Thandeka

Zimbabwe
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Thailand - from Nov 2025
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Description
Hi there, I live in The Hague, Netherlands & a single mother to 2 adult children who live in South Africa & United Kingdom, respectively. I speak English, French and a bit of Afrikaans similar to Dutch. I am a global traveler, currently finishing a work contract in the Netherlands on 31 July. I have residency in the Netherlands until 1 November 2025. I love house cleaning preferably, some cooking, walking dogs, providing company by listening, talking, walking or reading (English) to a person my age but also younger people. I also work for myself on the Stock Market (7-9.30am) and from 3pm to 6pmCET. I’m available to house-sit / WorkAway from 8 to 31 August and possibly all of September, as my house lease ends 8 August. I prefer a video call to see if we’re a match. I look forward to meeting future hosts soon.
Interests
Self development
Events & social
Farming
Movies & TV
Outdoor activities
Nature
Music
History
Charity work
Yoga / Wellness
Fitness
Dancing
Cycling
Beach
Books
Cooking & food
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Afrikaans: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I’m interested to learn Dutch and perhaps Spanish since I know some French. But I also would love to improve my French.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Being an elderly companion
Life at a Farmstay
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
House & pet sitting
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Animal Care
Gardening
Able to teach about:
Languages
More details about your skills
I prefer a daily routine where I can help with house cleaning, some cooking, dog walking and keeping someone company by listening, reading, walking & talking to someone my age or younger in English. Preferably looking for a Workaway where I can fit in my own stock market work between 7 to 9 AM CET and 2.30 to 6PM CET. So essentially I can work between 9.30am to 2.30pm and I can clean up & wash dishes in the evening, by which time I prefer my own company in the evenings. Looking for a roof over my head from 8 to 31 August, preferably in the Netherlands or a nearby European country.
Age
59
What else ...
I am a Christian, I’m Single, love going to church on Sundays, don’t drink alcohol and don’t smoke.
I love board games, interacting with different people/cultures, love music, I love walking. Cycling, I love the beach, outdoors, trying to keep fit when I can. I also love my own company in the evenings and my own company.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  No, but eat both meat & vegetables

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29 Jan 2026

Left by host (Join us in supporting teen ...) for Workawayer ()

Mama Thandeka is a nice and kind woman.
And I am sincerely sorry that we were not able to help make her volunteer experience the best.

We all appreciate the time you spent with us at the facility. Thank you for teaching the girls and thank you for the donations. Thank you for choosing to volunteer with us.

We all wish you the best in life.

(Good )

27 Jan 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join us in supporting teen ...)

I spent 2 weeks of December 2025 volunteering at this organisation in Oyugis, Kenya. They host vulnerable teens and teen mums and offer them schooling opportunities and a home. The Organisation is run by an inspirational young lady (a 23-year-old Kenyan) called Stacy Nick, with the support of her mum and dad. The volunteering started off well and… read more I was very well received by Stacy, her parents and her brother. After some delay in receiving my volunteer schedule I finally got involved with teaching English and History in the mornings to the girls aged between 13-18 and I did some group coaching with the girls in the afternoons. I was pleasantly surprised by how enthusiastically they participated in the coaching. All the Teen Girls were such a pleasure to be around and I felt truly blessed to spend time with them. I was privileged to be able to buy a small Fridge and Gas stove for the Organisation. At the end of my 2nd week, I fell ill on a Friday and became increasingly worse on Saturday. Lab tests at the hospital confirmed that I had Malaria and I also had a bacterial infection from water and food.
On the Friday when I fell ill, I also shared with Stacy my observations on what I perceived to be overly harsh punishment of 1 of the girls. I had observed that one girl has been moved from the shared room with the other girls and she also did not go with us to the river to collect water. Stacy explained the reason and I shared that as a Mum (which Stacy is not); I felt that the punishment did not fit the deed, whilst I totally understood the need to sometimes punish the girls. I also shared feedback that some girls felt as though they were not being heard and they felt that Stacy often didn’t give them a chance to share their side of the story before she made up her mind on something. I advised Stacy that the as the girls were already coming from vulnerable backgrounds, perhaps she could review some of her punishments and allow the girls to share their side before she formed an opinion. I noticed that Stacy’s attitude towards me became quite negative after I shared my observations and feedback. I became progressively more ill whilst Stacy and the girls were at Sabbath church. I called Stacy’s brother asking him to please take me to the hospital. This illness cut short my volunteering. Stacy’s brother and his wife took me in to their home in town and drove me twice a day for the injections I needed to get at the hospital. They looked after me till I was well and well after that. During all my time recuperating at Stacy’s bother’s house, Stacy never once called me to ask how I was doing. She runs the Organisation based on her Christian faith. I found it really surprising that she never ever called me or her brother to enquire about my health and well-being as a Volunteer at her organisation. I lived with her brother and his wife for 1 month and spent Christmas with them. They looked after me as though I was their mum. I am eternally grateful to them. I never continued volunteering after recovering from illness due to Stacy’s negative attitude towards me. I was supposed to volunteer for 2 months.
What can be improved:
1. I had observed that the hygiene standards at homestead where I lived with Stacy and the girls were not up to Par and can be greatly improved. There was a young 18-year-old lad form the UK who was also volunteering & I noticed he didn’t eat much of the food that was served at the homestead. He was wise. I observed Maize flour and other foods were often left uncovered with insects flying around and in one case, I saw a hen her brood of baby chicks walking on top of some food in an uncovered pot. Both the personal hygiene and environmental hygiene can be greatly improved. When I offered to help improve this aspect of the personal hygiene and environmental hygiene, Stacy was not open to the suggestion even though her sister-in-law who would help us, is a Public Health Specialist.

2. Stacy is an inspirational young lady who is doing great work with these teen girls. I pray that as she matures, she will learn to be more open to listen to others’ opinions and to accept feedback as an opportunity for improvement.
Be that as it may I wish Stacy nothing but the best in her mission to give a second chance to vulnerable teenage girls. I pray that she will serve them with a heart of love based on her Christian faith and not with a harsh heart, knowing that we all make mistakes and that no-one is perfect, not even her. Many thanks Stacy for the opportunity to serve and volunteer here. God bless you and your very noble Organisation.

(Good )

6 Nov 2025

Left by host (Help welcome at our ...) for Workawayer ()

Thank you for choosing to volunteer here. The staff were enriched by your presence.

(Excellent )

12 Oct 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help welcome at our ...)

Thank you very much Zilpah and May for having me at your fantastic school. The work that you're doing is totally inspirational. I stayed at the school for just over 2 weeks and had to leave unfortunately due to family matters. The school is a great place to volunteer. I did some coaching with some Staff. Plus, I helped particularly with the PP2… read more

(Excellent )

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