Without a doubt itÂ’s hard to think of the history of South Africa with out thinking of the ZuluÂ’s and the ZuluÂ’s wars. Two battles always come right to mind when you think of the Zulu War's. Rorkes Drift and Isandlwana. Two weeked ago I visited those two battlefields in Zululand. The Zululand is located in KwaZulu Natal province in South Africa. The capital city of the Zululand is Ulundi, population 300,000.
Artillery is often is the weapon that determines the outcome of a battle, but not at Isandlwana. The 6 little 7 pdr breech loading Armstrong guns that the Britsh had at the battle were no match for the more than 20,000 Zulu's armed with Assegai's and Muzzloading rifles. Over 1000 Britsh soldiers were killed at Isandlwana.
During my visit to Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift I drove through Zululand. Suddenly I was in a third world country. There was no electricity or running water. Transportation was by foot and Combi (A Hiace Toyota van crammed with people). There was a communal water pump where people collected water and carried it back to their homes. The homes were brick and mud with a thatched roof.
I was at a Staff meeting last week at the Consulate and one of the Staff Officers had just returned from Ulundi. While there he visited the Library. The Library serves the entire Zulu nation. Ulundi library is in desperate need of English language books for children and young adults. If the children can learn to read they will be started on the path to a better life.
Here is a chance for us to help out. So what I am going to ask you to do is send me books. I will get them to the Library at Ulundi.
These could be new childrenÂ’s books but good clean used book would be just as good. Books should not be torn or covered in crayon marks etc. Good books only.
Where to get books? Stop by thrift stores, Send the wife to check yard sales, and look in your own kidsÂ’ room.
Where to send the books. First in the U.S. go to the post office and ask for the flat rate boxes. Fill the box with books and for any weight less than 70 pounds the postage is $8.10 U.S.
Warning: Limit the weight of the boxes to 50 lbs, no more or they will be returned by the post office at your expense. That's what I was told this morning
Outside of the U.S. I donÂ’t know what to advise you about shipping books to me, parcel post I suppose. DoesnÂ’t matter when the books get here the kids will get them. You could also go on line and order a book and have it shipped to me. Send the books to me at:
Douglas B. Dickens
2490 Durban Place
Dulles, VA 20189
I am going to revise this message a bit for email and send it to everyone in my address bookÂ… I might ask you to consider doing the same thing.
There are a lot of children in the world who need the help, lets see if we can help this group of Zulu children to learn to read.
