Monday, June 27, 2011

Student Reflection on Returning Home - Lena Benoit

            We’ve been back a week now and I thought I would have all these stories to tell, but when people ask about my trip they want a one or two sentence description of what I spent five weeks doing. I can’t give them that. I can say it was eye opening. I can say it was fun. But no one can really grasp the experience without hearing more than a second or two about what I did.
            It’s strange; I expected to feel differently coming back. I expected to have interesting realizations about where I live and how I live, but I haven’t. What I’ve realized is that every country is different. I’ve noticed that no matter what country I go to I adjust to the way their country lives and as soon as I return home I readjust. I got off the plane and even though I noticed that we weren’t in South Africa any more, it didn’t feel strange to be back. I think the reason I adjusted so quickly when we returned is that we spent such a long time traveling home. It’s like going through an ante-chamber before entering a new room. You acclimate and adjust before you get all the way into the new situation.
            I realized by the time we got back to Chicago that I was actually going to miss being in South Africa. I was so excited to get home and see my friends and family again that I wasn’t thinking about all the things in South Africa that I would miss when I got home. As soon as I got back every little thing reminded me of different days and experiences we had in Cape Town. Whether it was eating Malva pudding, shopping at Greenmarket Square or working at Christel House I felt like everywhere I turned when I got home reminded me of something from Cape Town. I love being home, but I think Steve was right when he said that no matter how we try to explain it, no one will quite understand how Cape Town really is until they go. 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Final days

After finishing the internships on Monday and saying "thank you" at the banquet Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday were free days to do last minute shopping, visits, and activities.  One last hike up Lion's Head, one last trip to the beach, finally making the hike up Table Mountain, a few more purchases at the market, final desserts from the Deli, one more night out with co-workers and friends, and it was time to say good-bye - but the friendships and lessons learned will always be with us!

And we're off! Farewell to Cape Town - we will never forget you!

One last meal together - at the Spur in the airport

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Dancing at the Banquet

Colleagues from Black Sash at the Farewell Banquet

Enjoying conversation at the Farewell Banquet

Rev. Rose speaking at our Farewell Banquet

A final braii with Gerda and Gerhard at Hillcrest

Farewells and thank yous!

On Monday night, we gathered at the Strand Towers hotel with staff and internship supervisors (65 of us!) to celebrate our wonderful experiences in Cape Town, and to say thank you - thank you for allowing us to walk beside you for a time, and to observe and learn from your passion and commitment to building a more just and democratic society in South Africa! We ate together, were entertained by talented jazz musicians and a wonderful professional dancer (Rev. Rose's daughter, Lindiwe), danced together, and shared hugs and notes of thanks.  A wonderful ending to our internships and the beginning of an opportunity to carry the stories of Cape Town back to Truman.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Student Internship Reflection - Cape Town Refugee Center - Abigail Twenter

Welp… I have procrastinated about this blog post for as long as humanly possible. Or, as I like to think, I have lived up my time here in Cape Town. I have never written a blog post, so I don’t really know how to start but I suppose I will talk a little about what I have been doing for five weeks. Molly, ye ol news reporter claims blogs should be about one specific aspect of your experience so I suppose I will choose my internship. I work at the Cape Town Refugee Centre with six other interns, three new arrivals. In my opinion, my internship is without a doubt the best internship in Cape Town. As soon as I walked in they asked in which department I wanted to work and soon I was taking on my own clients in the Psych and Social Department. I cannot believe that they gave me so much responsibility yet I am so ecstatic that I was able to experience exactly what I was hoping. While I wouldn’t say it is the most organized organization, I was able to help sort out the referral lists and children with special needs files. But perhaps my most important endeavor was working with refugees. I was able to work closely with refugees and the numerous problems they face today and lift a few from what they thought was rock bottom.  I have heard many heart wrenching stories about refugees being torn from their homeland, what it is like to be living as a refugee in South Africa and simply coping with problems that everyone faces. There was also the major issue of sorting these stories from the lies told to rip our facility off which was also heartbreaking.  I cannot believe that I have been in Africa working for a wonderful NGO like the CTRC. It has been my dream and has fueled my fire to get out and see the world and the wonderful organizations that are helping people such as the refugees of South Africa.

