I'm back from an absolutely INCREDIBLE, KID-AFFIRMING trip!! (Teacher/school affirming, too!)

This photo is of some of the South African children spinning on their newly installed PlayPump® water system that brings safe water to their community for the first time. (background on how all this came to be, here: www.randomkid.org/playpump.asp).

We were blown away to have been greeted by a marching band, half way down the street off school grounds. They led us in a big parade, holding banners that said things like, "Water is Precious," "Don't leave water running," and "Thank you RandomKid!" Then as we pull into the school grounds... there it was: THE PLAYPUMP! There were 15-20 children spinning around it--laughing and playing... and right near by was the big water tower holding their precious new, safe water supply, and the tap that gave them access to this fresh water. I immediately grabbed a hold of the round-a-bout, and helped the children get it spinning as fast as we could-- and it was thrilling to jump on and spin with them! Knowing that kids in the USA helped make this happen-- and they'd LOVE to be right there spinning with us! :)

Then the school put on the most incredible program. I believe it was the Vice Principal who got things going. And man! What a charismatic person! He had 700 children chanting, "VIVA RANDOMKID, VIVA!!! LONG LIVE RANDOMKID, LONG LIVE!" A side note-- they roll their "R's" and put so much passion into it, that I got goosebumps.

When I was introduced, I talked to the children about their power to change the world. When I said something like, "You are already changing the world-- with your sheer joy and energy that you put into playing on that pump, you are bringing safe water to your community!" This was met with HUGE cheers and chants ("AYE AYE AYE!!!") by the many adults of the community who were present. I told them about the children at each of the three schools and their unique stories. And I recorded the South African children as they shouted cheers for each of the schools, "Viva Glastonbury Viva! Viva The Academy Viva! Viva Portola Viva!" I plan to include those cheers on each of their DVDs on their opening day of school (each of the schools will be surprised on the first day with the announcement that together, with two other schools, they've achieved their goal, and the pump is already providing safe water to a community in South Africa). :)

Then another American teacher and I read statements from the American kids, and took turns with the South African Kids... they all started with, "Because of You..." A child from South Africa would get up, and read his or her statement, with great passion and exuberance.. Things like, "Because of you, I no longer have to miss school to go fetch water. I can get an education AND have water to drink and wash with." And then I'd read something from an American child like, "Because of you, I now realize just how precious water is, how blessed I am to have it, and to be sure not to waste it."

And then the choir sang. There are no words to describe the beauty of their music. It was transforming. Here we are--- outside their school in a big open space-- and yet somehow the acoustics were perfect, and the music was magical. So imagine my reaction as I'm listening to a song that their teacher recently composed:
Here are some of the lyrics:

WATER-- Where have you been? All our lives?

You are the source of all life.

We've been struggling, to find you--

We've been traveling-- long distances--

When there's nothing-- we have no food.


Now we're happy... cuz your here.

We enjoy playing games

When we pump all the day.

Thank you RandomKid-- you're so great!


It was BEAUTIFUL! I hugged the choir members, and by the time I got to the choir director, I realized how much I was crying, because my tears soaked her neck! :)

Then they presented me with the most beautiful banner made out of thousands and thousands of beads made by their elders in the community.

Then we got to play! They taught us some really cool South African games-- one that required a lot of strategic thinking, another that required great hand-eye coordination-- and then sort of a reverse- limbo-- rather than going under a pole, you jump over a rope-- and they do it with flair! :) We taught them "Duck, Duck, Goose"-- except they didn't know what a duck or a goose were... so I asked them the names of African birds... we went with "Nunyane" for the duck, and the other one sounded something like "Mala," I'm going to double check, because I know our teachers would love to share it with their students. Anyway-- imagine playing "Duck Duck Goose" with about 50-75 children! BIG circle! These kids ran with great speed and slid into "home base" as if they just hit a home run--dust flying everywhere-- and smiles from ear to ear.

I brought several of the bottles that the American kids designed, and got great photos and video of the children filling them up at the pump, and drinking their fresh water. I CAN'T WAIT for the children here in the USA to see that video on their first day of school! Can you imagine the reaction of these kids when they see a child they helped--drinking out of the bottle they designed?! Drinking the water that they helped provide?! Wow! :)

I just got back late Sunday night... and now I'm in the throes of trying to get everything ready for the big announcements at each of the schools:

I'll be sending them special artwork that is a combined effort of USA and South African kids....

AND-- I have an AWESOME surprise for each of the schools. I brought picture frame mattes with me, and had all the students sign them... so I'll have a 5 X 7 of the South African Children matted with their signatures and framed-- and sent to each of the schools.

I also have a surprise traveling exhibit for the schools-- I think it will start in Iowa-- since I"m going there for Talia's (RandomKid's 12-year old CEO) Bat Mitzvah-- I may do a presentation at The Academy there. Trevor Field, the inventor of the RoundAbout-- gave me a lovely replica of the PlayPump-- fashioned out of wire. We've seen a lot of traditional South African art made out of wire-- and this one actually has little wire children that spin on the roundabout! So I'll bring that, along with a BEAUTIFUL banner that was made by the elders in the community out of thousands and thousands of beads, complete with a border that is specific to their tribe (much like the Scottish have "crests" that symbolize their heritage).

In the midst of this-- I'm also wrapping up planning those 50 photo ops for the Katrina anniversary (we had our first one in TN yesterday: www.randomkid.org/tngov.asp) -- and having been gone a week, I'm still trying to get back in a groove.

Then maybe I can breathe a little -- and send you pics of my trips to "the bush." Among other things, I sat in an open-air Jeep just 20 ft away from a pride of 8 male lions! AMAZING!



P.S. If you think your church/school might be interested in helping bring water to water-stressed parts of the world, please have them visit: www.randomkid.org/water.asp.