because you care

We at SOMAMA believe that education is the root for many of South Africa and other 3rd world countries shortfalls. Even when kids do go to school they are not getting the education they rightfully deserve due to a variety of factors. It has therefore been on our hearts to share our blessings of education with kids who are in this situation. However small our effort is we still believe that it can make a difference, even just for the kids we teach.

SOMAMA have been involved with a group of 12 young girls in various ways in order to improve their basic skills like maths, English and computers. They all come from very poor backgrounds, living in a nearby squatter camp. They often have to cook, fetch water from a source a few kms away and don’t get time to do their homework.
Last year in July, two of the most promising young girls, Avela and Hlengiwe, were given the opportunity to attend Inanda Seminary School (www.inanda.org), which is a private school in Inanda and the Alma mater to a number of prominent government and business women. This was made possible through the generous donation of monies from various companies and individuals and this year they have been sponsored by Rotary. We were fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to pay for some of their education and were able to bless them with R10,000 to give them a chance to shine and hopefully bless others. Some of this money was also used for girls at Sparks like Nokwanda who’s parents couldn’t afford the school fees.


Every Tuesday afternoon, Coral (the inspiration for our name SOMAMA) makes healthy lunches for them and joins up with 2 other ladies at Sparks Estate Secondary School where we help them with their schoolwork. Last year we concentrated on English and the year before mainly Mathematics – two major educational deficiencies of underprivileged communities in South Africa. The girls are developing a love for reading and drama. At the end of 2010 they put on a mini play which was very entertaining and rewarding.

The one young girl (Nokwanda) has now got a group of 5 preschoolers that meet with her once a week, in the squatter camp where she lives, so that she can read to them and help develop a love for reading at an early age.


Alan, Grant, Brad and Jonathan meet on a fairly regular basis with the girls on a Saturday to teach them computer skills. This has proved to be very popular with the girls and obviously lacking in of these communities. The exposure and the resources on the internet has amazed them and encouraged them to think broader than they previously would (which is often underdeveloped in their classrooms).
Often when you give of yourself you don’t realise it is often you who receive and benefit the most. The look in their eyes and the appreciation is well worth the time, money and the effort. If you wish to get involved in any way please drop us a mail and we will try our best to include you. The best you can do is try to find a place in your locality where you can give of your time, expertise, heart and passion.
If you can read this webpage you are blessed in more ways then you could imagine. SOMAMA encourages you to find a way to share your blessings with others less fortunate.

PS – You can also arrange for your My School card (usable at WW and other shops) to benefit Sparks Estate Secondary School, we all have.

Sign up here - https://www.myschool.co.za/supporter/apply/

I was at the Post Office this morning waiting to collect a parcel. An old sullen man was first in line and had definitely seen many days of sun without suntan lotion which apparently evaporated any happiness out of him.

He was obviously there to receive a parcel as he gave his tracking number over and waited for the lady to return. This lovely counter lady searched all over but could not find his parcel. It baffled me that within such a short time this man was getting so infuriated! Soon his upside down opening articulated the undeserved irate reflex reaction "incompetent", "you can't read". And openly intimating that the counter lady and manageress, from a previously disadvantaged background were stupid or at least not as clever as him just because of their skin colours!

This really makes me MAD that people can still openly exhibit disgusting racist habits in our lovely rainbow nation! If anything we should have extra patience for previously disadvantaged communities as he is part of the generation that disadvantaged them! We are the guilty ones and they are doing their best! And no matter if someone has a different colour skin, intellectual capacity, age, sex, income, religion, school or anything it doesn't make you better or worse off then them. We are all equal!

This story ends with an old sad man going home angry and bitter, blood pressure and stress rising, lifespan decreasing and a separation between people of the same nation. And the funny thing is it wasn't the lady at the counter or the branch manager who was stupid but it was the old sullen man whose parcel wasn't even there but will arrive tomorrow!