Student Internship Reflection - the Cape Argus - Molly Skyles

Today was my last day at the Argus. All in all, it has been a really great internship. I struggled a bit at first because I’m not usually a news reporter, but I’ve gotten the hang of things.
Through my various assignments, I’ve learned about the rinderpest cattle plague, Africa Day celebrations, HIV treatments, soup kitchens in Cape Town, the elderly population in the city and corrective rape hate crimes.
But about journalism as a whole, I’ve learned to be flexible. I won’t always get to write the fun features pieces I enjoy or get to leave every day by 3. Like with any career, journalists have to be dedicated to their profession in able to hone their craft. Over these last 5 weeks, I’ve become a more confident writer. Hell, I even had a story on the front page, and I’m quite proud.
If I were interning at a paper in the states, I would probably be stuck doing research or writing news briefs. The Argus, though, gave me an actual chance. They assigned me real stories and gave me a platform to prove myself.
We leave Africa on Wednesday, and while I hope I get to come back at point, I don’t know what the future will hold. Regardless though, this internship has taught me a lot about professional journalism — some good and some bad things. The most important thing though, the Argus has reinforced my love of writing and proven just how important it is to be able to tell the news.
After I finished my last story today and saved it in the queue for Di, the night editor, I got hugs from other interns and even a few photographers. I also have a letter of recommendation on its way from my news editor. The Argus will always stick with me. Interns come and go at the Argus, but hopefully they will think of me, “the elderly correspondent,” when someone turns 108 or the next time a shy girl from America comes in asking for a chance. I’m eternally grateful for all the people I’ve met and all the opportunities I’ve been given.
Here’s hoping my second internship of the summer at the La Plata Home Press newspaper can compare…

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Hazar after having her hair braided

A welcome from Rev. Mtini and Brother Thami Matini

Students and family members at Sivuyile Baptist Church, before the home visits

Week 4

Another busy and productive week at student internship sites!  Kelsey travelled with the Network on Violence Against Women to a Safe Cities conference in Kimberly, Laura and Sam completed another site visit with Black Sash, Joanne helped organize another photo shoot for Artscape, and everyone worked hard on various reports and projects.  On Friday evening, most of the students were able to travel to Guguletu to spend the night with a family.  Activities during the visits varied across the different families (from watching American movies to family visits to hair-braiding), but most were warmly welcomed and well fed - all had an opportunity for a unique cross-cultural learning experience.  Monday will be the last day for students to work at their internships, and Monday night will be our banquet and celebration with all of the agency supervisors.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Student Reflection on HCT (HIV Counseling and Testing) Campaign - Hazar Khidir

HCT (HIV Counseling and Testing) Campaign
Two Saturdays ago, Margaret, Erin, and I decided to skip out on the scheduled activity for that day (visiting the University of Cape Town which was quite enjoyable I hear) and help out at the HCT (HIV Counseling and Testing) Campaign that was co-hosted by Treatment Action Campaign and MSF (Medecin Sans Frontiers/Doctors without Borders). We were picked up bright and early (8:30 am) that day to head to Khayelitsha.
We encountered a few mishaps once we got there, including a lack of keys to get into the MSF office, but it all ironed out and we made it to the testing location. Brian, an MSF worker, brought a MSF tent and all of the HIV testing materials. Once we got everything set up, we prepared for the next step which was going door-to-door with TAC’s Community Health Advocates. There were so many TAC volunteers that were there hired as community health workers. There was also a DJ and stage set up for dancing to try to attract people to stop by. Right when we arrived we were greeted by a group of 9 young girls who each gave us a hug. It was the warmest welcome I’ve ever received, and I literally felt better after the long rounds of hugs
Unfortunately, it started to rain which would most definitely reduce the number of people who’d come visit our tent. Nevertheless, Erin, Margaret, and I each went with a pair of Community Health Advocates. We cut through the maze of shacks and picked a random door. One of my two escorts’ name was Nana Africa. She knocked on the door to the home and a young woman opened the door. “Molo, Sisi,” she said. Nana Africa broke out in a tandem of clicks and vowels as she spoke in Xhosa, explaining and pointing to things on the pamphlets she held. She pointed the woman in the direction where the testing tent was set up.
We went to many houses that day. During the whole experience, I had no idea where we were, the shacks had no apparent organization to them, but the women walked expertly and confidently around bends and tiny alleys between shacks. There were no street names, no addresses; but they knew their neighborhood like the back of their thumbs. We walked into an empty shack that was Nana Africa’s or one of her relatives’. Nana Africa pulled out a bucket used as a make-shift toilet to use the rest room. In the midst of the poverty of the informal settlements in Khayelitsha, there are very few toilets. Residents of these communities desperately need adequate housing, and the government doesn’t appear to be building them quickly enough to meet the demand.
I tried to look away as she used the rest room, but it was obvious she was not the least bit uncomfortable. That’s the lovely thing about Xhosa culture; people are so absolutely comfortable being around you almost immediately after meeting. Often times at TAC event, a co-worker will rub my back or lay their hands in my lap while they’re talking to me. It’s something that wouldn’t really happen at any of my work experiences in the US, but it is so great. Breaking the “personal bubble” mindset really fosters the feeling of camaraderie that is so present at TAC.
In an effort to avert my eyes, as Nana Africa used the restroom, looked at one of the pictures on a small china cabinet of a young woman in graduation garb. Pictures are really loved in Khayelitsha. You could tell that the pictures on the china cabinet were really cherished. Nana Africa’s shack was really clean and nicely organized. Nearly all the shacks we visited that day were like that. They didn’t have much room in them—the kitchen was often a part of the very small sitting room and the bedroom could not usually hold more than a small mattress- but their residents had really made homes of them. I felt warm and homey standing in Nana Africa’s shack.
We made it back to the testing tent after having handed out all our pamphlets. There were so many kids there. Margaret, Erin, and I sat in three chairs next to the building adjacent to the tent and watched the dancing. We pulled out our cameras and began photographing the scene around us. One little girl came up and stood to have her picture taken. Soon a swarm of children came over. They would strike a funny pose, wait for us to snap the picture, then run over to us to see the resultant image.
At the end of the day it turned out only 14 people had come to be tested (compared to 81 at the last HCT Campaign). One of the men who administered the actual tests said he tested six people. Only one of them tested positive.

