I then further was greeted by Eunice who clearly broke down exactly what All Out Africa did and what I would be doing today, which then sub-consciously persuaded me into participating in the homework club which was one of the highlights of the day. As the day started and we went to the NCP past Elangeni, my heart was filled when picking up the children to take them to the pre-school. Each and every one of their faces lit up when they saw the All Out Africa kombi stopping to let them in. I was then re-assured that I was going to a place, I was participating in something that brought joy to other people’s lives.

Within the pre-school I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the welcoming spirit of the children and the class teacher, I even ended up reading the story of the day, which filled my heart. I was also able to find put particularly for my research about the more logistical side of this heaven-sent organisation.

I then took a quick lunch break at Gables and headed back to the offices for homework club, on the ride there I sat in the front seat and Mr Tjengisa further debriefed me on the logistics of the Homework club and how they run it, giving me a context of where we were going and what we are doing, which really helps in mentally preparing myself. At the homework club, I was lucky to be given the most outspoken fun loving child of the group, Bongekile Matisa. She was able to show me the importance of homework club and the impact it has on the people of my country.

I would like to praise the work that All Out Africa does especially in my community and the welcoming spirit which they have. The team is honestly fantastic and I was overjoyed to know that there was such great service in my country. A highlight of my 2019, I look forward to working with you, volunteering or even helping in any way I can with All Out Africa.

Written by Phumelele Mncina (Waterford KaMhlaba International School student)

On 15th March 2019, Cyclone Idai made landfall in central Mozambique with its epicentre close to the 4th largest city of Beira.  The slow-moving cyclone continued across the country and into Zimbabwe dumping a catastrophic amount of rain across a large area of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

As further upstream Zimbabwe was forced to open dams full of water, Mozambique suffered further flooding. While this disaster was a long way from our Marine Research Centre based in Tofo, Inhambane Province (similar distance as Berlin is from London) and all is good here, we have obviously been engaged in helping our neighbours in central Mozambique as much as we can.

We have gathered donated items and united with coordinated aid efforts to have the greatest positive impact and reach the people who need help the most.  With many areas cut off for days we split donations and sent some via container ship from Maputo into Beira port, and others we sent via land convoy to the southern-most extremity of the flooded region of Buzi Province.  These donations have all now been gratefully received by people who need them.  And we continue to work.  Collecting more donations of items with a special need for:

• Water purification treatment
• Medical supplies (antibiotic and antiseptics)
• Rehydration treatment
• Food/water
• Solar/wind-up devices (torches, charging devices)

Please help us if you can.  While Tofo continues to be a paradise location filled with wildlife and happy people, we need to continue coming together and working to help those in the central Mozambique provinces who were not so fortunate. We will continue working, researching and helping. Join us.

Below is the link to our Tofo Community Coordinated Aid Effort in the wake of Cyclone Idai: https://web.facebook.com/Tofo-aid-for-Cyclone-Idai-520936911768808/

The following letter is from our latest Nutrition Intern, to the intern that follows. Our hearts throb a little to see you go. Thanks for your positive attitude and the opportunity to work with you the last 4 weeks! Hope others will be inspired to follow in your footsteps!

August 29. 2017

Dear Nutrition Intern,

Congratulations with your internship!

Your weeks here are going to be jam packed with adventures, thorough research in the office, field outings and hopefully lots of great ideas will arise like it did with me.

The nutrition internship is going to give you plenty of room for your creativity and personal involvement. Don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to help some of the children you meet or get inspired to start something here or back home. It’s a natural urge when encountered with situations, which are very different from your own. I encourage you to do so, as it might lead to a whole new, exciting journey for you to embark on, where the future gives you what you harvest today!.

During the first few weeks you might feel compelled by the idea that you need to find ‘your special project’ and at the same time you might feel disappointed that you have not found it yet. I discovered that asking questions sparks creativity, and insight gives knowledge. So I asked Yuko (my manager) and Eunice (NCP –coordinator) quite a lot of questions to get more information about their current situation, projects, other challenges, solutions, what past volunteers did etc. I finally found my special project after 1.5 weeks, which was to fill in the gaps in the pilot study on E’PAP, and write a paper on challenges and solutions within the pilot study, and get the framework done from a research perspective. Luckily, I also found out what I wanted to spend my professional time with when I get home, relating to the experiences I had in Eswatini. Yes, you might even discover how you could combine your passion of helping others with a business idea or a professional path, which you had not considered before. So being open and observant, inquisitive and creative, this internship has the potential to take you places, you haven’t taken before. Luckily, there is plenty of room for engagement here at ‘All out Africa’ where the quiet hours of the day may give you the spark, which ignites you.

I am especially thankful that nobody will be breathing behind your neck with projects for you to. You have time to be proactive, and focus on what you want to achieve from they your internship.

I have made a framework for the pilot study, which is emailed to Eunice and Yuko, so if you want to fill in the gaps, they can forward it to you in a pdf.

All the best,

Sheena