My First Two Days

I am on an amazing project at the Etafeni Day Care Centre in Nyanga Township. I work with a woman named Deborah who runs a program for umemployed youth who show promise. They enroll in a six week program that helps them with life skills such as preparing a resume and CV, job interviews, computer skills, and having a realistic plan for their lives. I hope that I do well . The young people are at least 18 years old and have completed at least high school. Most if not all are in dire financial straits, so this is a real opportunity for them. I spoke with a young lady today named Natalie who said it is very hard for her family. Her mother died last year and she has had to stop school because of lack of money. She wants to be a teacher, but needs money to attend university. She told me she was very hungry today because she had not had dinner last night because of no food. I am sure her story is not untypical for people in townships in South Africa.

Cape Town is a a city of contrasts. There are very wealthy areas, and then there are the townships. The government is attempting to build new homes for township dwellers, but it appears to be an impossible task as the population of Cape Town is growing faster than new buildings can be constructed. Even within the townships, there are marked differences. There are substantial homes, but the vast majority of the dwellings are shanties that are tiny and flimsy. Most are constructed of lumber scraps and/or corrugated tin. When the weather gets cold and wet, as it has been these past three days, it is not unheard of that big fires occur in the townships as people do what they can to fight the cold. People use storage containers as their place of business whether it be a tyre repair shop, a beauty salon, or a barber shop. There is massive unemployment. I think one of our tour guides said Cape Town's unemployment rate is around 40%. There is great anticipation about the World Cup next year and the government is doing a lot of construction near the highways so that people will see it; but there is no hiding the townships from view. We were told by our tour guide that people in the townships actually intentionally put up shanties near the new buildings and in full view so that visitors will see the real townships.

We had our first language lesson in Xhosi yesterday. Some of the sounds are so foreign to English speakers that the language is a real challenge. I will try to communicate with the adults in Xhosi and hope that I don't say anything that will cause an international incident. It is one of those clicking languages but sound very lyrical when spoken by a Xhosi speaker.

We have learned that there are different classes in South Africa such as the white, the colored, the black, the malay, the indian. Colored refers to mixed race and is not politically incorrect as it is in the states. Referring to a person born in South Africa as a Native South African is considered an insult, though I can't remember why now. At the risk of belaboring the obvious, we are discovering and trying to honor the cultural differences we are experiencing here.

We hope all is well with all of you and will try to keep you posted.
Art