Student Reflection on staff meetings at the TAC - Emily Davis

Yesterday at the Treatment Action Campaign Hazar and I sat in on another meeting, this one a district council forum, discussing the quarter and each area’s progress in the community. Like every meeting we started with welcomes, long introductions, apologies, minutes from last meeting, and a discussion (or more accurately, argument) of those minutes. By the time we got to current business, it was 2 hours in and we sat apprehensively as several disputed for at least ten minutes whether they should hold the meeting in English for the two interns. When we left, there was very little hope that discussion would end before evening.
We have come to expect the drama of the weekly staff meeting. The staff and volunteers are not afraid to talk issues to death- around and around. It’s almost an art as the district secretary exclaims in a string of Xhosa expletives, the director raisers her voice to explain the importance of compliance to antiretroviral treatment with multiple health acronyms, and someone starts singing the beginning of a relevant hymn from across the room.
These meetings are not efficient, but they are passionate. The TAC members are so invested in the fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty that they are prepared to disagree and ask questions about every single point to make sure they are getting the best outcomes for their communities. That engagement is such a contrast to the apathy of most Americans and it is a spirit that is cemented in the South African consciousness (with underpinnings building from the political protests of Apartheid). It’s a privilege to learn from advocates who are not afraid to yell about the right to treatment in a crowded clinic or start a song about HIV in a full auditorium or argue load and clear for the health of their neighbors. These people, while not as efficient or time conscious, are directly engaged in the struggle for human rights and I’m so thrilled to be a part of that.

Emily Davis and Hazar Khidir at work at the TAC

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Willie Simmers, Jan Rus and Alex

