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14 - The Canadien Champion~ Fri Aunust 11 00ll ~Jennie latest in Kiddlefamily to help othersfar away J By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Perched above South Africa and west of Mozambique is a land stunning in both its Iushness and desolation. And earlier this year, Zimbabwe became the land Milton social worker Jennie Kiddle opted to spend thre months of her life in. 1I wanted to do some volunteer work," aaid Ms Kiddle, 27. 'l thought tbis was the best time." Though she made the trip on ber own, compassionate travelling is in lier blood. Since 19 86, Ms Kiddle's family have been involved with Sleeping Children Around the World, a chasity set: up by Murray Dryden, father of hockey brothera Ken and David Dryden. Each Kiddle member bas made at least one volunteer trek to far-flung areas such as India, Ecuador and the Philippines througb the charity. After landing in Zimbabwe, Ma Kiddle settled in Bulawayo, a half million strong former colonial city cloaked in startling contrasta. The thunderous Victoria Falls - one and a hall times as wide as Niagara Falls and spewing 150 million gallons of water per minute - are within travelling distance. So is the Hwange Safari, where giraffes, elephanta, kudu, jackals and zebras wander. But fast food restaurants also pepper the city, which sports a shiny, modem- iooking shopping mail like a badge. And violence in Zimbabwe can sometimes be juat a heartbeat away. 'Right wben t was leaving, the black wsr veterans were occupying the white farma and people were get- ting kilied," said Ms Kiddie. One reason for the unreat ia money. Inflation has gone through the roof, Photo by GRAHIAM PAINE Jennie Kiddie recently treveiled ta Zimbabwe. whiie Use economy bas fallen through the floor. With no universal healtb care in place, buyîng food la often a higher priority Usan birUs control. The resuit- ing babies are sometimes subsequent- ly abandoned by parents unabie to afford them. They're then taken to one of several local orpbanages to live with sbused kids or those whose families were wiped out by a raging AIDS pandem- ic. Witbout acceas to stabilizing drugs, the disease often sweepa tbrough fam- ilies, infecting botb parents and their children. Accustomed to dealing with fragile emotions on this aide of the worid, Ma Kiddle soon found heraelf in a place where life itself is fragile. Her job there waa fundamental - feeding, changing diapera and careful- iy clipping tiny finger and toe-nails with a razor biade. 'This was basic, natural life akilis," she kaid. "Some of Use cbildren were 111V positive, some had hepatitis B, othera had tasherculosis." During her stay, the local situation was woraened by an unusually rainy season, the fail-out of threc cyclones which bad ravaged Mozambiqu. Wbipped by the tail end of the storms, Buiawayo's crops and animal herds were devastated. 'Tbey were being swept away or Useir feet were rotting from standing in ail the water," aaid Ms Kiddie. For bumans, malnouriahment is kept as bay through the consumption of sadza, a biand mix of maize and water resembling mashed potatoca. And photographa from Use trip show Ma Kiddle aurrounded by amiiing chiidren with spirit-lifting namnes such as Talent and Rejoice. Back home, Ms Kiddie's frienda and famiiy coilected $600 to donate to a Bulawayo orphanage. The equivalent of about $15,000 in local currency, she uaed the cash to buy books, toya and ciothes for the kida. Since ber retumn, another $500 bas been collected, along with packages of used clothes. Joi us on wyeekemd 89 Miii Street 878-6680 KFC,~ 8-41 71 I TAP& -EATERY JuIy 21 - Sept. 1/GO Nùoei This week's destination.. Coein and pick Up a passport! 55 Ontarjo St. N. _878-6691 Mi ]Knight Cap' NOW OPENED New Management~ New Staff, New Menu 1British Fare gmoday Knlght - 300 Wings Wedneaday Knlght - Stuffod Yorlsahlre Pudding FrId.y Knlght - Roast Beef e4m 4w. Satuday K»Nlh - Prime Rib 270 Main St. E. (9051876-3780 Barnd or DJ - Thurs. nights on the patio Wed. nughts 5IXPRBS LUNCH I5 NUESOR JFN 45 Chisholm Dr. 876-4731 godfwd'f~tseffie -o ur osâ__Iy charooI broid hamburgers 525 Ontario St (057532 -- ha-o -Â.m - &Dhuo--e -- f~~ x orPorso 4airPian IW Hwy. 401, Na millon Pm iJce MrK