Are you thinking about going to South Africa for voluntary work and do you also want to have a great time, meet new people and see the all the beauty South Africa has to offer… Then you’re at the right place at Rocky Road!
In July ’05 I finished my studies in order to become a midwife and after that I worked in the Netherlands during the summer. I searched all over the internet to find a good voluntary place where I could also do medical voluntary work for a few months. After a long search I found www.wwisa.co.za! I spoke with Mac about the possibilities and he arranged with the clinic in Plett that I could come and help them out.

The first day Mac showed me the area, I immediately noticed the big difference between the poor and the rich. We went to the township and the clinic where Mac introduced me to the doctor and nurses. I was happy to hear that there was a special programme for pre-natal care and that I could help with taking care of all the pregnant women! From Monday till Thursday we went to a different clinic every day and did the check-ups to see if there were any complications with the mother’s health and if the baby was growing well. In South Africa many mothers are infected with HIV. At their first appointment the mothers are counselled to do a HIV blood test. If they are HIV positive there is a special programme they can join. The pregnant woman will get medication during her pregnancy to reduce the chance that the baby will also get infected with HIV.

We helped pregnant women most of the time, but when we had spare time we also took care of ill people. The things I have seen there, aren’t the things that you normally see in clinics in Europe, so I have really learned a lot when I was there. Especially because there isn’t enough equipment. You have to improvise a lot; from making your own cough mix with onions and sugar to helping out in a car accident.

On Fridays there wasn’t any pre-natal care, so I went with Nicole (one of the other volunteers) to help her in the crèche. It was fun to work with the kids and to see how Nicole has taught them so many things.

Most days we finished work and arrived back home (yeah, it really feels like home!) around 3 o’ clock, so we had some time to relax. Rocky Road is a beautiful place, the garden is lovely and you can have a nice powernap or read outside with birds flying around you! If you have enough energy left, there is also enough to do; you can go for a hike along the beach or follow one of the many great hiking trails. The nature is really beautiful there!

In the evenings we all ate together or had ‘a braai’ (bbq) outside. There is also enough time left to party… in Plett there are many places to go, or you can just stay home and have yourself a beer on the terrace, play “the paper game” or lay some cards, watch the stars and end up in the hot tub (which is also great fun!).

If you want to do some active things like kite surfing, sailing, horse riding, sky diving, bungy jumping, watching the monkeys, riding an elephant, et cetera, you have come to the right place. Mac and Rocky have friends everywhere so they can always arrange any activities for you. I can recommend the skydive, what a great feeling ....... free falling from 12 000 feet!!

I really had a great time at Rocky Road, it was superb and I would love to do it again!
I’ve seen and done so many things, I can only advise you: Just do it and experience it yourself!!!
I’ve learned a lot in the clinic, seen the beautiful nature and animals, had good parties (and they even have Dutch beer!) and most important I met great people! Without them, I wouldn’t have had such a great time! Thank you all for my good memories!! Miss you!
With love,
Frederiek Heusdens

PS: If you still don’t know if you should go to WWISA, feel free to mail me any of your questions: frederiekheusdens@hotmail.com

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