Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Institute for the Blind


My name is Christina Morley and I am an American missionary, married to a South African, with four kids, living in South Africa. I am also a volunteer at the Institute for the Blind in Worcester, South Africa. I read English material (exams, text books, novels, etc.) in a sound room at Pioneer Printers where all the braille gets printed.

Last month I was invited to tour their facilities and spend the morning at their annual function. It was a great experience to see the new things they are doing, old things that have been improved on, and to hear testimonies of how people's lives have been changed.

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Mr. Ray Aukett beside a
picture of Louis Braille

The Blindiana Museum
and Coffee Shop


Some of the guests, like myself, began the morning with a tour of the Blindiana Museum and coffee shop. We were shown around by Ray Aukett, a very knowledgeable man who represents the Blind Institute and who is visually impaired, and by Ledivia Hamman, the coordinator at the Information Centre, including The Blind Spot (conference and event centre) Fossil Trail, and Museum.

Tourists and visitors are most welcome to contact the Institute for the Blind for a guided tour.



Joseph Matheatau, the first blind
barista in South Africa, and
Ledivia Hamman, our tour guide

Joseph Matheatau - first blind barista
in South Africa

"At the Institute for the Blind, we don't stick to the confines of an institution. We are different, breaking the paradigm of traditional thinking. We are the central hub for blind progression in South Africa, and soon the world." - Freddie Botha (Executive Head)


Tactile Fossil Trail and Museum

Ledivia was a great tour guide -
friendly and enthusiastic

The Tactile Fossil Trail

Fossils to touch with Braille plaque

Tactile Museum

"The Institute is a place of learning, development and progression; for those with sight and without. We would like to change how the world sees the blind, and how the blind see the world." - Freddie Botha (Executive Head)

Peaceful Garden for Residents at the Blind Inst.

The Institute for the Blind in Worcester, South Africa, offers a safe haven for the visually impaired, multi-disabled and deaf-blind adults. There are a variety of skills that are taught and each individual is given the opportunity to lead a meaningful life to the capacity that he/she is able.


The 6 Production Departments

A big part of the skills training include the six production units: the Mattress Department, the Woodworking Department, the Weaving Department, the Cane Department, the Creative Projects Department, and the Metal Department. Here, the adult residents at the Blind Institute create beautiful, high-quality products. Having fulfilling jobs allows them to lead meaningful lives. They also take pride in knowing that they are able to make a vital contribution to the country's working sector.

Mattress Department

Woodworking Department

Weaving Department

Weaving Department

Cane Department

Some of the Items for Sale





New Name for the Blind Institute:
Kaleidoscope - Let the Blind Lead

"Life is like an ever shifting kaleidoscope; a slight change and all patterns alter." - Sharon Salzberg

"The idea behind a kaleidoscope is that it's a structure that's filled with broken bits and pieces, and somehow if you can look through them, you still see something beautiful. And I feel that we are all that way a little bit." - Sara Bareiles


Tina Morley

All original photographs
by Tina Morley unless
stated otherwise.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Cherry Lane in Malmesbury


Samantha spent the week of her 15th birthday at the beach with her best friend, Lisa, and her grandparents. On the day of her birthday, we met them in Malmesbury at a cute coffee and gift shop called Cherry Lane. It was also a halfway meeting point, so that we could pick up the girls and bring them home without having to drive double the distance. I'm so glad we could celebrate her birthday with her grandparents in such a pretty setting.

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Amanda's dress pattern was
similar to the chair cushions




Amanda

Bird at the fountain

Bird at the fountain


Samantha's 15th Birthday at Cherry Lane

Samantha and Amanda

Samantha and Lisa

The handmade card we gave Samantha.
I bought it at a craft market.

Some of our drinks

Milkshakes in different flavors

Lemon meringue

Samantha ordered a red velvet cake
and a lemonade

On the Drive Back Home

New pylons going up

Wind turbines

Mountains and vineyards

I'm also on Instagram.
Ich bin auch auf Instagram.

Tina Morley

All original photographs by Tina Morley
unless stated otherwise. 1camera1mom is
mostly in English mit ein bisschen Deutsch.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

The Knysna Heads


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Click on the images to enlarge them.
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Family Holiday South Africa
Familienurlaub Südafrika

After our morning visit to the Knysna Museums, we took a drive to the Knysna Heads. This was a scenic adventure and so much fun to capture on camera. Thankfully, Hubby took a few photos of me, and, at one point, a lady offered to take a photo of all of us. Knysna is one of the most beautiful stops along the Garden Route.





Hubby took this photo of me
with our eldest daughter

Me and the kids

Jessica

Amanda and Samantha







Jessica

Jeremiah




Our family: Tina, Jessica, Jeremiah,
Samantha, Amanda and Robbie

Robbie, Samantha, Jeremiah and Amanda




I'm also on Instagram.
Ich bin auch auf Instagram.

All original photographs by Tina Morley
unless stated otherwise. 1camera1mom is
mostly in English mit ein bisschen Deutsch.

Tina Morley
More on the Garden Route:
Our Acrobranch Family Adventure
Redberry Farm Family Fun
Beside Still Waters
Bird Watching in Wilderness
Milkwood Village and Family Picnic
At the Beach in Wilderness
The Beach at Brenton-on-Sea
Our Stay at Brenton-on-Sea

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