The Emily Wong Story
By: Zakiya Atkinson
“I went to Cape Town
seeking a ‘unique’ experience, but what I didn’t for see was the impact that it
would have on me; the way it surprisingly moved me and even changed me.” Emily
Wong- Melbourne, Australia
Emily Wong had no idea “what a
difference a day makes”. One day with Sisanda Fundaytion would change her
outlook foreverand be a highlight to the beginning of her next chapter in
life. Emily had arrived to Cape Town anticipating her volunteer experience
with an ecological architecture firm. Understandably naive to what was
next to come, she heard of Sisanda Fundaytion’s search for volunteers.
Her sister, also in South Africa at the time, was eager to answer the call and
so they went. The day began with a group of volunteers being bused to a
township outside of Cape Town to retrieve the children for a zoo
excursion. “At first, I wasn’t too thrilled but my feelings started to
change as we entered the place and I realized that some of the kids had never
seen a monkey in their lives.” (Emily Wong)
The joy, laughter, and intensity
of a new experiencesaturated any morsels of apprehension. “Full of
excitement and fear, my kids clung on to me tightly for a sense of
protection-and I held onto them back giving them just that”, says Emily.
Typical of children, they had grasped the connection and embraced Emily as a
role model and a friend, but by the end of the day Emily was certain that the
roles were equal.
Emily completed her placement and
returned to Melbourne, all the while reflecting on that day and realizing how
incredibly lucky she was for the family, education, and opportunities she had
been afforded throughout her life. She had developed an admiration and a
connection to the mission of Sisanda Fundaytion,so when the email came she
answered the call again. She rallied all she knew to contribute to the
NGO’s drive to raise funds for a centre in Johannesburg. Sisanda
Fundaytion was greatly impacted by Emily’s support and Emily and was touched by
the support of her family and friends.
The story doesn’t end
there…
Unbeknownst to Sisanda
FunDaytion, Emily was still in search of ways to support a mission that would
impact her life for years to come. As she delved into the next chapter of
her life through marriage, she would make yet another contribution to the
children of South Africa and plant a seed into the hearts and minds of those
she knew. Newlyweds Emily and Max would donate a significant portion of
their monetary wedding gifts to the Sisanda FunDaytion in honour of their
guests. They informed their guests of their contribution to an NGO, who
since 2009 has touched the lives of almost two thousand children from 40
orphanages, clinics, and community centres. How’s that for a return on investment?
In a brief message to Sisanda FunDaytion, Emily and Max warmly stated, “we’ll
just cut our honeymoon short ;p…give the kids a hug from us.”
“What a
difference a day makes”…and so the story goes…