Willmore Adventures: August 2020

Home Page: Willmore Adventures in South Africa

If someone had mentioned guns and masks and schools in the same sentence six months ago, the assumption would have been that it was probably an incident in America, and never to do with safety. But here in South Africa it’s actually government policy to have just that. Temperature taken on arrival at school, and masks to be worn at all times. With a temperature gun held to your head however, it’s difficult not to break out into a sweat! Here’s our update from the Southern Hemisphere…

School rules during Covid...

Schools returned in June, which was a heartily celebrated affair in the Willmore household. Who would have thought that the aforementioned mask wearing and temperature checks, along with social distancing and washing hands all day long would be a more inviting prospect than remaining home with parents? Or was it that those parents painted a rosy picture of seeing friends again at school, to regain some sort of balance and control in the house once more…

Elowen on the first day back at school.

Amelie having her temperature taken.

Day 1 complete.

Joel returned to his school in July on a part time basis. The class was split, with the two groups alternating days. He too has had to wear his little mask and adhere to all the protocols put in place (whilst making sand cakes or singing merrily with friends).

Joel's first day back at school.

The Steiner school welcome back.

Both schools have had cases of Covid 19 in staff and pupils as schools have been up and running in the peak of the crisis. Joel’s school chose to shut whilst the girls’ school deep cleaned the specific classrooms and stayed open. The drills are so slick now that we can transition between going to school and working online at the drop of a hat. We received a text one morning saying that the girls’ school would be online that day due to transport strikes in the area, and 30 minutes later, the kitchen was transformed into a studio, and Elowen was learning a dance routine with her teacher over Microsoft Teams. Twenty first Century life in South Africa when you can afford the fast lane.

Elowen in her online dance lesson.

The school where I teach reading and writing, Riversands Primary School, in the township of Diepsloot, has not had such a straightforward transition. With children crammed into classrooms and desks spilling out of doors, complying with regulations has made it impossible for all children to return. Students in the most important grades have spread out into more than their allocated classrooms leaving lower grades without a place to learn, and therefore without school. The classroom where I and several other volunteers teach, is currently being used for grade 7, so our grade 2s are going without… It’s a real tragedy and the gulf between the haves and the have nots continues to grow…

Many people have lost their jobs in South Africa due to Covid 19 and so unemployment has soared. For Tari, my friend who runs the Buttercup 2 Preschool in the township of Cosmo City, this has meant that not only was she forced to close during lockdown, but that the hardship continues, as people no longer require childcare, as they themselves have no work. And so, whilst she is open for business, currently only 4 children from 15 have returned. With a team of school and church friends in the UK helping me, we are continuing to support Tari as she offers a special place for those at the start of their education in Cosmo City, and 4 precious children are at least receiving that care.

Tari at the preschool entrance.

Meeting up in Cosmo, in preparation of the preschool opening.

As soon as parks and open spaces became legal to visit in South Africa in July, we raced to the countryside. Having visited a few at the beginning of the year with a rather unconvinced Elowen, we thought we would return for a much-needed change of scenery. Remembering the luscious greenery, flowing rivers, bird hides and much more, we excitedly set off for the Modderfontein Nature Reserve. As we approached however, (along with the rest of Johannesburg it turned out), the area wasn’t looking as attractive as we remembered it to be. We started our walk as Laurence explained that the lack of rain in winter in Johannesburg, means that controlled fires are used to burn the dry land to prevent any wildfires from spreading without warning. I must admit, rather than escaping a pandemic, I felt like I was walking through nature's version of one. Either that or we had been transported into Michael Jackson’s Earth Song video, which is a song that I of course proceeding to wail at the top of my voice as we walked along, much to Laurence’s displeasure. A aa aaaa…you’re welcome to join in with me, ha ha! It was so lovely to get out though and a real breath of fresh air.

At the burnt to a crisp Modderfontein Nature Reserve.

Around about the time I broke out into Earth Song!

With Amelie, having a rest at Modderfontein.

As we come to the end of August, and the end of a bitterly cold winter, I hope that spring is a bit kinder to South Africa. I hope that the numbers of those with the virus continue to drop having surged in July; that schools be available for all students young and old; that work opportunities open up so that Tari sees more little ones returning to preschool; and that nature and us humans can flourish in harmony, as we find a new normal. One can wish…

We have been somewhat green-eyed as we’ve watched Europe open up and enjoy the summer, but we know that challenges still lie ahead up there. Good luck for those with a transition back to school soon, and lots of love to those still isolating or feeling the effects of Covid.

Jess x

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A few extra photos from the last two months...