Client News

#MandelaDay 2013

Posted on by Philippa Abbott

Yesterday we had the most enlightening experience. We had been discussing what to do as a team for Mandela Day this year. Tanya came up with the idea to assist a small nursery school at the Lion Park informal settlement. We got together and collected toys, blankets, clothes, mattresses, food, curtains, furniture and bedding. We spent the day there painting the walls, brightening up dull dirty corridors and tiding up the little school to make it more practical; whilst the I-Dec crew built an amazing new jungle gym for the kids.

Albertina, the lady that runs the crèche is an incredibly generous individual who selflessly gives of herself and her time to look after 26 children; ranging from the ages of 3months to 6years old. She charges a menial amount to feed and care for the children on a daily basis. They have no running water or electricity which makes her life just that little bit more difficult. They do not have any luxuries like a fridge, stove or even a running toilet. She has to walk 15 minutes on a dirt road to collect water to flush the toilet which she has to carry back on her head with a sleeping baby on her back. The water she does bring back is so murky that is all she can do with it; as there would be no point in the children washing their hands with it never mind giving them a little to drink.

There is no basic security and the front and back door do not even have a lock on them. They blow open with the slightest breeze and we were so worried that the food that was donated would be gone by morning as anyone could have pushed the back door open and helped themselves in the middle of the night. The windows in the babies room where broken and shattered. We managed to hang some curtains so they wouldn’t have to sleep in the glaring sun or with a cold draft on them. We had to nail these into the walls as there was not even a workable curtain rail.

All of these things make you realise how we take so many simple things for granted and how lucky and fortunate we are to just have a roof over our heads and warm beds to sleep in at night. We complain that we do not have the latest of this or that when these poor people don’t even have the luxury of clean water running out of a tap. I just wish I had been more aware to the fact that they have so little so that I could have done even more for this special lady who helps these children with the little that she has.

Upon reflection of the day my mind goes to nights out when I sit by and watch as children around me throw temper tantrums when they cannot play on an iPad whist out for dinner with their parents; or as they push fresh food away from them and demand MacDonald’s.  Whereas these little ones sat together quietly and prayed in unison to say thanks for the hot dog and party pack they received. They gathered around a cake, sang happy birthday and sent wishes of health and wellness to Madiba. They were so happy to blow the candles out; it was like all their Christmases had come at once.

Even though when I think back on the day there were many elements of sadness, I will never forget how Albertina never missed an opportunity to tell us how grateful she was for the little that we did do and whenever you glanced at her she was always to be found with a huge smile on her face. She said to me “I just love kids, it’s very hard for me but I absolutely adore each and every one of them and will be here to care for them for as long as I can”.  This is the epitome of what this day is about and I am so happy and blessed to have had this humbling experience so that every time I moan about something I do not have; I can remember how little others have and be grateful for my privileged existence. Thank you Mr Nelson Mandela for all the lessons you have taught and continue to teach us as we try to live your legacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippa Abbott

I qualified as a Somatologist in JHB in 2001. I began my career in the spa industry working on cruise ships for Steiner Transocean. I furthered my studies on my return to SA qualifying in advanced make up and special effects. I then moved to London where I worked in 2 of the most prestigious spas. I acquired knowledge in all aspects if the spa business and moved quickly from hands on therapy to part of the management team. When I finally came back to South Africa to settle for good I joined the management team of the Spas of Distinction where I grew my skill set even further and established a professional network throughout the South African Spa Industry. It is here where my roots are now deep seated and where I will remain for good. I started Spa Sense in 2010 and we have grown from strength to strength every year since then; forming key relationships with all the industry specialists. I head up the consultancy division of Spa Sense and run many of our training courses including Front Office, SOPs and Spa Sales and Retail. I also oversee our recruitment division making sure that all my clients and candidates expectations are always exceeded by the level service they receive from my team. I am incredibly passionate about what I do and hope I remain blessed enough to be in this exciting industry forever. This blog is a place I can share my views and experience so I hope you enjoy the articles and find them useful enough to use in your business.