Dug!

Alert: digging has finished, the site is now dug.

For three days the raize the roof site was overtaken with a 12 ton excavator and big rigid trucks. These big rigs and their drivers supplied free of charge by Brema Group, battled rain, hail and the impending risk of snow to ensure the job got done…and quickly!

Here’s more footage:

And then a hero comes along…with the power to fast track the project along.

His name: Angelo.

His company: Canberra Contractors.

His support: offering to use our excess loads of dirt and rock from the excavation to build up a road in Moncrieff.

His contribution: enabling the team to do eight loads in the time it takes to drop one load off at the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre.

His final gift: supplying a truck to ensure the job could be finished up on the same day.

Status update: excavation complete. The excavator and trucks have now left the building (site). Stay tuned for the next transmission.

Major contributors: Brema Group and Canberra Contractors.

Digging it!

10 July 2015. Mark this date in your diaries!

After 5 years of preparation, paperwork and perseverance, the crew from Brema Group single handedly tipped the excitement levels at raize the roof to an all time high! Kind of like this: 

In strolled these big boys; the 12 tonne excavator, prepped and ready to get their dig on.

As the rain poured and the freezing temperatures settled in, the excavation began! There were tears, many, many tears of pure elation!

And then…

We struck… well….rock!

Luckily, it was nothing these bad boys couldn’t handle!

And so it begins, the construction of the house that Canberra builds. And I must confess, it feels amazing!

Day 31: Signing off.

Dear Sir/ Madam and everything in between,

I am writing to you from a hotel room in San Antonio, Texas regarding the arrival of some exciting news.

Before I divulge such exciting news, I caveat this letter with apologies for any sentences that sound like something muttered by the Telly Tubbies, for made up words used in the wrong context and for any content that it is incomprehensible. I blame the deluded state on 30ish hours of travel and pretty much no sleep. Or nutritious, delicious food. Or fellow passengers that don’t snore. I digress. I apologise for such digressions too!

Firstly, I would like to give our raize the roof team a very well deserved pat on the back—an energetic and potentially awkward pat of course.  It was that or token Mickey Mouse Slippers. The pat won.

What’s the rationale for the random back pats I hear you ask with much curiousity and suspense…hellloooooooooooooo! We made it, we all survived the 30 days: 30 ways to change challenge. For July at least.

We committed to taking an action every day; including writing these blogs EVERY day, no excuses. Somehow regardless of sleep deprivation levels, complete and utter mind blanks and hassling friends and volunteers for editing assistance, we made it.

And what a month it’s been. For more details of our success, please review the blogs from Day 7, Day 21 and Day 28.

The biggest success is that we kept the raize the roof word alive and kicking—and continued to share our projects with new supporters and people keen to get on board. We have generated fresh momentum and more progression forward. Oh, and my boredom disappeared and increased enthusiasm and elation arrived in its place.

I’m proud to say that the raize the roof Charity House project is progressing at a much more impressive pace and amazing things are on their way!

So, it worked. The 30 days challenge was a success.

Thankyou to all who assisted in the process to contribute to our success!

Until next time,

Me. 

PS: I will probably update this tomorrow when I have a brain capacity greater than a…ooo just had a power nap!

Can’t think. Can’t write. Can only smile. And sleep. 

Day 30: Heartbreak, then hope.

‘You wanna change the world? You gotta know about it’ (Kid President).

A familiar pang of sadness hit today. Today’s trigger? Reading the following update about two of the newest residents at SOS Children’s Villages Botswana.

In our SOS Children’s Village in Serowe, we have recently admitted two abandoned babies who are both less than two months old. 

A baby girl was found abandoned near a tuck shop in the evening by a passerby on their way home from a church service. The passerby heard a baby crying in the dark and when she went closer, she found a small baby wrapped with a towel and plastic bags. The child was then taken to the hospital before ultimately been placed at SOS.

In another case, a baby boy aged less two months old was admitted to SOS Children’s Village in Serowe. The child was dumped in a pit latrine toilet in Mmashoro Village. Passersbys heard the cry of a baby in a toilet and immediately called the Police who retrieved him.

Both children have been with us for the past two months and are recovering well and feeding well. Both the parents of the babies have not been traced and the police have opened the files and investigations are ongoing.

Sometimes knowing the truth hurts. Sometimes it’s easier to ignore it. Sometimes it just seems like the better option.

But sometimes it can’t be ignored.  I’m grateful for that. Because that can inspire change. Like the change that has enabled these two innocent babies to find a place to call home. This makes my heart ache less. I am grateful for that.

Day 29: A life changed forever.

This is Mmapula Miller. And this  her story about being a child living at SOS Children’s Villages, Botswana. These are her words.

Living in SOS was a life changing experience for me, it was more of a molding experience that shaped my life in a better way and the right path. I get to wonder what kind of person would I be if it was not for such a home like SOS.

 SOS is my first trip and it will not be my last trip for I believe that there is more in store for me in life and one of my achievement was receiving support from individuals, donors  sponsors and friends.

 Nothing prepared me better for my life experience than growing in a small village called SOS.

 I learned to be independent by helping in the village-odd jobs around the house and ran errands, getting to meet other people from outside who would help us with homework and also the volunteers.

 The time when I started to know what life is was when I learned that in life I have to decide and know that I am smarter in my decisions.

 Having my lovely village father, Mr Kitso and the mothers to teach me how to be responsible and clean was one part of all the lessons I had to learn. I came in as a child and I left as a responsible young woman, how fascinating this is that I even got to love life and myself.

 I am proud to be part of this big family for out in the real life now I look back and thank God for letting me be part of such people who love, care and share with an open heart. I thank God for this life.

 I also learned that it’s okay to miss your parents for no matter how independent I may be and how ready to move out of the village I may be, its still okay to miss living with my family for there be a time we will meet again.

