A New LifeLinda Kavanagh packed in a career in journalism to head to South Africa as a volunteer, writes Denise Deegan
'The time was right," says Linda Kavanagh. "After years as a staff writer with the RTÉ Guide, and rearing three children as a single parent, I was longing to try something new. As my last child left the nest, I was ripe for adventure. When my partner, Mike, a tourism consultant, was asked to help direct some of the benefits of South Africa's tourism industry to the poverty-stricken black communities, we saw it as an opportunity to give something back and have a change of scene at the same time. We didn't hesitate."
Linda and Mike rented out their home, booked flights and in eight weeks were gone. Didn't she feel any fear of what lay ahead - a new and unfamiliar country, racial tensions, putting her livelihood on hold? How did she and Mike even know where to start?
"I simply looked on it as another learning experience. I'd always loved travelling and, as a travel journalist, I'd been fortunate to visit many countries. We didn't worry about earning a livelihood, since we had enough saved and the cost of living in South Africa is relatively cheap for Europeans. We rented a house as soon as we arrived, and started getting to know the local people.
"Initially, Mike had been invited to come to South Africa by a black politician whom he'd met while in the country for the cricket. However, when we arrived, the politician was shocked to see us. He hadn't actually expected us to come.
"There was no plan. No one had any idea of what sort of help was needed. So we had to start from scratch, and figure out for ourselves how we could be of help. Initially, we devised a number of tourism workshops, to which lots of people turned up, but then we discovered that most people in the townships lack even the most basic skills. We had to start imparting those skills before people could even think of things like drawing up business plans.
"In retrospect, I sometimes wonder how much we've actually achieved, because at every turn, we found ourselves daunted by state bureaucracy, corruption and general ineptitude. Each small success seemed to be met with obstacles in another area. However, we're still involved with several tourism projects in South Africa, but these need state support and we're still waiting, three years later, for the powers-that-be to make themselves available for meetings. At times, you'd like to say 'to hell with it', but when you see the pleasure that even a small success can bring to a community, it gives you the drive to keep on going. So we will go back briefly to oversee the projects if they can get under way."
Does Linda think the experience has changed her in any way?
"I suppose the only way I've changed is that I'm angrier than ever at the inequality in the world, having experienced it at first hand. We returned a few months ago and in some ways it was a relief. There is only so much you can do, and so much suffering you can watch. I have gained far more from my stay in South Africa than I could ever repay.
"It is a very beautiful country and it was a privilege to experience the welcome shown by poverty-
stricken communities who are totally forgiving of what's been done to them in the past, yet they remain spurned by their own white community."
Now that she's home, another life change is beginning for Linda. Her first novel has just been published and she is working on her second. "I'm looking on this as another adventure. In fact, I wrote Love Hurts and sent it to Poolbeg before I left for South Africa. But they lost the covering letter, and it took them several years to track me down. I enjoy writing fiction and was never a nine-to-five person. This kind of career change suits me perfectly. I can stay in bed all day, and if the muse strikes at 4am, I'll get up and work."