Turning Point in My Life

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer

Whatever life holds for us, we are indebted.For life, for enjoyment, for happiness, peace, for well being.For everything that we have, are and are going to be. It is a privilege to be alive.To be able to live and enjoy and give.From the time of birth, we are in debt to a million influences.To our miraculous physical creation – a million chemical reactions, transformations and creative forces.To the people who fed us from the bottle, changed our diapers, cuddled us and gave us the physical touch that we needed, clothed us when we couldn't have done so ourselves …We could have perished otherwise….Clean water.Fresh air,Warm clothes and cuddly blankets.Clean hygienic surroundings.Roof over our heads. Those who have touched and supported us mentally emotionally when we did not know any better.No doubt, some experiences may have left emotional and physical scars- but for the most part there was some good.

The fact that we exist in this universe- makes us indebted to the creator who gave us life.Gratitude for not only the good things in our life, but also the problems, our mistakes.And when we realize there is a loving source behind everything, we can be grateful.Also for our surroundings, the wonder and beauty of nature that is immaculate.When we feel gratitude, and acknowledge the source, we allow ourselves to feel joy and peace. We feel complete. The circle is complete. We have been given, we receive and we appreciate in gratitude.

Even the poorest of the poor can be rich if they have gratitude.For the breath the breathe, the life they have, the little comfort they enjoy.The little that the poor have is better than a feast at the rich with no gratitude or happiness.Gratitude is wealth. Gratitude is joy. Gratitude brings out the best in others and in us.Gratitude releases the negative and brings in the positive.We cannot be grateful without forgiving another.We cannot be grateful and hold grudges and thoughts of retribution or revenge.If someone has caused us to suffer loss or damaged us or our possessions to some degree and to this day cannot repay, should we be grateful?

Before we can experience gratitude in the face of wrong, we have to experience forgiveness. Of the event, the perpetuator, and of ourselves. Then we can go on and be grateful.
"When we harbor negative emotions toward others or toward ourselves, or when we intentionally create pain for others, we poison our own physical and spiritual systems….The challenge .. is to refine our capacity to love others as well as ourselves and to develop the power of forgiveness. Carolyn Myss, Anatomy of the Spirit

My 26th birthday must have been the turning point in my life ,but i am realizing that everyday i see changes ,changes everywhere ,in the world, in my life ,in my friends and in everything. But what i really like is, all the change that is positive.

Touching a life can be done in so many ways, there are some of you who, unknowingly touched my life, changed the way i see life and vice versa. It may take ages for every one of us to reach this point, a point in life where we realize that we are no better or worse than the next person. We all have made mistakes, we all have been offended, we all have had time when we thought we were going to give up. Some of us have walked bumpy dusty roads of loneliness, we lost friends as we made new friends, and we left old worlds and walked in completely new worlds.

I like the fact that I now have the strength to show my appreciation, through a rather humble way, just by writing a simple note that will be archived in my secret locker, for those who will come after me to know that once upon a time,Tendai had a minute to salute his friends,collegues and peers who ,through one way or another had influence in his future.


Toni Stuart,although I may not express it,I owe you so much for the shoulder you gave me when we needed to discuss all those challenging issues I could not deal with alone.A few people know you the creative genious behind most of Trail of Hope press releases.Inviting me to talk to your high school students in Hout Bay,Cape Town meant so much to me.

To my sisters and friends Belinda Mutinhiri ,Melissa Tswana ,Elizabeth Tswana ,Tendai Chakanyuka , Phindi Mngomezulu,Lusanda Mahlasela ,Jacqui Hurt ,Raquel Wilson ,Shibu P Mamokgere ,Tracy Lee Brown ,Mireille Blake ,Esther Jumbo ,Angela Luff ,Marvelous Nyahuye ,Marceline Mutikori you have proven what it means to be real friends.Lusanda ,you know our friendship has passed the ordinary mark, it would be no surprise if I change my surname to Mahlasela and we officially become siblings !Tendai Chakanyuka that interview at Power FM in Zimbabwe will always be in my memories as one of those defining moments in my life.Melissa you know what it means for us to be like siblings,I will take you to Mutoko when you come to Zimbabwe! Jacqui you know the promise!I always smile when I remember the first day when we met! Tracy and Mireille Cape Town would not be that lovely without you!Guys I know I may fail to mention you,you know my number call me if you realise you not mentioned.Andy Wilson ,Emmanuel Ivogba ,Robert Mukondiwa ,Brett Santillan ,Ephraim Chaparadza ,Thozamile Ganjana ,Albert Arcona

I might have not mentioned you but remember you have had an influence in my life.I thank God for letting us know each other.