Veronica and Willie Simmers in Mitchells Plain

Mark Kleinschmidt and Alex in Mitchells Plain

Joanne Heggemann and her supervisor, Nolan Africa, at Artscape

Student reflection on Photo-Shoots in Mitchells Plain - Joanne Heggemann

I am interning in the Audience Development Office at Artscape which is a theatre complex in downtown Cape Town. Currently they are working on a book called The Mitchells Plain Oral History Project. This book contains the stories of 25 influential individuals ranging in age from mid 20s to 90. All of the participants were nominated by community members for rising above the poverty stricken community to inspire change and hope.
As I stepped out onto the porch on Friday I was greeted by the brisk 6:20 a.m. African morning. My taxi was waiting at the bottom on the stairs and I approach joyfully to head to Artscape. Nolan (my supervisor), Jan (the photographer), Alex (Jan’s assistant), and I left Artscape at 7 for Mitchells Plain’s Town Center.
The first model for the day was Rudolf Paulse. Mr. Paulse started his career as a singer then he became a manager. He organized talent shows and became a manager for a major nightspot in Mitchells Plain bringing entertainment for the people for a small fee. Today he helps kids develop their singing abilities. Mr. Paulse was not as keen to being photographed as he was on talking to everyone who passed by. Mitchells Plains has such a strong community it is like living in a small town of 1 million people.
Mr. Paulse’s photo shoot finished early and we were all freezing since the sun had just graced the Cape Flats with its presence, so Nolan took us by his cousin Vernon’s school for hot water. We made packets of instant soup to warm our chilled bodies, and in no time we were off to the Rocklands Civic Center to photograph Veronica and Willie Simmers. Mr. Simmers description by the reporter is “a quiet, unassuming man” and he is just that. Just by looking at him you can he is a great man, but very humble. He was involved in the struggle against apartheid and was arrested numerous times for his resistant efforts. He helped form the UDF (united democratic front). Today he is in his 70s and still counsels kids in trouble everyday in Mitchells Plains.
Next up for the day was Veronica Simmers the wife and fellow activist of Willie Simmers. The moment I was introduced to Mrs. Simmers with a handshake it felt as though I have known her all of my life. She spent the apartheid years organizing boycotts and mobilizing communities. She was arrested three times and was detained twice. I cannot even fathom the horrors she witnessed in and outside of prison. She is one of the kindest and most elegant women I have ever met. While Mr. Simmers was being photographed I had the privilege of talking with Mrs. Simmers and she shared a little bit about herself. One of the parades she helped organized packed 15,000 people into the Civic Center, which is a little larger than a high school gym. Mrs. Simmers photo shoot was finished far too quickly, I could spend the next decade listening to her story and only have scratched the surface. She parted with a hug and I was left with the honor of having met her.
Marlene Le Roux the head of the Audience Development Office met us at Rocklands and we headed towards The Promenade (a mall) to meet Mark Kleinschmidt. We were running early so Marlene bought us coffee, samoosas, and chili poppers. By the time Mr. Kleinschmidt arrived our stomachs were full and we were recaffeinated. Mr. Kleinschmidt was the most energetic model we have seen. He was all for posing and he had a gigantic smile on his face the entire time. Mr. Kleinschmidt is a former teacher, principal, and a businessman. He also established the first community radio station in Mithchells Plain. Through the radio station Mr. Kleinschmidt helped mobilize schools during the height of the unrest and broadcast subliminal messages to detainees. One of his proudest moments is when he introduced Nelson Mandela to the people of Mitchells Plain. From the Promenade we moved to the outdoor market which he helped build. Everyone was out enjoying the beautiful sunny day. The market was full of a wonderful energetic vibe that was impossible not to catch.
Our last stop was Michelle Ohlsson’s home. Her photo was taken in front of a family portrait in her living room. Mrs. Ohlsson’s son disappeared when he was nine years old today he is 25 years old. Every time Mrs. Ohlsson walks into her home she hopes that her son will be sitting on the couch alive. Because of this tragedy Mr. Ohlsson helped make missing children part of the national agenda; she also counsels parents of missing children, is a liason for the police, a safe haven for abused mother and children, and is involved in saving the lives of missing children. That concluded the photo shoot for the day and we headed back to Artscape.
These are only a few of the outstanding individuals whose stories are going to be published in the book. Along with there stories there was a creative writing competition for high schoolers on where they see Mitchells Plain in 2050 the winner’s essay will serve as the epilogue. There is also a drawing contest for students in junior high and the winner’s drawing will be the cover art of the book. The book is about bringing the community of Mitchells Plain together and recognizing all of the great things that have come from the largest township in Cape Town. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to work along side and get to know all of these amazing people.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Erin Medin and Sister Sandy at Tafelsig Clinic

