Old Boys Travel To Port Elizabeth

I matriculated from St Henry’s Marist Brothers’ College in 2007 and I have tried to keep in close contact with the Marist Community and to help where I can.

At the beginning of 2009 I heard that there was a Marist presence in Port Elizabeth that was actively involved in schools and helping disadvantaged children.

Having finished school and now in University I thought that it was time to do something totally different and to broaden my horizons. I contacted Brother Christopher who is one of the Brothers down in PE. To keep a very long story short, on the 7^th of December 2009 I boarded a plane together with Adam Watson and Leroy Sibisi both matriculants from
St Henry’s 07 and we headed on a remarkable journey which we will never forget.

Organised by Br. Christopher and three Sisters of Mercy nuns was a summer school for 90 disadvantaged children ages 8 to 14. Our task was to entertain the kids with sport for an entire week.

It is impossible to describe the area and conditions in which these human beings live in. The “shack” that we are accustomed to in Durban is like a mansion compared to what these people have to live in. There is no running water, there is no electricity, there are no lushly green sporting fields with goal posts on either side, some schools are in despicable condition, holes the size of swimming pools in classroom floors and a severe lack of equipment. You wonder how children can even learn in conditions such as these but at the end of the day still have a smile on their faces.

Saying that we experienced what the Sisters and the Brothers experience every day would be a lie. The duties that these men and women perform are unbelievable. They never stop, they travel hundreds of kilometres every day from early morning to late at night to areas that any normal person wouldn’t dare go helping children who are at deaths door, giving them food and supplies that will hopefully keep them alive.

There were so many memories that I could write about but I’m afraid I will never stop. Interacting with children as young as 8 years old who live by themselves and have to look after their younger brothers and sisters by themselves because there parents are dead or in jail, is something I personally cannot comprehend.

Having played a great deal of sport during my time at school I have never come across such remarkable sportsmen and women like those in Addo. I truly hope that the talent will be recognised one day.

I have never experienced such feelings of emotion, anger and joy after having visited this remarkable place. This is a life long experience that I truly hope I can do again and we are already planning a return visit. If there are any past pupils interested in helping in any way they are welcome to contact me.

Jason Grieve

Class 2007

grieve@iafrica.com