Dear Friend,
The inaugural UNITY FLIGHT OF SOUTH AFRICA of British
Pilot
Robert Vallier's Ufosa Foundation, which eventually was split into 2
Phases because of bad weather, moved on from Middelburg to Community # 5,
East London. Phase 2 - the remaining 15 communities
- will be undertaken in the first part of 2008, but our NewsLetters over
the next few weeks will continue the reporting on Phase 1
of the Flight.
Robert left Middelburg in Ufosa 1
and flew south east to East London, which is situated on the
South African coastline.
An extraordinary piece of South African
scenery, en route to East London. Erosion has left flow-like
contour lines over a wide area.
He was met at the airport by a party of about 10 people -
representatives of the Media, of the chosen School and the local
Hospice...
Robert Vallier with the lively welcoming
committee at East London airport.
... and almost as soon as he touched
down he was involved in interviews and generally spreading the word of the
Foundation and its work.
The local photographer wanted to catch
Robert in an innovative pose. After some discussion they got him
into the position they wanted...
... and the shot was
taken... It turned out to be one of the most artistically creative
pictures of the trip - well done that photographer.
When the Media had got what they wanted, Robert and the
Ufosa 1 Team were driven to the chosen
School - the Sophathisana Senior Secondary
School. The School is situated on a hill in the area of a
big townships. It has 500 pupils, and many of these travel as much
The Sophathisana Senior Secondary School
is located on the top of a hill, with townships surrounding it.
as 30km/18m to School every day. The School has no
telephone line connected to it; therefore it has no internet connection
and not even one single computer.
Robert presented the symbolic First Book of the Library to
be established at the School to the School Principal, Mrs Tiwani, and
continued the visit with an escorted tour of the premises, identifying the
specific needs of the School. The School was formally accepted into
the Ufosa Programme.
Robert Vallier presented the symbolic First Book of
the Library to School Principal Mrs Tiwani. Two other teachers are
in attendance.
Afterwards, Rene Bursey, General Manager of St Bernard's
Hospice in East London, kindly took Robert and his colleagues for a
pleasant and much needed Lunch where the fine work of the Hospice and its
ongoing needs were discussed. The Hospice has a staff of
40 who are active mainly in the local townships, and it also has an
In-Patient Unit - a rarity these days - which can accommodate 6 terminally
ill patients.
One room of the In-Patient Unit of the St Bernard's
Hospice. They can accommodate only 6
patients.
After accepting St Bernard's Hospice into the Ufosa
programme, Robert and the Team then left for the Hotel and began to turn
their thoughts to planning the journey to the next Community -
Mthatha.
The Ufosa Foundation's inaugural UNITY FLIGHT OF SOUTH AFRICA launched on 1
October. Our National charity is reaching out to 30 communities
throughout South Africa, with an initial 5-year schedule to bring help in
Education, Family Wellbeing and Health.
Our website can be found at:
www.ufosafoundation.org.
Next news on Mthatha follows very shortly.
Regards,
Admin
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Enlarge
A Blackboard in a
classroom at the Sophathisana Senior Secondary School. They may not
have even one computer let alone the internet, but there is nothing
wrong with the teaching. The equations showing relationships between
Cosines, Sines and Tangents speak for
themselves!
Rene Bursey, General Manager of the St
Bernard's Hospice in East London, couldn't wait to try out the Right Seat
of Ufosa 1 - and so Robert Vallier obliges
her.
The Route Summary
Click to
enlarge
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The Ufosa Foundation relies on
donations from individuals and corporations, as well as sponsorship, to
fund its work.
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