Just wanted to share some more pics from my time at the Topsy Foundation with you all. As you can see Topsy gets much of its funding from various private organizations that donate funds and materials.
Here is Topsy’s main building which houses the crèche, dormitories, sewing shop, kitchen and more.
Monday through Friday the kids have chances after dinner to do art. The art time is led by the volunteers or staff if no volunteers are available. The children get to paint, make masks, draw, make envelopes and write letters and more. For those who don’t recognize it this child was making a mask that resembles the South African flag.
The boys and girls live in dorms sometimes four to a room, in this case eight or more live in this room. They normally have wooden bunk beds, thin mattresses and blankets to cover themselves with. 36 kids ages 2 to 17 live at Topsy and they could take many more as they have the staff, infrastructure and money to do so but this is the limit that the government has placed on them.
Beads used to make key rings, bracelets, necklaces and more as part of the bead making project. Some of the 30 women involved in this project work from home as they live to far or have some other reason to work from home.
If you go to http://www.topsy.org.za/community/index.htm you can see more pictures and learn more about the various projects that Topsy does to bring in money and train locals people in a variety of skills.
One of the seamstresses who works on one of the other income generating and skills building activities that Topsy created and supervises. This project is particularly good as two of the six people who work on it work most of the time making clothing for the kids who live at Topsy and the children who come to study at the crèche. It is a nice cyclical project in this way as jobs are provided to people in need and in turn they make clothing for less fortunate children so that they can go to school, etc. They also make some clothing for sale as well as handbags, quilts and more.
Ironing some of the newly cut materials being used to make a dress for one of the Topsy kids. I spent about 90 minutes talking with the six women working in the sewing project asking them about how long they have been with Topsy, what work they did before, about their families and more.
One of the dresses made for sale by the Topsy seamstresses. They take orders so if any of you who are in the States who I will be seeing next spring or summer are interested let me know and I can see about getting something made for you. They also do nice men’s shirts as well. The same goes for the beads that are being made I could buy some for anyone who is interested and you can pay me back upon delivery.
Who could forget Madiba bags to go along with the dresses and shirts made out of cloth with the image of this iconic figure of grace, forgiveness and persaverance.
A lot of interesting and innovative art adorns the walls at Topsy donated by various artists. It is a good way to recycle various used materials, making something that looks pleasing and bring in money.
If I could own this piece and fit it into my suitcase I would love to take it home. I think the photograph is great and the contrast with the metal is really original.
Someone’s has to be in charge of cooking for the staff, caregivers, volunteers and kids and there is a nice kitchen crew in charge of this and they do a good job with the food that they can afford. Some of it is grown in community gardens that Topsy has and if I am able to visit again I hope to see these gardens. Part of the agreement is that people who Topsy gives food to have to also be growing food in their own gardens similar in a way to what Heifer International does with cows, goats, etc.
No words are necessary to explain this other than to say that these little ones were waiting for the Topsy transport to take them home.
Nicely situated inside the back of this truck, without seatbelts but at least with a top, this boy gave me a last smile before the truck pulled away.
As always any photos with me come at the end so that if you are looking at this blog to see me you have to go through all that comes before to get your reward. As I mentioned before I would love to go back to Topsy and stay for a longer time maybe a week if I can get more time off of work so as to see the gardens, go out with the field staff and do home based care visits, play with more of the kids, etc. Maybe I could even teach a little with the older kids.
