But this response might get long...

As I come back to Jozi out of the bush myself, there was a strong resonance with your story! The baboons, the baobab, the elephants (lords, the elephants in Kruger: 14,500-and-counting in the 2007 census).

I've been working long and hard this week - and the contrast to what's at 5 hours driving out of Johannesburg compared to the frenzy that's commonplace here remains startling to me. I really yearn to go back; I'll never be a true city person. One night, we were in a private game reserve with its borders open to Kruger, so anything could stroll in. We slept in the hide, outside the camp. The stars were phenomenal, the quiet was phenomenal, and we woke up several times during the night by the roaring of lions - one of the truest sounds I've ever heard. Of course, the night before there had been a pride of up to 14 lions which had come to the nearby waterhole. The tracks in the sand were massive!!

Mkombozi: Although I've not been able to make much work out of it, I've been looking for exactly the SA equivalent for street outreach. There are dozens of street children nearby where I live. As I still rely on walking and public transport, I've had many encounters with them and am building a relation of trust with some of them. All of them with whom I've spoken want to go back to school, be it secondary or tertiary education. I've no idea where to begin, but I'm quite sure there are programs for getting street kids back into school.

European Tribune - A second visit to Tanzania

What continues to be the challenge, and this is what all organizations and projects in Africa continually face, is the issue of finding funding for supporting the research, training and programs we hope to do.

Indeed. And a subject that has occupied my mind for the past few months countlessly. I -am- working on ideas, to hatch on ET. The time is now, but I'm not ready...

Thanks for a great read on a marvelous undertaking.