Tendai

What Youth THink About Trail of Hope

I posted a question on facebook so that my friends would express how they see Trail of Hope and here are the responses

Tendai Sean Joe in your mind,describe Trail of Hope as you understand it.If it was a person ,how old would it be?If it was music ,what type it would be?If it was a picture how would it look like? If it was a country,where would it be?Get creative and write what you think..............

Wed at 2:09pm ·

Walter Skwed Mabunda
Uplifting.. N if it a country its mos def south africa wit da Gods window view n da table möuntain in da oposite..

Wed at 2:15pm · Delete
Oama Nokatyana

21yrs, deep house, south africa, a beautfl pic lyk beyonce z!


Wed at 2:24pm · Delete

Alice Pfute

If it was a person: hard worker, inspire, motivated, driven by passion, big/good hearted and an achiever. If it was music i'd say, gospel/ soul music. Why? It touches lives and changes it 4 the better. It gives hope and undestanding to life. Opens one's eyes to view life 4rm a diff perspective view. It has a massage that it is preaching. If i was a pic: i'd say a pic that draw my attension, touch heart and uplift my soul. It would be in Africa.

Wed at 2:24pm · Delete
Marceline Mutikori

Marceline Mutikori
if it was a person it would be btwn 21-30,cos its prepared to take a risk ,full of life , inspiring, undetered and focused on the positives never dewels on the lil stumbling blocks, if it was a country it would be without borders as its open to all children regardless of their origin, i bet the views will be serel beyond anyone's imagination and finally music it would just bring joy, hope, determination,and peace to anyone who hears it.(P.D.R) PRIDE ,DETERMINATION,RESILIENCE!

Wed at 3:10pm · Delete

Portia Rahaba Gobuapelo

If it was a country i wud say SA, mpumalanga @ Godwindow,its peaceful,4eva green. If it was a person i wud paint a mother/women with her hands open coz she undastands pain, sorrow, she lovs unconditional, warm heart n her smile gves asurity n security. If it was music it wud say oprah, it cums 4 the soul and if it was u,i wud say determination,lov, loyalty,perseverance, honesty n integrity

Wed at 3:46pm · Delete

Vimbai Mazorodze
If it was a person:some1 with a very big heart,motivator,inspirer,up lifter n a very gud role model.music:a bit of almost everything that has got a strong msg n inspirational,most importantly,something i can listen 2 n make me wanna c wat 2moro has 2 offer.picture:something that i cn luk at n say waal u reall came this far,it must have of lite n ful of lyf.country anywhere in the world,bt mostly in africa(charity begins @ home)

Wed at 6:25pm · Delete

Tendai Sean Joe
this is powerftul!
Thu at 6:51am · Delete

Trail of Hope-Zimbabwe visit

From the 13th to the 16th of August i visited Zimbabwe's capital city Harare together with a friend.The mission was to carry out an execise like we will be doing on the Trail of Hope and our chosen homes were Chinyaradzo and Upenyu Utsva Children Homes.All of them are situated in Highfields an old township west of the Capital City.

Well interesting is the fact that visited Upenyu Utsva just by accident in 2001 when i was in a UNICEF program that took us to Masiye Camp in Bulawayo and due to the death of one of the Ministers ,our trip was postponed by a day and we ended up sleeping at Upenyu Utsva,whoever might have had made that decision helped me to have a clear understanding of life in a children's home.Honestly i diod not sleep for the whole night as i heard one story after another of how the boys had ended up at the home.Another interestig fact is the Home[Upenyu Utsva] used to be a juvenile prison,but was later converted into an ophanage.However the tag seem to still remain upto this day ,as most of the infrastructure still in use dates back to 1962 when the institution was established.

But on my mission i needed to know more than just the priosn history.I wanted to know how the boys have been coping,i wanted to eat what they are eating and play with them all the games they play as well as watch with them the TV programmes they watch.How life is like at Upenyu Utsva,but most importantly dep down i knew i was going to adopt the home.So much may be written but the truth is,there is one man at the home ,who is referred to as father by the children,he told me something that will forever guide me in all that i do.He has been working with the institution since 1972 yes thats it 1972,since it was a juvenile institution then into transition to an ophanage.He knows no high living,but to me he said what matters to him are the children.He works for US$100 per month,but still he is there for the children when they need him.When we arrived at the ophanage he was coming from the Garden ,a self sustaining project that has helped the ophanage to weather the harsh economic climate that gripped the tiny beautiful country before the GNU government was formed.