Student reflection on hellos and goodbyes at Tafelsig Clinic - Erin Medin

When I first found out that I had been placed at Tafelsig Clinic for my internship, I was truly worried about my lack of medical experience and how it would effect my ability to be of value there. But as it turns out, what I thought was a short-coming turned out to be a gift. While my lack of experience has limited my capacity as a worker, in has unhinged my capacity as a learner and what I have learned has very little to do with medicine:
With just over two weeks under my belt at the busy Tafelsig Clinic, I cannot say enough about the people that have welcomed me there. Brother Eddie is one of those people. He greets me by name as we pass in the hallway and is forever throwing me a questioning ‘thumbs-up’ to make sure I am alright. One day at leaving time I was rushing passed the reception area in pursuit of the door when I heard a forceful knock on the reception window. I turned around and there was Brother Eddie, looking paternalistic. “How can you run past here like that?” he said. “You must tell us goodbye before you leave.” The tone in his voice was serious and I knew I had committed a cultural faux pas.
I should have known better. In our short stay in South Africa the importance of “hellos” and “goodbyes” has come up several times. Since the beginning, Steve McDuff has stressed the importance of thoughtful greetings and their ability to communicate respect. But for some reason I still ran past that window. It took Brother Eddie’s knock to solidify the message and to help me truly recognize the propensity toward respect in South African culture.
When I arrive at Tafelsig in the morning, Fahmy and Tyrone shout a “Hello” from the pharmacy. I get a “How’s it?” from Warren when I drop my bag in the back and a sincere “Good Morning” from Sister Sandy when I make it to the examination room. The kids greet me with a “Hello, Aunty” and their mothers with a “Hello, Sister.” Wendy welcomes me to tea time with a “How are you, my dear?” and Aunty Iris hollers “Erin!” down the hall. Immunized (and traumatized) children muster tearful waves as they leave the room. “Aye, shame,” is the response from Brother Eddie upon confirmation of my departure and the security guards say goodbye as a board the van to go home. In every way the greetings at Tafelsig communicate a respect that is not only spoken, but felt.
When I arrived at Tafelsig I wanted to do nothing more that prove my (medically-inexperienced) worth, but Tafelsig has taught me that I don’t have to. They value and respect me whether or not I can contribute to their clinic. And I have been reminded that proving my worth should always be second to finding worth in others. Everyone at Tafelsig Clinic already knows this. That is why there greetings are so sincere. That is why in the face of serious resource limitations, they are able to provide high quality care to their patients. That is how they endure increased workloads and long hours. They truly value people for being people, and experiencing this is why being at Tafelsig Clinic has been such a valuable experience for me.
Needless to say, I don’t run past that window anymore. I stop and I wait and I say goodbye to Brother Eddie to be sure that he knows the depth of respect I have for him.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Happy 20th Birthday, Sara!

Enjoying a delicious lunch in Genadendal

Learning about the history of Gendendal from Dr. Isaac Barley

In the old town square at Genadendal

Week 3

A busy week of work for all the student interns! Site visits, a regional gathering for stakeholders, a youth jazz festival, and a ten-year celebration of the anniversary of the roll-out of antriretroviral drugs were some of the highlights of the week. Saturday took us to Genadendal, the oldest mission station in South Africa, which served as a refuge for the Khoi-San people of the Western Cape in the 1700s and 1800s. At one time, Genadendal was the second largest community in South Africa, and produced all of its own food and goods. Today it is still communally owned and farmed by the descendents of the Khoi-San. We toured the historic sites and the museum, and were treated to rural hospitality at a delicious lunch!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Jennifer Pearlstein and her supervisor at Kenilworth Clinic

Reflection on Internship at the Network on Violence Against Women - Kelsey Louder

After almost two weeks at my internship I have had a lot of time to reflect on the entire internship experience and how it is helping me grow. I originally thought the internship was just going to teach me tons of things about working in an NGO, the problem of violence against women in South Africa, and what is being done in the Western Cape specifically to end the violence. It has done all those things and I'm sure I will continue to learn more but I think the most important things that working at the Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women (WCNOVAW) has taught me have been about my self. First of all, who knew I could take a minibus taxis to and from work by myself and not want to hyperventilate? Growing up in Mexico, Missouri and going to college in Kirksville did not prepare me for this kind of experience. When Vernon first told me that I would be taking a minibus to work, I thought he surely must be joking. I had about zero confidence in myself to get on the right bus, let alone make sure I get off at the right stop. I did it though, and now I am a pro at this whole minibus thing. I was even showing the former IEC girls how to do it the other day! Even though that may not sound like much of anything, anyone who knows me knows that its a huge step for me to feel comfortable with that.

