Asanda's Story
One of the wonderful things about Jabulani's work is that we are able not only to have an impact on the community, but on our staff too. Asanda Jonga, known affectionately to everyone as “Asa”, is one of our longest-serving staff members. She comes with maturity well beyond her years, an ability to instantly and warmly connect with others, and a formidable Ultimate Frisbee game. This is a bit of her story.
JRHF: Asa, how did you end up here in Zithulele?
Asa: I am from Ngqeleni area [about 1.5 hour's drive from Zithulele]. I was born in 1991, the second eldest daughter in a family of four to a single mother. I went to the local primary and high schools, about 11km from home – a group of us kids used to walk there and back every day – the worst was the rain! In my final year of school I went through a number of health and personal difficulties, and while I still succeeded in passing Matric, I didn't achieve the grades I needed to enter university. My dream was to help the community through counselling – I love talking! – by studying either Social Work or OT. While I was trying to work out what to do next, I came to Zithulele to visit my sister Zandi who works here as a Pharmacy Assistant. Luckily, one day I met Karl [Jabulani director Karl le Roux] and he said to me, “Well, do you want to come volunteer in our ARV programme?” And, almost 5 years later, here I am!
JRHF: Tell us a bit about your work in the ARV programme.
Asa: After volunteering for a few months, I was employed to work full time in the programme. I was given training and worked as a counsellor and translator. It was challenging but rewarding work. It is so difficult to help people accept their HIV status, or deal with anger over how they got the disease, or guilt at also passing it on to one's child. But we could talk through these things, and offer hope – hope that there was treatment and life could continue. I loved learning new things, and from knowing almost nothing about HIV I became the person who would teach the new doctors about the programme when they first arrived!
JRHF: Now you've taken the opportunity to do something quite different?
Asa: Totally different! In September last year I applied for my current role in the new Mercy Vision Zithulele programme. Formally I am called the “Administrative Assistant” – essentially I am the co-ordinator of a lot of different parts of the project, and act as the bridge between our work and the community. We need to get word out there of the amazing service we offer, build and manage good relationships with the clinics, and make the surgery process and experience of patients as positive as possible. Of course we still have a long way to go, but in just one year we have done so much in the community too.
JRHF: And to help prepare you Mercy Ships gave you an amazing training experience…
Asa: In January this year Mercy Ships took me and a couple of other team members to do 3 weeks' of training on the Ship in Guinea. It was my first flight (scary at first, but fine by the end of my 15th flight!) and my first time out of South Africa. It was amazing seeing what Mercy Ships does, meeting all the staff on the ship, and experiencing another culture. But actually it did also make me appreciate what we have in South Africa and the Transkei!
JRHF: And where might we find Asanda Jonga in 5 years' time?
Asa: I'm saving up to go to university – I still really want to do Social Work. There is just so much need for it here in South Africa. Hopefully God will use me to make a difference to bring change – HIV, rape, hope for rural youth. I have matured and learnt so much through my time at Jabulani – I think I feel ready for anything!
One of the wonderful things about Jabulani's work is that we are able not only to have an impact on the community, but on our staff too. Asanda Jonga, known affectionately to everyone as “Asa”, is one of our longest-serving staff members. She comes with maturity well beyond her years, an ability to instantly and warmly connect with others, and a formidable Ultimate Frisbee game. This is a bit of her story.
JRHF: Asa, how did you end up here in Zithulele?
Asa: I am from Ngqeleni area [about 1.5 hour's drive from Zithulele]. I was born in 1991, the second eldest daughter in a family of four to a single mother. I went to the local primary and high schools, about 11km from home – a group of us kids used to walk there and back every day – the worst was the rain! In my final year of school I went through a number of health and personal difficulties, and while I still succeeded in passing Matric, I didn't achieve the grades I needed to enter university. My dream was to help the community through counselling – I love talking! – by studying either Social Work or OT. While I was trying to work out what to do next, I came to Zithulele to visit my sister Zandi who works here as a Pharmacy Assistant. Luckily, one day I met Karl [Jabulani director Karl le Roux] and he said to me, “Well, do you want to come volunteer in our ARV programme?” And, almost 5 years later, here I am!
JRHF: Tell us a bit about your work in the ARV programme.
Asa: After volunteering for a few months, I was employed to work full time in the programme. I was given training and worked as a counsellor and translator. It was challenging but rewarding work. It is so difficult to help people accept their HIV status, or deal with anger over how they got the disease, or guilt at also passing it on to one's child. But we could talk through these things, and offer hope – hope that there was treatment and life could continue. I loved learning new things, and from knowing almost nothing about HIV I became the person who would teach the new doctors about the programme when they first arrived!
JRHF: Now you've taken the opportunity to do something quite different?
Asa: Totally different! In September last year I applied for my current role in the new Mercy Vision Zithulele programme. Formally I am called the “Administrative Assistant” – essentially I am the co-ordinator of a lot of different parts of the project, and act as the bridge between our work and the community. We need to get word out there of the amazing service we offer, build and manage good relationships with the clinics, and make the surgery process and experience of patients as positive as possible. Of course we still have a long way to go, but in just one year we have done so much in the community too.
JRHF: And to help prepare you Mercy Ships gave you an amazing training experience…
Asa: In January this year Mercy Ships took me and a couple of other team members to do 3 weeks' of training on the Ship in Guinea. It was my first flight (scary at first, but fine by the end of my 15th flight!) and my first time out of South Africa. It was amazing seeing what Mercy Ships does, meeting all the staff on the ship, and experiencing another culture. But actually it did also make me appreciate what we have in South Africa and the Transkei!
JRHF: And where might we find Asanda Jonga in 5 years' time?
Asa: I'm saving up to go to university – I still really want to do Social Work. There is just so much need for it here in South Africa. Hopefully God will use me to make a difference to bring change – HIV, rape, hope for rural youth. I have matured and learnt so much through my time at Jabulani – I think I feel ready for anything!