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Publication: Irvine World News May 21, 2006 |
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I’m off to write in Africa
Columnist asks, when if not now?
The rumor is true: Peggy Goetz is taking off from the paper this
summer to spend time in Africa to write a book.
Sometimes I find it hard to believe that the Peggy Goetz I know – me
– is actually going to do something like this.
I’ve met and written about so many people in Irvine who have done
adventurous and unlikely things, and now I guess it’s my time.
I’ll be going with the Irvine-based Africa Project to Nkandla, South
Africa to meet some of the children there who have been orphaned by AIDS
and to write about them. My hope is to put real faces and stories to
raise awareness of a tragedy that is rocking a continent.
I’ve had many chances to get more involved with great organizations
in Irvine, but my job and family have always more than filled my time.
Somehow the Africa Project got me. Going to Africa always seemed way
too adventurous for me. Then last December I met Sister Hedwig and Mr.
Mahaye when the Africa Project brought them to Irvine to share their
stories.
Sister Hedwig talked about whole communities with only children and
grandparents. She spoke of 10-year-olds left to care alone for younger
siblings, many afraid to let even their neighbors know that their
parents had died.
Mr. Mahaye is the principal of a high school with 500 students, one
water tap, and one building with electricity. He helps many of the AIDS
orphans, allowing them to sleep at the school and taking some into his
home.
The Africa Project started when a group of Irvine residents decided
to help the children in this far away place. We have so much here in
Irvine and most of the children have so very little in the way of even
basic things. Surely a city like Irvine could adopt this township and
make a difference in the lives of some of these kids.
Led by organizers Allison Hart and Debbie Bianchi, the group plans
to raise $100,000 this year to help the orphans of Nkandla.
Anyone interested in helping or being a part of this project is
invited to an information meeting at 7 p.m. May 30 at City Hall. Or
check out the Web site at
www.theafricaproject.com.
So I am off for Africa in July. I’ll write some stories and
columns for Irvine World News while I’m gone. I’ll interview kids for
the book, which I hope to have an agent and publisher for eventually.
Most of all, I am doing all this in honor of my mother, Mabry
Steinhaus, who died at age 91 last summer. I know she would be excited.
Information on the Africa Project: www.theafricaproject.com or call
(949) 502-7021or e-mail debra@theafricaproject.com.
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| The Africa Project
thanks The Irvine World News for their continued support.
Read some of the articles covering our project: |
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PEGGY GOETZ BEYOND THE BEIGE
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