Another thing I am learning is how to make myself become more assertive. In situations that are new to me I can be very quiet and shy and as you can imagine that doesn't work well in an internship setting. It is taking a while for me to come out of my shell at work and it has been a very interesting experience. Slowly I start to ask more questions and have little conversations with more people but it I think it is going to take a while for me to get used to things. Patience isn't something I am good at, so I have been a little frustrated to say the least. WCNOVAW is such a fantastic organization and I am surrounded by strong women everyday when I go to work, I'm sure I will be able break out of my shyness soon enough. The programs they help implement are very interesting to me and one program in particular, the Global Fund Peer Educator Program, is especially inspirational. Seeing all these different young women going out into their communities to share information about violence against women and where to get help, is such a great thing to witness. I was fortunate enough to go to a meeting and meet some of these young women,my first day at the internship and I immediately got to see some of the impact WCNOVAW is making in the community. It may be difficult for me to adjust to a new situation but the motivation to really get as involved as I can in this organization is definitely there. It's only my second week and I can already tell I have come a long way but I am glad I have another two weeks left because I have a long way to go. This experience may just teach me more than I ever expected it to.

Kelsey Louder at the Network on Violence Against Women

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Adam, Julie, and Dylan at Africa Unite

 
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Reflection on visit to Maitland Refugee Reception Center - Laura Boville

Last night, Sam and I participated in a “rights education and monitoring session” at the Maitland Refugee Reception Center. The session was part of a Community Monitoring Advocacy Project (CMAP for short. This country loves its acronyms) that we have been primarily focusing on at our internship with The Black Sash. Essentially, CMAP is trying to enable people to monitor and safeguard their rights when interacting with government agencies like SASSA and Home Affairs. They try to establish a system of checks and balances. For me, it was a very eye-opening experience.
This Reception Center is responsible for granting permits and documentation to foreigners seeking refuge in South Africa. They come from all over- the DRC, Sudan, Burundi, Nigeria, Somalia, Rwanda- looking for peace, security, work, an escape. The program strives to ensure these refugees are being treated equally, in a system and country wrought with xenophobia. We were told to simply arm ourselves with flyers, advice and information for refugees and asylum-seekers coming to the center, prepare for some interviews, and venture off into the unknown.
Leonie, our supervisor, likes to call these excursions “pavement stands.” It makes me think of a protest, like West Side Story meets the Civil Rights Movement. I guess it really is a kind of struggle, given we can only monitor from outside the premises of the center, without permission, and Home Affairs isn’t exactly thrilled about it, for whatever reason. It’s not a perfect system, just one we’re trying to improve, I suppose.
We decided to go to Maitland around 5 p.m. for a couple of reasons: that way, we wouldn’t interfere with Home Affairs’ operating hours, we could try to catch people leaving the center, and possibly interview those said to be camping out for the night. The number of refugees trying to be processed at the center on a daily basis is astounding. Because there is such a demand for aid from the thousands of people crossing South Africa’s border, you can imagine the crowd. There is usually a group of refugees gathering at night, resigned to sit and wait or sleep until the Center’s gates open around 4 a.m., and wait again until the office officially opens around 8. This was the group of people that we interacted with. I learned a great deal about the struggles they are facing while trying to build new lives in South Africa.
For many of them, this wasn’t their first time on the pavement. The asylum-seeker permit that the majority of them are trying to renew is valid for only a couple of months, and there is a quick turn-around for many of the others. In order to remain in the country legally, these asylum-seekers must travel from wherever they are living, month after month (sometimes week after week) to the Reception Center in hopes of a renewal.
Being first in line after sleeping there overnight does not always guarantee someone service. A number of the refugees I spoke to mentioned there were a number of foreign nationals organizing a bribing system for better spots in line. If you have money, you get right in. If not, you spend a great portion of your “new life” waiting, and waiting… and waiting. Rain or shine, employed or not, single or with their children in tow.
Speaking to these refugees and hearing their stories was the most rewarding part of my internship thus far. I had heard about refugees and their struggles in war-torn countries far away from my own home, but I had never come face to face with someone who had been forced to pick up their life and move away, indefinitely. Many of them are terrified of their futures, scared for their families, fearful of their own shadows. They are people with dreams, experiences, and wishes for a normal life.
I wanted to get a couple of pictures outside the center while we were there, though the refugees obviously preferred not to show their faces. One women, staying overnight with her 5 month old son, asked me why I would want a picture. No one had ever asked her before. I thought the least I could do was put a face, or figure, to these reports we were making. These people are so much more than stacks of paper in some office waiting to be filed. They deserve to be recognized for what they are: human beings in need. I hope we can help them find what they are looking for.

