Today was a tough day - we spent it in the slums of Luanda and while we saw pockets of hope and progress the overwhelming takeaway was huge over capacity in the city and slums which are enormous, leaving me feeling a little depressed. People with so little and so disadvantaged living in conditions which are entirely unbearable. The smells, the waste, dirty babies everywhere, the manky dogs eating trash. It was a lot to take in.
We went about an hour out to the edge of the city and first stop was a fish market of sorts. When I tell you this place stank it is the understatement of the century. There were literally millions of fish lying in the dirt, being salted, being sold. The smell was so overpowering and I honestly thought I might pass out. The boats were right on the beach with the fish and women everywhere selling them. I lasted about 10 minutes and had to get back into the car. We did meet a US NGO there called PSI selling water sanitation products for less than a dollar. These seem to be catching on and one drop can make a gallon of water safe to drink. The PSI lady, from Seattle. seemed oblivious to the smell. I was dumbfounded as to how she could stand there talking normally. I got pictures to share, as I always have.
After that we went with the vice mayor and opened five water pumps in the slums. These were funded 70% by unicef and 30% by the government. They did the ribbon cutting, and at two openings had champagne bottles they opened and threw around, which I found to be very insensitive to the surrounds. Clean water pumps for communities living in squalor - it did seem hopeful and lots of smiling and clapping all around.
We stopped at a clinic in the slums called Paradise clinic - some bad joke that is. After the tour by the director we were told they have not had any vaccinations for 3 months, hence no patients. Unicef have provided them with a motorbike which is supposed to be used for community outreach and to go get supplies. We left with officials speaking among themselves about who was to blame for not getting stock and letting donors come under such circumstances.
Back closer into the city we stopped into the largest orphanage in Luanda. 300 kids live here, abandoned or orphaned. The physical building etc was so in need of repair it was unbelievable. These kids were dirty, many physically or mentally disabled, babies who had been found in plastic bags, kids who no one cares for and the government is failing too. Honestly it was shocking, the smell, the dirt the general disrepair. Two kids to a bed and the smell was like the smell at the zoo from animals. When we asked why we were told it is just the smell from the bathrooms and the fact that disabled kids go to the loo everywhere. Unicef partner with the government on legislation changes for abandoned or orphaned kids, and we were joined by the head of the child survival program. They have been successful in getting many of the kids fostered but overall this visit was difficult, heart breaking and a reminder that the most disadvantaged in any society need moral justice and others to look out for them.
Last visit of the day was with a 60 year old widowed foster mother of two. She was delightful and the kids have blossomed in the two years with her. We saw pictures of the before and interacted with the after. An 11 year old boy and a 7 year old girl. They warmly welcomed us into their home and showed us their homework etc. It was very hopeful that those kids can be fostered or adopted by Angolans and that there are people who care. That said, to get to the house we walked through a slum which had the most appalling smell and again saw people living in awful conditions.
Enough for now, a hot shower awaits as I think I can still smell the fish on my clothes and hair.
Two great quotes from the day to share - a sign on the road *this is your road, it would not be smart to destroy it* and on a kids t-shirt *resolve to evolve* Amen to that!
We went about an hour out to the edge of the city and first stop was a fish market of sorts. When I tell you this place stank it is the understatement of the century. There were literally millions of fish lying in the dirt, being salted, being sold. The smell was so overpowering and I honestly thought I might pass out. The boats were right on the beach with the fish and women everywhere selling them. I lasted about 10 minutes and had to get back into the car. We did meet a US NGO there called PSI selling water sanitation products for less than a dollar. These seem to be catching on and one drop can make a gallon of water safe to drink. The PSI lady, from Seattle. seemed oblivious to the smell. I was dumbfounded as to how she could stand there talking normally. I got pictures to share, as I always have.
After that we went with the vice mayor and opened five water pumps in the slums. These were funded 70% by unicef and 30% by the government. They did the ribbon cutting, and at two openings had champagne bottles they opened and threw around, which I found to be very insensitive to the surrounds. Clean water pumps for communities living in squalor - it did seem hopeful and lots of smiling and clapping all around.
We stopped at a clinic in the slums called Paradise clinic - some bad joke that is. After the tour by the director we were told they have not had any vaccinations for 3 months, hence no patients. Unicef have provided them with a motorbike which is supposed to be used for community outreach and to go get supplies. We left with officials speaking among themselves about who was to blame for not getting stock and letting donors come under such circumstances.
Back closer into the city we stopped into the largest orphanage in Luanda. 300 kids live here, abandoned or orphaned. The physical building etc was so in need of repair it was unbelievable. These kids were dirty, many physically or mentally disabled, babies who had been found in plastic bags, kids who no one cares for and the government is failing too. Honestly it was shocking, the smell, the dirt the general disrepair. Two kids to a bed and the smell was like the smell at the zoo from animals. When we asked why we were told it is just the smell from the bathrooms and the fact that disabled kids go to the loo everywhere. Unicef partner with the government on legislation changes for abandoned or orphaned kids, and we were joined by the head of the child survival program. They have been successful in getting many of the kids fostered but overall this visit was difficult, heart breaking and a reminder that the most disadvantaged in any society need moral justice and others to look out for them.
Last visit of the day was with a 60 year old widowed foster mother of two. She was delightful and the kids have blossomed in the two years with her. We saw pictures of the before and interacted with the after. An 11 year old boy and a 7 year old girl. They warmly welcomed us into their home and showed us their homework etc. It was very hopeful that those kids can be fostered or adopted by Angolans and that there are people who care. That said, to get to the house we walked through a slum which had the most appalling smell and again saw people living in awful conditions.
Enough for now, a hot shower awaits as I think I can still smell the fish on my clothes and hair.
Two great quotes from the day to share - a sign on the road *this is your road, it would not be smart to destroy it* and on a kids t-shirt *resolve to evolve* Amen to that!
Your feelings from your experience remind me of when I used to volunteer at a County hospital here in Dallas - in the nicu. I would leave every Saturday and sit in my car in the parking lot and cry. Cry for the injustice of those who can't take care of themselves. Left a whole in my heart. Eventually had to quit because I couldn't handle the sadness.
ReplyDeleteStay strong - you are making a difference. Don't forget that.