 I got a chance to find myself, to know who I am and it all began in the small village for God has a plan for my life. Above all I give all thanks to our LOVELY FATHER who saw it fit to provide homes for us in more than 20 countries, Mr Hermann Gmeiner.I harvested a lot from the environment, I lived and for sure my harvest will be endless and I will let my light shine everywhere I go for I am an Ambassador…every big thing in the world only comes true when somebody does more than he has to. 

 Having the opportunity to learn and challenge conventions at every stage of life was one of the lessons I took along and to have the passion to learn, I learned that to be smart is not only by attending class but to be passionate of doing what impacts a person.

I got a chance to listen to my heart and do what I love educating myself and doing what is worthwhile my life, I can be what I want to be in life following Excellence and Success will chase after.

I am currently doing my third year Bachelor of Business Administration at ABM University College.

And it is this difference that continues to inspire raize the roof to fulfill our vision. This is the opportunity we want for all children—for all children to be empowered to shine.

Day 28: And we’re doing great.

Woo hoo!!! My favourite day of the week; Monday—aka, time to reflect on the week that’s been and how all things raize the roof related are tracking.

SUCCESS TRACKER BOARD

Extraordinary results to date: Houston, we have momentum! The raize the roof word continues to spread with more followers supporting our cause, more donations and most importantly, more events for people to enjoy. What on earth am I talking about? Check out our Facebook page for details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1446590945612914/ Tickets are on sale now!

Lessons learnt: More clichés I’m afraid. Many hands REALLY do make light work, and the more the merrier!

Followers on Twitter: 187 @raizetheroof

Total online donations: $113,170 https://www.raizetheroof.org.au/donations/

Number of cement bags remaining: 175 (same but will be going down once the computer refreshes tonight!)

Number of bundles of bricks remaining: 966

Likes on Facebook: 438 https://www.facebook.com/raizetheroof?fref=ts

Average daily website hits: 389

All in all, things are tracking brilliantly at raize the roof. I can’t wait to see what the last 3 days of the 30 days: 30 ways to change challenge brings…

Day 27: I.Will.Survive.

How to capture today’s sentiments? I choose to do so in song. I introduce to you my rendition of I Will Survive.

At first I was afraid,
I was petrified,
Kept thinking I could never blog,
With no Shakespeare by my side

But then I spent so many nights
Thinking what on earth I’d write,
And I got hyped,
And I just forced myself to type

And so now I’m back
All weary faced,
I just collapsed upon my bed
For some Sunday blogging space

I should have started hours ago,
When my thoughts were flowing free
If I had known for just one second
I’d have lost my energy
So I go hard, must type some more
Just bang some random something out
’cause it won’t be Sunday for much more
No time for tantrums or attempts to just have a cry
Did you think I’d crumble
Did you think I’d lay down and die

Oh no, not I
I will survive
Oh as long as I can sit upright
I know I will stay alive
I’ve got all my life to sleep
With the aid of counting sheep
and I’ll survive
I will survive (hey-hey)

Day 26: Just keep swimming.

I stumbled across a very interesting blog today centred around the 10 choices you will regret in 10 years (article lives here if you want to suss it out!: http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/01/18/10-choices-you-will-regret-in-10-years/)

It was choice number 6 which resonated with me the most.

Here’s what it says:

Giving up when the going gets tough.

There are no failures, just results.  Even if things don’t unfold the way you had expected, don’t be disheartened or give up.  Learn what you can and move on.  The one who continues to advance one step at a time will win in the end.  Because the battle is always won far away and long before the final victory.  It’s a process that occurs with small steps, decisions, and actions that gradually build upon each other and eventually lead to that glorious moment of triumph.

I found this to very aptly reflect the theme of the 30 days: 30 ways to change challenge.

Relevant everywhere in life, it can most certainly be VERY tempting to throw in the towel, do the runner in the other direction and hide under the doona (with the electric blanket on maximum heatage) and give up when the going gets tough.

It never works. Or maybe it doesn’t work for me because of the incredible people who never give up on me or what we’re setting out to achieve at raize the roof.

These last 26 days have very much showed me the absolute dedication by so many supporters for reaching our vision.  That always leaves me completely inspired, and reminded, that no matter what, everything happens for a reason. At the end of the day, you’ve just got to refuse to sink and follow the wise old advise from Dory:

To the pool I go.

Day 25: Gotta get down on Friday.

It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday.

I’ve been told. Best I obey.

Blogging does not constitute getting down on Friday.

So, I’ve gotta love you and leave you and get down! It’s Friday after all.

What a way to end the week; an epic week.

#gettingdown.

#gettingdownmeansgoingtosleep.

#justsoyouknow.

#chickinpicisnotme. #Fortherecord.

Day 24: The workings of a blank mind.

Tonight’s blogging process, brought to you by me and my blank brain.

Must write something.

Must write something smart?

Must write something insightful?

Right, change of plan. Think of what was achieved today; write about that.

Some of our volunteers are particularly revved up and are cranking long with brilliant ideas for our upcoming event. That’s awesome. And exciting. And greatly appreciated.

Hmm… but I need to write more.

What was today’s insight? Think of an insight.

Hmm… keep thinking about dessert! Argh!

Right. Find a cool quote. Write about that.

Link to today’s insight.

[*enter tumble weed*].

Eek, starting to freak out. MUST WRITE SOMETHING WORTH READING! Must find inspiration.

Pressure is on, Masterchef style. 30 seconds to finish up. Mmmm food. Dessert – argh!

Nope, still nothing. Just an insight into the workings of the right side of the brain today. Not much happening there—guess that’s an insight.

Oh well, tomorrow will be a better day. And a better blog. I promise.