Vibrant 70-year-old volunteers at Amangwe
Working in South Africa is something Betty Pasela and her late husband had planned to do.
VOLUNTEERING her services to the rural community of Amangwe is what American, Betty Pasela has decided to do for the next two years.
The vibrant 70-year-old is a big believer in helping the next person out and cannot wait to ‘make a difference’ in the lives of those she interacts with.
‘I still have good health and wanted to do more to help people. I am really excited to be visiting South Africa, and more especially Richards Bay. Amangwe is phenomenal,’ she said.
Pasela is one of the US Peace Corps volunteers and will be involved in various projects, such as teaching English to the locals and working closely in facilitating the village’s HIV/Aids programme.
Apart from this, she will accompany the Amangwe team on visits to those who are critically ill, and join support groups of the home-based care programme.
Although she admits it was hard to leave her family behind, she knows the trip will be worth it.
‘My husband passed away two years ago and this was something we planned to do together. I know he would have wanted me to continue on this journey,’ she said.
Pasela has extensive experience in the health industry after having worked as a trained nurse for many years in her home town in Minnesota.
