Thomas and Linda are stapling Homework Booklets for our Life skills programm

My name is Thomas and I am from the city of London with a background in Finance and I shall working as a volunteer for the next three months. I write this towards the end of my first week which has gone by very fast and it been great seeing how WhizzKids work and meeting every one. It's been great coming back to Durban which I visited about 10 years ago and this time coming back trying in some small way help in the fight against HIV. I am a bit older than your average volunteer a have two children my son David who is 26 years old and a daughter Anna who is 22 years old. She is off to another part of Africa next month to also volunteer. Am glad to say that my age has not be a problem and every one been very nice and kind to me. Especially in the volunteer house which I call the Big Brother house as will be having to leave it on Saturday to make way for some new volunteers. It was nice being in the house as was able to meet the others and took them out for dinner when it came to my turn to cook for the week! I told them that will come back in a few weeks and cook for them after taking some lessons.

I was at the Health Academy on Wednesday which is about 70 miles from Durban were I was able to help with the office work and also spend time helping one of the volunteer's with his spreadsheet skills. This I found very rewarding compared to some of the training that I have done in the past in London. Also seeing the children coming into the Academy which was only opened last year with smiles on their faces. It is a great facility with a lot of potential as there is a computer centre with 6 pc's and hope that I will be able to contribute towards some training in the future there. My first week has gone by so quickly that I just hope am able to contribute in a small way as its a fun place and when you see the children going to the Academy it makes it worth while.