MKI, the Sandton Hotels and the making of a documentary, day 4

Monday August 9, South African National Women’s day

What a great idea; a national holiday in honor of the most wonderful creation of God.
We spend this day in Wellington, on the estate of Diemersfontein, and we had a great time, relaxing and enjoying the wonderful breakfast and each other’s company.
The camera crew spend the day on a small game reserve were they have been trying to film of the big fives.

In the evening we had dinner with Prof John van Zyl and his wife Charlotte in Stellenbosch. Prof van Zyl is one of the first trustees of the MKI South Africa Trust which will be officially established tomorrow evening in Somerset West. Beside that John van Zyl will be involved in the creation of MKI Community Health Radio.

Very soon you will be able to find more information on this subject on our website.
Another great day with very special people.

Warm regards to all the ladies of the world.

MKI, the Sandton Hotels and the making of a documentary, day 3

Sunday, a day of prayer so when I am in South Africa a visit to the church in the township of Kayamandi. What a joy it was to see my friends again.
Also this time I had to come to the pulpit to introduce my guest and to share with the congregation what I have been doing and what they can accept in the coming weeks and months from their MKI Health Information Centre in Kayamandi.
We enjoyed the beautiful singing, sometimes very emotional.

The rest of the day we spend on the beautiful wine-estate Longridge owned by Aldo and Debbie van der Laan. These two wonderful people, together with their management team and representative in Europe made a decision to donate a certain amount of money from every bottle of Longridge bottle of wine sold to MKI.

This occasion was being celebrated in style.
Another great partner believing in the mission of MKI.

MKI, the Sandton Hotels and the making of a documentary, DAY 2

The second day of filming started in our Health Information Centre in Khayelitsha. Our three top staff members, Xolani, the administrator, May, known as the top dog trainer, and Andile, a new trainer on his way to become the assistant trainer to May received the camera crew and my guest with open arms.
Later they told me that they felt so welcome it was like meeting friends they had known for a very long time.

So we used the day to visit some of our students who have become facilitators in the township. They had been waiting for us and were eager to tell their stories, predominately success stories. Success stories of how they are using the knowledge received by MKI to empower their community members and especially the youth.

It was easy sailing for the camera crew because as I mentioned before they told their story with so much passion and conviction.

The statements of these wonderful people confirmed again what a difference MKI is really making in the lives of so many people.
Defiantly something to be proud of
Again good wishes from South Africa.

PICTURES:
Enjoy some of the pictures of the day

MKI, the Sandton Hotels and the making of a documentary.

Yesterday the creation of a documentary about the activities of the Medical Knowledge Institute has began with a very special church service in the St. George Cathedral in downtown Cape Town. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was not able to do the service since he had to be in London to be back this weekend to spend with us and the camera crew this coming Thursday.

After the solemn service we all felt that the mission to South Africa was being blessed and that we could start our journey in creation a documentary on the activities of MKI. So after the service we were invited to join a small group of people to have breakfast. So we found ourselves sitting in a little circle around the table with the former major of Cape Town, the co-chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, Lavinia Brown the former PA to Desmond Tutu and the Consul General of the Netherlands David de Waal, to name a few.

After breakfast we... and maybe this is the time to introduce the MKI / Sandton Hotels / Longridge / team to you. Rogier and Elke Braakman, one of the co-founders of the Sandton Hotels, Janneke Rutten, director of Intense Wines and partner of Longridge, Brigitte Plugge, Director of BIMA Productions, Sjoerd Vogel, the cameraman of BIMA Productions, Laurien Hylkema, the sound lady of BIMA Production and Willibrord Kruijsen, the lighting and photo man of BIMA Production, Yasmin Fuyk the operational manager of MKI and me of course.
For your information the creation of the documentary is being financed by Sandton Hotels, Intense Wines and Longridge in honour of MKI’s activities in Southern Africa.

So, after breakfast we paid our respect to the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cape Town, Mr. David de Waal. David, a great supporter of MKI was so kind to receive the group in his office and to make a statement on camera.

We than toured Cape Town, visited the always very beautiful Table Mountain which gave the camera crew a sublime view of Cape Town.
We ended the day with an unforgettable being together with Kirsty, MKI’s Executive Director for Southern Africa and her husband Ian.

All good wishes from South Africa

PICTURES:
1. The group leaving Amsterdam for South Africa
2. Together with David de Waal and Rogier Braakman

Female Hygiene - Skoon Lappie

I am so proud of "my girls".
The TU students, Albertien, Judith, Floor and Suze,otherwise known as the Skoon Lapppie ladies received a 8,5 for their study they did in collaboration with the Medical Knowledge Institute.

A very special thank you to Dr. & Mrs. Jelle and Liddy Braaksma, to Medical Student Minke Frijstein and MKI Faculty Member Samantha Harteveld.

This is just the beginning.

Sandton Hotels honors MKI with auction

The beautiful garden of Sandton Hotel Château de Raay was on June 3rd 2010, the sending for an unforgettable auction organized by the Sandton Hotels in honor of their hospitality partner MKI. The event was used to officially install Dutch Actor Kenneth Herdigein as MKI’s newest Goodwill Ambassador. Nearly 5,000 euro was raised for the public health educational activities of MKI.

Please visit the photogallery on the MKI website for many more pictures of this very special event.

MKI’s Goodwill Ambassador Ans Markus being honored by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

Dearest Ans,

My deepest congratulations,well deserved.
We are proud of you.
Warm regards to you and Wybe

Harold Robles and the entire MKI family worldwide.