It is unbelievable what is happening

A few weeks ago we met a very kind lady who was visiting friends of us.

Janet Blose was introduced to us as the mother of a young little girl, who knew with her children a dreadful past.

After this first meeting, Janet started to tell about her past. It is not to describe what happened to us. We sat listening all fascinated and let our tears run. Her story was so inhuman that we didn’t understand why this woman did not give up live.

After she had finished, she let us know that she was tired of the silence and wants to tell her story to the world.

The fact that so many people keep quiet and stay in the struggle where they should not be in, disgusts her.

The abuses, the humiliations, the power games, the torments people still suffer today, are unknown. By letting Janet tell her story, people will rise and come forward.

I immediately got an urge to do something with this information, and I promised Janet that we would work on it.

At that time I didn’t have a clue how this could be realized, but I was convinced that it would happen.

Now! We got that far !!

After weeks of thinking we have planned a date and all necessary pieces of the puzzle fall at the right place.

Our message is: “People, come forward and stop the silence”.

We want to encourage people to talk about their home situation.

We want to show the injustice and especially spread the message that EVERY person has his rights, man, woman, child, girl, boy, black, white, coloured … each individual has his right and can claim his right.

On Saturday, June 21, 2008 we have a garden meeting to which many people are invited.

It is my wish to gather all kinds of people there: pour, rich, white, black, you name it.

It is important to mix cultures, so that both cultures understand that they encounter are similar situations.

It doesn’t matter for a rapist if you are black or white …

The programme looks as follows:

- introduction of Incognito Khulani Simunye;

- a black woman from Molweni speaks about her HIV/AIDS status and how she lives with it;

- a white young lady will tell about her rape that was recently large news in the newspapers;

- Janet fills the largest part of the programme.

We fill the programme in between with a gospel choir, with two acts played by children (aids and a family situation), and with music and dance.

A well filled programme in which we put a very strong message.

I am really honoured that we can do this.

Even the press comes. Next week Tuesday we have an interview with the reporters and an article will appear in The Independence, one of the largest newspapers of Natal.

The invitations are distributed and we get daily telephone calls of people who confirm their presence.

This is huge. The first time that two black ladies and a white lady will tell their story in this way.

This day is also important for our organization. Although this is not an official “opening”, we do get a serious name reputation.

I am so proud. I am happy that finally a part of my dream becomes reality.

To be continued !!!

Gunter