Adam Speak and Dylan Terry working at Africa Unite

 
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Laura Boville, Sam Spencer and colleagues at Black Sash

 
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Office Staff at the Economic Justice Network

 
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Hannah Motes and Malcolm, the Director of the Economic Justice Network

 
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Kelsey Smith with colleagues at the Cape Town Refugee Center

 
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Sara Stubbert, Sinny, Elizabeth Hatting, and Amelia Bursi at SANGOCO

 
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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Student reflection on a free HIV-testing event - Margaret Loehnig


Saturday, May 28
Today was certainly a unique learning experience. Instead of going with the rest of the group to the Kirstenbosch Garden and the University of Cape Town, Hazar, Erin, and I went to Khayelitsha (a township) to help Treatment Action Campaign and Doctors Without Borders with a free HIV testing event. And by “help,” I really mean we were there to learn, as always. Whenever we asked if there was anything we could do to help, the response was always “Just relax!” That’s how it is around here, at least from my experience.
Our guide and the man who picked us up from Hillcrest was an Italian who worked for DWB named Gisepe. We spent a lot of the morning waiting for a spare key to be delivered to TAC and listening to Gisepe explain many of the shortcomings of the DWB project in Khayelitsha. He said the workers are often “sick” and just won’t show up to work. “Even if they haven’t taken care of something, they will tell you they have if you ask them,” he told us. “It’s so frustrating, because then I’ll show up expecting it to be done and it won’t be, and that just makes me even angrier than if they had just told me the truth in the first place.” Reflecting on his statement, I think this may just be a cultural difference in South Africa. It reminds me of peoples’ tendency here to agree to come to a gathering when invited, even when they don’t intend to actually show up. It’s simply considered impolite to refuse.
We finally arrived at the site of the testing event and set up a small, white tent. A group of young girls arrived to dance on a nearby stage in order to attract more people to the area. They came up to us and gave us a hug one by one. It was adorable. My favorite part of the day was when we got to go out into the township and distribute pamphlets to the residents to try to raise awareness about the testing. Erin, Hazar, and I split up and each went with a local volunteer. We wove in and out of the shacks on a sandy-like ground, occasionally popping into houses with open doors. Dogs roamed around looking ragged and miserable. People generally looked more miserable. It had rained the night before, and the day was cold and windy. Many of their houses had holes in the roofs, and most were one room only. The little kids with snot running down their faces stared at me like I was some kind of mysterious apparition. One little boy fixated on me, wide-eyed, from his doorway and tugged at the sleeve of his little friend. As I was leaving, I did happen to catch the word “umlungu” from him. I smiled. The word means “white person.”
In general, people were fairly receptive to our efforts. I found this surprising, imagining how offended many people in the United States would be if a stranger came to the doorway and handed them a pamphlet to go get tested for HIV. Despite our efforts, however, only 14 people actually showed up to get tested. This could have been due to several factors, including the crummy weather. But it is also clear that the event was disorganized and lacked adequate publicity. The health volunteers were clearly frustrated by the turnout. However, they had the hope that the next one would turn out better.


Monday, May 30, 2011

Feeding ostriches at an ostrich farm

Kudu with a dewlap for speed and distance

A young elephant at Aquila

Springbok at Aquila

Lions resting in the sun

Hippos lying in the sun at Aquila Game Reserve

On safari at Aquila Game Reserve!

Typical scenery of the Little Karoo

Day 18

An early start (6:30 am) for a trip to Aquila Game Reserve.  It's a two-hour drive from Cape Town into the "Little Karoo," which is a long valley bordered by the Swartberg and the Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape. This is an arid area of rolling hills and flat valleys, filled with succulents and low scrubby bushes.  Herds of buffalo, elephant and kudu once dominated this area only to be hunted or driven out by modern development.  Private reserves like Aquila have successfully reintroduced a variety of game, from zebra to lions, and also participate in efforts to rescue animals from "canned hunting".  We arrived and were met with a welcome drink, followed by a full breakfast, then off on our game drive at 9:45 am in an open jeep-like vehicle.  We were fortunate to see large numbers of springbok, wildebeest and zebra, a napping group of lions, two elephants, hippos, rhinos, eland, and several other antelope.  After a refreshment stop, we continued our drive, ending with a visit to a rescued leopard and cheetahs. Then we had a delicious lunch, and spotted a giraffe at a distance! More students were awake on the drive back to enjoy the beautiful scenery!