Volunteers & Participants Feedback

"The work, have done it, it really works for me because I did not know how to plant and during dancing activity, enjoyed every moment I spend in literacy"

"The presentation was good. I didn’t have a garden but motivated to start it."

"She was very good because she have been accommodate also the grenney to understand with their own language"

"I think what you are doing is good because you teach us important things so that we can teach our kids at home and also neighbours, so thank you for what you are doing"

"I learned a lot and I enjoyed the lesson. I enjoyed the HIV workshop because I attend for the first time in my life, it changed my life. "

"I have learned that our environment must be clean and that plants are very important"

"I have learn a lot. And I enjoy the song. Mostly I thank you about the plant (nastituium) because of have pimplels"

"Hallo Karen,
Dit gaan maar leker dol hier, en die kinders maak my mal, so ook die huisouers, want hulle beweer dat elke aand die storie oor en oor herhaal word, die groot vraag op almal se lippe is elke dag: Tannie Sonet sien Tannie nog vir Tannie Karen, ons wil baie graag weer gaan kamp en stap. Weet jy hoe voel so vraag deur 20 seuns elke dag.

Rene en Le-Peter het as beloning van al die ander kinders een van hulle sweets gekry, en jy moet weet dit gebeur nie elke dag nie. Ek kry gereeld smse van Nico af, daai ou is potent hy bid elke dag vir ons, waarvoor ons baie dankbaar is.

Die kinders is eintlik baie in hul skik met julle ouens van Soapkidz, ander mense sit nie so tussen hulle en gesels en stel bietjie belang in wel en wee soos julle nie, en die groot punt is julle doen alles saam met hulle.

Baie dankie weereens.

Groete "

"Thank you so much for a fantastic day. I really had an amazing time and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Some feedback: We had a group of kids from the Maria Kloppers (I think that’s it) children’s home with ages ranging from 8 to 14. There were 8 children in total. They were the most well mannered easy going fun loving kids. And were such a treat to lead and assist with.

What worked:
· The start and finishing events were pretty well organised and eventful.
· The “Regular” soap-kidz co-ordinators were all good leaders and provided good direction to the newbies.
· The relaxed atmosphere puts new comers, as well as the kids at ease
· The soap-kidz signage along the route really helped
· The communication and administration of the event was really great
· The bright red T-Shirts were fantastic as I could always find the kids if they ran up ahead.
· Franz was a great help with ferrying volunteers to get cars.

What did not work:
· Staff at Pick N Pay were not informed of our being there and needing to use the loos.
· At the last leg of the hike we were rather confused whether to go through to construction or to take the kids on the road as there was no signage. We eventually took the kids along the road where thank goodness they were well behaved, but if they weren’t it could have been very dangerous as the road was extremely busy.
· One of out little boys had a runny tummy and this proved quite difficult along the route with no toilets and nowhere really to wash hands. I recommend that all volunteers pack some wet wipes into their back packs for future events, i.e add to the list of “what to bring”.
· We were the first group to arrive at the Christian Motorcyclists and we had a rest while we waited for some more bags to arrive. My only minor little gripe was that they co-ordinators here were eating all sorts of chocolates and sweets in front of the kids and I really felt that they had ample time to eat their snacks before our arrival.

All in all though it was really worth every minute. I really am amazed at how well everything was organised and the amount of people that needed to be included, consulted with, etc to make the event a success. Thanks again. "

"Thank you for a fantastic day. I think all the ERM volunteers enjoyed themselves although everyone was very tired by the end of the day.

Some general feedback from myself and the other ERM volunteers:

· In general a very well organised and fun day;
· The route could have been better marked in one or two places;
· Might have been a little to far for some of the children;
· Could have provided water for the day at breakfast and more water along the way.

ERM would really like to have an ongoing involvement in your Soap Kidz events so please keep us informed of opportunities. I will also keep checking your website.

Would you like some of the photographs I took during the day? "

"It was a real experience for us, on behalf of all the Ukukhula members that attended, I would like to say a huge thank you for giving us an opportunity to give back to the community. Attached is a list of all the volunteers that attended that day. "

"It is an experience I’m never going to forget, it was very challenging and tiring but fun at the same time. It was lovely getting to know the girls and watching them interact with each other in different activities. I would do it all again in an heartbeat because nothing was more fulfilling than having this experience."

