Never Lose Hope (Since The Flood)

“Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.” 

— Roy T. Bennett

It's been a month since the great flood we had a month ago after monumental rains. #kznfloods. For a few days I was in total shock and even had moments of feeling hopeless seeing roads and homes washed away. Entire towns decimated. Forty thousand people homeless. Hundreds of thousands of people without clean water or food. Many without electricity from the damage (for weeks). 

As the water subsided what was left was mud and the evidence of destruction! Mangled branches, trees, possessions, even cars and pieces of homes, strewn along the river banks and the beaches - and the clean up began.

In the aftermath, I came across the above illustration by an artist on Instagram - Julia Francke @bat_tales and it really touched me. It couldn't be more fitting for what has been unfolding the past weeks in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. 

While there had been much destruction, and so much to mourn - again communities and people came together and helped one another. Rescue workers worked tirelessly for weeks. There was so much loss, but our tears were either going to lead to hopelessness or to hope. And at Growing Hope, we continue to choose focusing on hope!

We were reminded to let our tears water the hope and change we wish to see in the world. There is work to be done. There are gardens to be planted. There are children to inspire. There is soil to be regenerated and hand-grown food to be harvested! There is hope yet! Huge appreciation and THANK-YOU's to all who continue to support this vision, movement, initiative and mission this year to plant a permaculture food garden in a under resourced school for each week of the year! We can't do it without you all! To see where we currently are in this project, please visit our SPONSORS page. 

And in case you are wondering, the schools we have been in touch with so far, didn't lose their gardens! Time will tell how they grow after so much water. 

PS: With thanks and gratitude to Julia Francke for permission to share her art here.