa, I thought I would try to note down what struck me about the work that we are doing and the current situation for children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. We saw a great deal in four days and drove over 2,500km. For more specific details on Starfish interventions in each area, click on the titles of the project in each chapter of this story. Some of the details I have written down may seem depressing but I want to emphasise here at the outset: once again I left feeling uplifted and confident that the work that Starfish is doing is making a difference. We were greeted warmly wherever we went – by volunteers at projects keen to shake our hands and by children in remote areas who were interested in what the umlungus (whites) were up to and giggled behind their hands when we greeted them. I forget, living in London, how many people in South Africa want to shake your hand and look you in the eye. It is not exaggeration to say I must have shook hands with at least 200 people in four days – and of course, when I say shaking hands it was the ‘African handshake’ that I mean. To do this, shake hands and, without letting go, slip your hand around the other person's thumb (they do the same); then go back to the traditional handshake. Try it in your next business meeting! Starfish has undertaken an ambitious and wide reaching programme: we are funding diverse projects meeting the needs of diverse communities. There is not a simple solution to the challenges facing communities affected by HIV/AIDS and our funding strategy is, accordingly, a flexible and complex response to the issues at hand. I felt privileged to be able to see what is happening first hand and privileged to visit areas most people never get to see. I also felt strongly that it was important to convey this message to you – the donors internationally and locally – who have provided so much support for our work: we are making a difference. I met many happy, well fed, proud children who felt loved and cared for. This is no small accomplishment and it would not be possible without your support. So, on behalf of children like Michael and all the others that I met, THANK YOU and lets make 2005 our best year yet!