Canvas for Health for Africa –Methodist church-Jburg -SA: 26 JULY 2010

A day of massive emotions-moving, exhilarating, of some lows and great highs!
I was amazed and stunned by the energy, and commitment of Mario and his family- his wife Denise and son Alins. Mario is 80 years but stood on his feet (6 HOURS AND MORE), quick and flexible- creative and intelligent. His wife and son stood shoulder to shoulder right through the day.We were deeply ispired and touched by it all.
In the place of massive 3mtsx 2 mtrs – we had to make do with two canvasses-Maro did superb job on it.The image of a strong Bafana-Bafana player intermixed with an African breastfeeding became a poignant imagery for the day.

The idea was to make a peoples canvas- people who came into the church and came into the basement of the church.A basement that has a rich history-it was only restaurant in SA- which served all races.Now it is a crèche for more than 100 children belonging to families of migrants and poor people
The image of Bafana- Bafana star standing majestically and inflow intercepted with an African women breast feeding her infant made it so poignant-the whole health campaign at its heart is about Maternal and child mortality-deaths that could be easily be prevented do occur-unjustly across Africa,
Other exchanges and interaction that made the process so enduring and rich included:
• Jethro- the blind man- head of the large visually impaired community- he after our small talk took courage and drew- a river, a house, bad road and so on- it stunned many

Jethro who heads visually impaird

• Jerome- who walked in insisted that he needs a fresh canvas and from childhood memory he drew the picture of mountains of Northern cape- windswept grass land.He said AIR-is important for good health
• Bertha who stood and watched Jerome for more than an hour took the colurs and drew a contrast of shanty to her North Western rural area- she was keen to point out the green finger millet- as poor people’s healthy crop.You can see the drawings in this report photographed

• Meantime-many people were invited to come and join Mario –on his big canvas-intially the young people felt shy but slowly many got “addicted”
• Mario- sportly went to another canvas-which had the painting done by an young Zimbabwian women- She painted the captain of the Brazilian team- asked why she said “He is so strong and healthy- I want all of us to be like that in Africa”.Mario added his stroke.
• Shy and inhibited young girl- but who was the first to volunteer to paint-she would not use any other colour than BLACK!
• We all after 6-7 hours started to flag-off and just at that time a bunch of young men decided to paint one of the Bafana- drawing of Mario and painted it jointly in full colour and screamed in delight at the achievement
As we were packing in Bishop Paul arrived and said the young people from the migrant community of Soweto and wanted to put some short skits. We were tired but we could not say no- to the young and enthusiastic bunch. And so we were treated to hard rendering and heart swelling plays-On religion, education and the hope-despair tales of the disenfranchised from various part of Africa-who have made South Africa their home.

Canvas, drawings, songs, plays and great cooperation from all resulted in memorable day for Play fair for Africa campaign. It moved another distance what a day and what a way to engage people- moving, momentous and mobilizing.!


Hundreds of people whose life is on the edge and whose health is always a challenge attended this event in a church known for its campassion and courage.
My work with Fairpaly africa team is done for now.
Two more days- of quick further planning and I am off-but in my heart I know that the team of Wole,Love Daliah,Kenilwe and Itu- will fly this kite real HIGH.
BYE FOR NOW AFRICA- YOU ARE ALWAYS PART OF MY SOUL.







