| "It was memorable to be personally escorted by a student and to learn about the people of the country firsthand. I took her email address and will give it to my granddaughter who is the same age."
Hannah Price— Hillsdale, New Jersey
Esitjeni Primary School and Orphanage
Partner since: 2006
Total donated: $13,585
When Linda Steffens of Port Jefferson, New York, retired from her career as an English teacher, she finally had the time to pursue two long-cherished interests— photography and travel. Of course, photography and travel often go hand in hand, and Linda found that the more she traveled with her camera, the more she realized how much she enjoyed meeting people from all over the world.
A trip to South Africa brought her to the Esitjeni Primary School and Orphanage, which has been a Grand Circle Foundation site since 2006. Founded in 1968 in Swaziland, an independent kingdom within South Africa's borders, the school enrolls more than 400 students, the majority of whom are orphans who lost family members to HIV/AIDS.
In a region devastated by violence and AIDS, these children are growing up much too soon— and without benefit of their parents' guidance. Linda was struck by what she experienced when she met these children. "Visiting the orphanage was the most overwhelming single moment of any trip I've ever taken," she says. The emotional intensity of her visit is evident in her photos— evocative portraits of the children she met that attest to the harsh reality facing some of South Africa's youth.
Grand Circle Foundation donations have provided school fees, books, and uniforms for 30 village children orphaned by AIDS.
School in session:
Mid-January through April, mid-May through August, and early September through December
Gifts to bring if you're visiting:
- Soccer balls (deflated) and other sports equipment
- Books for younger children, especially relating to geography
- Gently used clothing and shoes
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