I have learnt that there are an infinite number of lessons we can learn from each other no matter who they are or what they have done. Be open to it. I am so proud of those two ladies that didn't react to that sad man. And I hope they dispelled all the bitterness and anger he forced onto them today.

Let's come together and stop racism. Learn to relax and have patience for everyone around otherwise you too will end up senile, sullen and stupid!

Feel free to share this story with your friends and family or comment below...

This is a meal that I eat and love. Not only does it taste amazing but it also is highly nutritious, healthy and easily digestible. It is great for any meal of the day. And provides you with a lovely balance of high quality protein, carbs, antixodants, vitamins and minerals.

There are also so many ways to adapt it to make it healthier/raw/ vegetarian or however you want it.

Here it is …

Components
• Napoletana sauce
• Low GI/health bread of choice
• Pouched eggs
• SOMAMA Raw Chia
• Raw Super Guacamole
• Raw Sprouts
• Hummus optional extra
• And some leafy greens if you want

Pouching eggs like a chef

Fill pot with water heated by the kettle
Dial stove to maximum heat
Add vinegar to pot
Wait for the water to boil
Stir water in the pot to create a vortex
Quickly break your egg (free range of course) and add the contents into the vortex
Keep checking the eggs to see if they to your preference of hard or soft
Use a spoon (with holes in it) to take the eggs out of the pot
Using the spoon drain the water off the eggs
Use your poached eggs as desired

Gourmet Napoletana sauce

What you need –
• Two tins of tomato (any form) or 5 tomatoes
• Tomato Paste
• 2 Onions
• 5 cloves of Garlic
• Olive oil
• Sweetener of choice (can use SOMAMA organic goji berries)
• Salt of choice
• Black pepper
• Herbs and spices of choice (e.g. rosemary, thyme, coriander)
• 1-3 Chilies (if you don’t mind a bite)
• Blender (preferably hand variety)

Chop or use a hand blender to cut the garlic and onion into fine bits
Heat up a pot with some olive oil
Add the garlic and onion bits to the pot
Once they are cooked add the tomato, chili, herbs, black pepper and spices
Bring it to a boil and boil any excess water off the mixture
Take the temperature down to a simmer
Blend into a fine liquid with your hand blender
Add salt and sweetness as needed
Simmer the mixture, at low heat, allowing the flavor to development (longer the better)
Use as a base for pizzas/pasta dishes, as a sauce or just as is

Raw Super Guacamole

What you need –
• 1 Avocado
• ½ Lemon
• ¼ to ½ Onion
• 1 to 2 clove of Garlic
• Salt and Spices

Cut or blitz the garlic and onion into fine bits
Cut open Avo and scoop out contents into a bowl
Squeeze the ½ lemon into the bowl (take the seeds out)
Add the onion and garlic bits
Add sparingly salt/spices of your choice
Mix it all together

Putting the meal together

Start off by cooking the Napoletana sauce
Once ready prepare guacamole
Poach your egg simply or chef style (if you dare)
Toast your health bread of choice
Spread guacamole over the bread
Shake SOMAMA Raw Chia all over the guacamole
Pour Napoletana sauce over your mixture or keep it on the side
Shake more SOMAMA Chia over your Napoletana sauce
Eat all together with some sprouts and perhaps some greens.
Hummus is also lovely with this meal.

Tips: - I suggest making guacamole and Napoletana sauces in excess so that you have more for the future meals. So when you are in a rush you just pop the egg and bread in and you have a meal.

- For more raw and vegan (and probably healthier) version
Substitute the Napoletana sauce for sliced tomatoes (lycopene)
Leave out the egg and bread (or substitute with raw bread)

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!

Light hearted Disclaimer - I am by no means a chef so please take this with a pinch of salt. I just wanted to share a meal that has been help keep my lean and healthy over the past few months. Email me know if I need to make some changes - hello@SOMAMA.co.za and comment/share if you found this helpful. Email me if you want a list of the health benefits of each component.