Dustin gets a 'spring in his wing'
Turkey tells of heartwarming visit to South African orphans
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Four-year-old Silindile Ndlovo gives Dustin the Turkey a kiss during Dustin's performance at the Mbuba Hall in Ematimatolo, rural Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa
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By Patricia McDonagh
Tuesday Oct 27 2009
Working with a leading children's charity has put a "spring in the wing" of our most famous turkey.
Dustin spent a week in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa on a fact-finding mission for UNICEF Ireland.
The Dubliner learned about the important work of the charity's early childhood development programmes. And he's seen at first-hand the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS.
There are more children orphaned or left vulnerable by AIDS in South Africa than anywhere else in the world. It is estimated that over half of the country's 2.5 million orphans have lost a parent to AIDS.
As parents and relatives die or fall ill, it falls on the wider community to take care of the orphans left behind.
More than 95pc of the families in the area that Dustin visited were directly affected by HIV/AIDS and at least 80 pc of the families lived below the poverty line. Last night Dustin admitted it was heartbreaking seeing children forced into that situation.
"I didn't know what to expect and I was brickin' meself but I soon learnt that the boys and girls in South Africa are as much fun as the boys and girls in Ireland," he said.
"Sadly though, in South Africa sometimes boys and girls have to grow up earlier to look after their little brothers and sisters or older sick relatives.
"This made me sad but when I saw the work carried out by UNICEF programmes I soon had hope in my heart and a spring in my wing."
Dustin also visited the UNICEF-supported LETCEE Centre in Greytown in the northern midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. Its mission is to improve the access to and quality of early-learning opportunities for all young children.
He spent an afternoon with the LETCEE Buddies.
These are older children aged between nine and 13 who take time out for the younger children in their communities.
They teach them games, songs, read them stories and do arts and crafts.
Buddies
"These buddies were such a sound bunch, giving their time up to look after littler kids isn't always what bigger kids want to do (trust me I know, I live with Socky), but this gang do it in such good spirits," he said.
And the energetic turkey hasn't stopped working since he got home. On Saturday he made an appearance on the 'Xtra-Factor', the spin-off to the hit talent show 'X Factor'.
The show features backstage gossip from the contestants and interviews with celebrities.
- Patricia McDonagh
Irish Independent
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