Taking a trip of a lifetime

OFF TO AFRICA. Cathy Onion and Sarah Patterson will be boarding a 23-hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, with one goal in mind: to bring a smile to the faces of those who are less fortunate. Smiths Falls This Week

The registered practical nurses, both who work at the Great War Memorial site of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, will be embarking on a three-week mission on May 11 to the village of Kwa Zenzele, where they will take part in two different projects: the St. Martin de Porres Development Project, and Ebenezer.

The St. Martin project is a community-based organization working in Kwa Thema Township since 2002 and Kwa Zenzele informal settlement since 2006. The main focus of the project is on orphaned and vulnerable children, most who have lost their parents to AIDS-related illnesses, aged four to 17 and their caregivers.

Ebenezer is operated by Pastor Elias Nyembezi and his wife Pricilla and aims to feed 62 children aged two to five.

Both projects are part of the Afri-Can AIDS Foundation, a non-profit organization which was started in 2006.

Afri-Can is based out of Brockville, and has assisted people in Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa by sending funds to provide bikes and backpacks to local community health workers, assisting with basis such as food and housing, and with school fees.

At present, the foundation’s focus is on St. Martin’s, located near Johannesburg, and Ebenezer, which is near Durban, which is where Onion and Patterson will come in: they, along with eight others, will be working on both projects for a little over three weeks.

Patterson’s sister, Meaghan, 19, is also embarking on the trip.

Onion and Patterson are excited and slightly nervous, and both have a variety of goals in sight.

“I can’t imagine how the kids live,” says Onion, who lives in Smiths Falls. “It sounds corny, but … if I can make one kid smile a day, that’s my goal.”

Patterson wants to provide as much help as she can to orphans.

“The community is in so much despair,” she says. “We have no insight until we step foot on the ground and see what is needed most. We’re going to see what we’re faced with and go from there.”

A quick decision

Onion says she has known Patterson’s parents for years, and Patterson worked under Onion as a student in the nursing program at St. Lawrence College.

It was Onion who learned about the project.

“I just wanted to go,” she says. “I couldn’t think of anyone else to take. I love (Patterson) like my own.”

Within seconds of Onion telling Patterson about the trip, Patterson had made up her mind.

“I said ‘Yep, I’m going,’” she says.

That was in October.

Since then, Patterson says time has flown, and the duo is now counting down the days until they board the plane.

Plans and adventures

Patterson and Onion’s arrival day is marked with a formal dinner planned with the mayor of Johannesburg. Then, on the following day, the group will be bussed out to their areas of placement which, as of last week, hadn’t been fully hashed out.

The duo does know they will be teaching in the community, building huts, working in orphanages and at the local hospital.

“The opportunities are endless (in terms of what we’ll be) seeing and doing,” says Patterson. “We’re going to see and help a poor community filled with despair and devastation.”

Onion says she’s looking forward to working with children in the community.

“Their spirit is amazing,” says Onion.  

The group will be billeted with families in the village. In light of all of the creepy crawlies, Patterson is preparing by crafting two sleeping bags which will cover their full bodies, but will have netting around their faces to allow for breathing.

Onion and Patterson think the trip will be an eye-opening experience.

“I’m most excited about getting there and to meet the children and see the challenges we have to face,” says Patterson.

The pair also reflects on the various cultural and nature challenges they will experience, such as 120 varieties of snakes in South Africa and the fact that women in the village never wear skirts and don’t look anyone in the eye who is older than them.

Shrugging off all inset fears and adding they’ve been researching the area thoroughly, they chalk everything up to an amazing learning experience.

“I’m so excited, I’m losing sleep over it,” says Patterson.

And when all is said and done, Patterson wants to make a video documentary of the  experience and share it with all of those who helped make it happen.

“Everyone has been so supportive,” she says.

Patterson will also be celebrating another special event during the trip: her 24th birthday.

“It’ll be a birthday to remember, I’m sure,” she says. “I can’t wait.”

And on the way home, Patterson and Onion have decided to add another special event to their already-packed itinerary: a 10-hour stopover in Paris where they will visit the Eiffel Tower.

“It will be a good reflection period and a farewell to the trip,” says Onion.

But their focus will always be on the bulk of their trip.

“We’ll come back with so much appreciation,” says Patterson. “We’ll be helping them and helping ourselves.”

Onion agrees.

“I get so tired of looking at my gas and hydro bills and my list of groceries,” she says. “Maybe my gas, hydro and grocery bills won’t upset me as much because at least I have gas, water and food. I’m sure the things that bother us won’t bother us anymore … We’re definitely going to be different people.”

 Money matters

The cost of the trip is $3,500 per person, and so far, Patterson and Onion have raised $3,000 through a variety of small fundraisers, such as cake raffles.

“Everyone is pulling through to get us there,” says Onion. “Everything matters …Everyone has been so supportive.”

Patterson, for example, baked a carrot cake and sold raffle tickets at work for $1.

In total, that cake alone raised almost $220.

Physiotherapist Mona Boles also donated half of her $216 50/50 winnings from the Perth Auxiliary, which Patterson says is amazing.

Both express gratitude towards friends and family who are making this trip possible, but note special thanks for their co-worker’s support.

“We have to thank the people at the hospital,” says Onion.

Here’s a list of upcoming fundraising events:

• A yard sale at the Perth Civitan on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. If you have an item to drop off, please do so before March 26.
• A car wash, starting at 10 a.m. on April 24 at the Perth fire hall.
• A barbecue, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 17 at Barnabe’s Your Independent in Perth.
• Pub night at O’Reilly’s Pub and Restaurant in Perth (43 Gore St. E) with live entertainment, starting at 7 p.m. on April 17. Donation at the door.

For more information about the duo’s adventure, check out their Facebook page, which is called “Cathy and Sarah embark in Life Changing Experience, South Africa.”