Michelle Saffer

Take a group of health practitioners who love their work. Add in a wish to give and receive and the result is a “Work for Love”, a scheme that joins hands across formerly separated communities.

Masiphumelele and health practitioners linked to Imhoff Waldorf school are linked in an interesting scheme in which practitioners do what they love, for free. They learn from those they help and in return, those they help will help others.

At the Pink House every Tuesday morning you can see a wide range of health practitioners.  There’s a midwife,  physiotherapist, homeopaths, massage therapists,  reflexologists, shiatsu, Chinese medicine and reiki practitioners,  those who offer relaxation or fitness classes … The list goes on. Other contributors are welcomed, such as those who have already joined, providing music and nutritious food.

The practitioners believe they will gain and learn as much as the people being treated. And in turn, those being treated are expected, after four treatments, to help spread the wellness in a voluntary way. This could be at the Wellness Morning, massaging the shoulders of someone waiting for treatment, making a cup of tea, or in the community, doing babysitting, for example.

“The Wellness Mornings belong to the people waiting as much as to the therapists,” said midwife Robyn Sheldon.

This is reflected in the Work for Love mission statement: “By volunteering to join the Wellness Morning team, each volunteer practitioner already accepts the gift of involvement in Masiphumelele.

“Each participant will inevitably receive greater insight about integration and the meaning of ‘rainbow nation’. As such, Wellness Morning is a conscious bid to encourage genuine love of the diversity that is both our national identity and our great challenge.”

The idea began with Nicola Nangle, a physiotherapist and parent at Imhoff Waldorf school. In December Work for Love began a creche support programme in Masiphumelele and  it also supports a poetry and publishing project at Ukhanyo Primary School.

It has its roots in the philosophy underlying the Waldorf schools. Although most of the therapists are parents of children of the school, this is not an essential requirement and any therapists interested in joining the programme are welcome to apply.

The Wellness Mornings have been going for a little over two months and their popularity is growing. Tarot card readings in particular are in great demand.

Vuyiswa Caine, who is trained in relaxation techniques and also is one of the four translators, said that the mornings were rapidly becoming a place for the community to destress.

“In the beginning there were mostly women coming, but now men are coming. A lot come for stress release.

“Most come by word of mouth and are very impressed with the work We get people coming in,  just to enjoy it, just to see what’s happening.”

She stressed that the mornings were not for sick people only.

Therapists taking part in the scheme have made a commitment to  volunteering in a regular time slot for six months. After the six months, the project will be re-assessed. Already, practitioners are seeing needs in the community that need to be addressed in a different way.

“It’s a such a massive challenge for us,” said homeopath Rebecca Sturgeon. “There is so much to be done it’s difficult to know where to start.”

Not unexpectedly, the therapists have found they have gained as much as those they treat.

“I feel so much better driving into Masiphumelele on Tuesdays instead of straight past,” said massage therapist Jenny Bovim.

 If you would like to participate, donate massage tables or would like more information, phone Nicola on 072 682 7792.