I then had to visit where the boys sleep,as well as their toilets and bathrooms.If i say more i would be unfair,what i observed can be put into three simple words THEY NEED HELP.

Firstly the beds,blankets as well as their clothing are just but too old.Most of them were walking bare footed but what worried me was when we went to visit the bathrooms and toilets.THe facilities are rasty and old,with dirty water on the floor but still the children walk in and out of there with bare feet!I know its hard to do everything for them but something must be done to help them.I also wonder how many charities are in as much need as this particular one we visited?

Friday 15 May Press Release Put together by Toni Stuart

PRESS RELEASE – Friday May 15

TRAIL OF HOPE – Former street child and photographer raise awareness of the plight of Africa’s children

In August this year, Tendai Sean Joe and Albert Arcona, will set off on a Trail of Hope: a three-month motorbike journey through Africa and Europe to raise awareness of the plight of children At the same time they hope to raise R10 million for the MyLife project.

Their journey will start in Cape Town, and progress through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, France and Germany before ending in England. The road trip will end with two fundraising concerts in Berlin and London.

In each country, they will seek out and speak to children living on the street, documenting these stories on their blog,in video as well as in pictures.They seek to raise awareness around the issues the children in different countries face. While travelling, the two will sleep on the streets,churches and in children’s homes.

“Millions of children live and work on the streets, without food, education, adequate shelter, or a loving family or protection from traffickers, peadophiles, criminals and abusers. These children are caught in a desperate struggle which sees them surviving the realities of poverty, addiction, gangsterism, crime, institutionalisation, life without and disease. These are our future generations that we have conveniently put on the periphery of society and labelled ‘street’ child,” says Tendai, a Zimbabwean-born former street child.

Through the Trail of Hope, Tendai and Albert aim to raise R10 million for the MyLife Project. MyLife is a South African organisation working to rehabilitate people living on the street and integrate them back into society. It is run by people who have come from these harsh realities and turned their lives around. The money will be used to build an Ubuntu Eco Village.

Ambassadors of the MYLIFE project are international actors Billy Zane and James Purefoy, Hakeem Kazeem of Pirates of the Caribbean fame ,Just Jinjer’s lead vocalist Art Matthews, Top Billing presenter Jeannie D

In order to make their journey happen, the pair are looking for sponsorship in the form of product endorsement, financial contributions or donations of equipment.

“We require a film production company or TV station to cover our ride. We would like to partner with the corporate world, public figures and all those who support this cause. The ultimate goal is to make as much noise as possible and create awareness to the plight of the street children across Africa.”

ENDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tendai Sean Joe +27 71 971 5992
www.trailofhope.co.za
trailofhope.blogspot.com

Challenges

Its all a challenging adventure,so exciting but also taxing.I am glad ,Albert never gives up ,so do i,we crack all day,sometimes fail to even eat as we put everything together.Imagine the thought of putting our lives on the line in Sudan!Ha ha ha its crazy hey!But we are both going to do it,we will face it all and live through it.We will ride in the desert,we will endure the heat.Its not easy for the two of us to be doing all,but we have found it necessary to have control over most aspects of our trip so that at the end of the day it becomes a success.

Well we haven't set the actual departure dates but its somewhere around end of July should all go as planned.Meanwhile we have press releases we are rolling out this week.By Friday our website will be up and running.We have Trail of Hope t-shirts also coming out.Its here where we will be updating the world about all the developments.We have a lot happening,interesting news to share ,potential sponsorship deals !Funnily we have not realised that we have tied ourselves up for the whole year from now!

We are bound to be in magazines ,newspapers and radio to promote our Trail of Hope bike trip Cape Town-Berlin-London.Yes there are challenges,for instance on local varnecular radio stations we will be forced to use English.I can understand most SA languages but i am not fluent.At least Albert can praat(speak) Africans.But should that be a barrier?NO...........We are putting across one massage,ITS UNACCEPTABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO LIVE IN THE STREETS.Whatever language you can use to say that,please put it on the comments so the we know what to write and say! Zulu,Tsonga ,Pedi ,Sotho,Venda ,Tswana or Swati.The massage is the same!

Okay most of you would like to know how you can help,how you can be part of this,firstly,sign up to follow this blog!