My second trip to Kurland Village via WWISA was even more rewarding than the first.

For three weeks I taught a small class at Grace House (an orphanage and school) and assisted with a class at the crèche. In addition to these day-to-day jobs, I cooked some evening meals for some of the orphaned teenagers and arranged a weekend outing for 18 kids, assisted by ten volunteers, to the spectacular setting of Storms River.

I have no official skills or training in education or child care – I spent my career running technology companies. But when I arrived at Rocky Road and approached the schools in the village, I was welcomed by the teachers and children. Anyone with a willingness to pitch in will be. Seeing kids that I had met the previous year was almost as tear-inducing as the goodbyes. These kids, while facing a variety of challenges, are like kids anywhere and so easy to love.

One has to admire those who dedicate their lives to the challenges of such a village and the children. WWISA gives the rest of us an opportunity to serve and take away beautiful memories of our brief stay – whether “brief” is a few weeks or a year.

The surreal experience of walking through an African village, where just the day before we may have come from a sophisticated city or serene countryside, is something everyone deserves to experience in their lifetime. Despite the many photo opportunities, capturing the sights, smells and sounds of this intriguing settlement, as well as Rocky Road and the surrounding beaches and mountains, is just not possible. The further you travel to experience this immersion into a unique culture, the more rewarding the work and friendships are likely to be.

Greg Emery

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