"I found organization to be excellent, to have such a big group and still manage to participate in so many well organized activities was brilliant. I have really enjoyed the transformation of the girls from strangers to friends, they all started a bit shy & self conscious and really came out of their shells by the time concert. The consert was a great team building effort by my team and was enjoyed by each of them. I have enjoyed every second and hope there will be many more camps. I feel like I made a tiny bit of difference in one persons life and that means a lot to both of us. Some of the activities were a bit rushed – not quite enough time to complete tasks"

"I found organization to be excellent, to have such a big group and still manage to participate in so many well organized activities was brilliant. I have really enjoyed the transformation of the girls from strangers to friends, they all started a bit shy & self conscious and really came out of their shells by the time concert. The consert was a great team building effort by my team and was enjoyed by each of them. I have enjoyed every second and hope there will be many more camps. I feel like I made a tiny bit of difference in one persons life and that means a lot to both of us. Some of the activities were a bit rushed – not quite enough time to complete tasks"

"This experience was absolutely amazing. I learn more about myself than expected. The kids taught me the value of gratitude and many more
Suggestions for improvement: None, if the volunteers put the kids first which was done by many, we have reached our objective "

"It’s a feeling you cannot describe, most of all is having you put a smile on someone’s face is unbelievable. It is an experience I will never forget and always treasure. I can’t wait to come back for more long walks and late nights. It’s all part of the FUN"

"Thank you very much for everything. I really did enjoy myself. U people are amazing. God will really bless u and everything u have learnd us I will remember. I hope u enjoy ur Chrismas and a Happy New Year. Thank you so much. Ek hoop julle nooi ons weer."

"To the organizers. I Laurentia would like to greatly and deeply thank you for the wonderful weekend you gave me and most of all I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to make new friends and go beyond my expectations. THANK YOU. Blessed is the hand that gives than the one that relieves and don’t forget to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. "

"3. Hey! Everyone, First of all I would like to say thanks very much for everything you have done, you really made things easy for while I was on camp if I had been a trouble or have caused you problems. Please forgive me but I think that you being in my assist you were nice and kind you being with me really meant a lot because, it showed me that I was cared for and love, so I wish you would not only do it for me but for there others as well. Wishing you a wonderful merry Christmas and Happy new year and Thank you again. Love to all of you"

"I really enjoyed the camp. I hope I can come again someday. I think that you guys are doing a great jobs and lots of kidz love it. I hope you will not give up doing this great stuff you do and that you’ll never change and just be yourself cuz you guys are great. Keep up doing the good work. Merry x-mas and have a great new year"

"Fun, fun, fun and fun that’s all I can say about the camp it was the best camp ever and I’d like to thank you for making it possible. The weekend was great from washing dishes to hiking for 4.5 km. For everything you did for us this weekend I’d like to say THANK YOU!!!!. All the volunteers and everyone who donated as well as those who just gave a smile or hug thank you to you all it was one holiday camp that stands out in a million….LOVE PROMISE aka SOAPKid"

"Hello Friend I just want to tell you about the camp the camp was very nise I enjoy it I liked every thing about the camp everything we did the food, excersize the excersize was nice but the pain ful because we don’t use to do it the walks, games and it help us because we learn a lot about bats that they don’t eat people’s hair the beauty treatment and the wheelchair walking was fun everything was I even met new friend "

"Hi There I really enjoyed the camp. It was very fun to walk at night and also the long distins. The potjie kos was very nice and the stokbread.
There were also thing that I didn’t like, like the sop we eat the first night and also waking up so early. The rain did also spoil our fun. That’s all that wasn’t fun. I really loved the camp "

"Livie, ek is heir op Roodeplaatdam op ‘n kamp. Dit is nogal lekker hier maar die kos is nie lekker nie. Ek is moeg ons het Gister vroeg opgestaan ek sê jou dit voel of ek net gaan slap het. Ons het baie goed gedoen deur die dag ons eie potjie gemaak en GEWEN ons het ‘n fashion show gehad dit was lekekr. Vanoggend moes ons, ons eie pap maak maar moes dit gaan soek in die bos toe verdwaal ons (ons het die verkeerde pat gevolg) toe eet ons laat. Nou wile k net huis toe gaan.

Maar hulle “treat”ons lekker. Ons het gister vir “feet scrubs”en “face steams”gegaan al die aktiwiteite wat on shier doen is lekker soos ons het nou net klaar vir ons “bangles”gemaak. Ons leer ook baie baie van die natuur, hoe om in die bos te oorleef, nuwe mense leer ken, lesse wat ons in die alledaagse lewe kan toepas. Die kamp is nogal BAIE LEKA "

"Hello my friend
I just want to tell you about what I enjoyed and didn’t enjoy on the camp. First of all, I enjoyed the hikes, consert, which was really nice and fun. I also enjoyed the activities that we did, I really learned a lot, like how to make our own bags and how to do facials. What I didn’t enjoy was that we didn’t get enough sleep, besides that, the camp was FANTASTIC!!!! "