DURBAN FLOODS

Masibambisani is the Zulu term for togetherness. In the context of this incredible citizen led organization – it means keeping our promise together. A promise to stand together in good times or bad. A promise to be there for one another. 

After witnessing the devastation of the floods, we knew we needed to go and help our neighbors. We met Elizabeth through the crisesmap app where various individuals or NGO’s can make their needs known during a specific crisis. We knew we could help with providing filters for clean drinking water, so we reached out. 

This crisis has brought strangers together. 

Before starting anything we sat around in a circle and got to know each other.   I asked the question: What has led each one of you to become servant leaders and serve your community? The unifying theme that stood out – ‘I became better once I learned to give’. Everyone present had many struggles and challenges, but this group’s power lied in their ability to show compassion and love while the outside world gives very little of it.

George, the husband of Elizabeth, shares how he has been running with this vision since 1993. Almost 30 years of selfless care. An absolute legend. 

Papa and Mama as they are affectionately known to all that come through Masibambisane’s doors, have converted their own house into an open door, 24 hour place of peace, refuge and hope. It’s an education centre, a counselling centre, a place where people are fed. It’s a place that gives nutrition for the body and the soul. They even run a church from here. 

As we share our presentation in this space, our team has this overwhelming sense that we are in the presence of greatness. A greatness not paraded by ego or showmanship, but rather found in the quiet consistent proverbial washing of hands and feet which is rarely seen by others.

One of our favorite moments during the training was to hear Nkosi say ‘I am now empowered to be a clean water advocate and specialist!’. 

A few days later we received some videos of how the volunteer leaders are going around distributing and teaching others on how the water filter works. It is encouraging to witness this and it spurs us on to purchase and send a lot more filters up to Durban, South Africa.