Mike Addison wrote: I found your site most recently and was pleasantly surprised.

My first impression of the Tvind organisation was formed way back in about '82-'84 in Zimbabwe, where I had grown up. Under the name of Danish Aid from People to People, volunteers were sent to teach the Africans such basics as making bricks, whilst living in appalling conditions in the bush and on a minimum of basics. After a few months, a meeting was held, and about 25 of the volunteers were chucked out of the organisation for allegedly smoking marijuana. This meant that they forfeited their return tickets, which they qualified for only after serving a year in Zimbabwe. A lot of them were staying at the local youth hostel, virtually penniless, whilst the wheels of the Zimbabwe Immigration Department swung into Deportation mode. As I had spent 18 months in Sweden and could communicate with the volunteers, I suggested they use my house as a base, and at any one time for about 3 or 4 months there would be anything up to 15 people staying there. Then the Deportation orders started. I don't know what happened to most of the volunteers, but I bought tickets back home for a Swedish girl, Karina Davidsson, and a Dane, Marianne Nielsen, so that they didn't end up in a Zimbabwean jail for even one night. I then travelled overland with Kalle Douglas, now of SecuritasAB in Stockholm, to Dar-eSalaam, and then to Greece.

Not a pleasant experience for a lot of them, and I was absolutely taken aback by how a so-called "beneficial" organisation could treat its own people. I suspect now that there were ulterior motives in kicking them off and abandoning them.

I am now living in Hastings, East Sussex, presently in-between careers. Please feel free to use the piece as you want. It certainly was an experience which I'm sure none will forget, and, once the Tvind bit was out the way, most of the volunteers will have fond memories of their time in Africa. Could you let me know if you use it, and how to find it. It's OK to use my e-mail address, maybe some of them will get in touch!

By the way, I wonder if there's a connection between Tvind and van Hoogstroom (sp?), presently doing time for murder in the UK. He too seems to have had the hots for Mugabe and Zanu-PF. Just a thought.


Kind Regards, Mike Addison.
Rhodesiafever@aol.com <Rhodesiafever@aol.com>