St. Anne's by Brendon

…One might also call it ‘Heaven-on-Earth’.

St. Anne’s has been providing services since 1997. They house women who are unable to care for their children on their own. It’s divided into two parts; a living environment for the mother and her child and a daycare for the children. Residing mothers are given 4-6months to live here. During this time, they work hand-and-hand with Social Worker’s to assist them with finding employment opportunities. The program is divided into what we would call Phases. Once a mother finds employment, she is able to move on to the next ‘Phase’. During this time, her child is still able to stay in St. Anne’s longer than the recommended 4-6months, if needs be. The hope of St. Anne’s is to keep a constant flow; having mothers come in, receive help and continue on their own with the skills to care for themselves and their children, leaving space for another family to come in and receive that same help. These mother’s here have enough insanity in their lives…they need stability; and that is what St. Anne’s services provide.

Today was our first day at our volunteer sites. Gabrielle and I were assigned to St. Anne’s and we were excited! Upon our arrival, our instructor Jan, introduced us to Mr. Martin, the Director of the Daycare portion of St. Anne’s. Martin gave us a tour of the facility and presented us with our assignments. I was assigned with the infants.

I remember entering the room shared with six cribs bordering the Mickey Mouse decorated wall and four infants; Anthony, Nicholene, Shanay and Haley, along with the Teacher; Sweetness (trust me, her name says it all!) I remember walking in and Anthony being the first baby I’d seen. His big bright eyes-so bright it was almost as if there were a hint of light-blue in them…indescribable. I picked up Anthony and held him close to me. Knowing he needed affection as he has been in St. Anne’s since April ’09 and his mother is currently on ‘Phase 2’, meaning she has found employment and is showing progress. While holding Anthony, Haley was asleep in her crib. Nicholene was sleep on the mat with Shanay who was on the floor lying awake. Eventually I received the opportunity to hold each of them, but there was something about Anthony;

As I stood there holding him close to me, I asked myself how am I making a difference by simply holding a baby?

…While I’m holding Anthony, I’m giving him the affection he needs that he may not have received before he was brought to St. Anne’s. By holding Anthony, I am giving his mother the opportunity to work with the Social Worker’s so that she can find a job to become stable and able enough to care for him. As I hold Anthony, I remember that I am holding the future of South Africa in my hands.

(A very pivotal moment it was for me; both a privilege and a reward.)

At one point, I was left all alone with the babies. I named the four of them The Ripple-Effect. It seemed when one baby cried, the next would join in until all four were crying. Ironically enough, even after Jan said we probably wouldn’t have our first diaper change (Nappies as they call them in South Africa) today, I did! Sweetness walked in on me changing Anthony and asked “Do you have baby back at home?!”, in an excited voice. I laughed and replied, “I’m so sorry, I don’t.”

Today I helped feed the babies and Shanay’s mother came in and breastfed her child. Later, Sweetness and I had a discussion about breastfeeding; her views were; it is much better to breastfeed than it is to bottle feed with milk. Her reasoning was that the breast is much healthier than the bottle. With breastfeeding, you are forced sit there with your child and connect with them. As oppose to bottle, most mothers simply give their baby the bottle and do other things. I remember Sweetness saying, with breastfeeding, it is much more intimate; you have to be in the moment…

The day was filled with much to do. One would think an infant; unable to say or do much wouldn’t require much attention, but they do! While being at St. Anne’s the workers are quickly accustomed to each infants’ needs. Whether it is; knowing when they need a nap. Knowing when they are hungry. Or, simply just knowing when they need affection. Whatever the case may be; the angels that provide services at this Safe-Haven are well equipped for whatever task at hand.

*Pictures coming soon!*

Distict 6 by Tayler Weber

District 6 was named the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town in 1867. During the earlier part of the apartheid era, District 6 was largely made up of coloured residents that included many Muslims with small numbers of Africans, Whites, and Indians living there as well. On February 11, 1966 the government declared District 6 as a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act with forced removals starting in 1968. Over 60,000 non-white residents were told by their government to evacuate their homes with barely any warning at all. Their houses were bulldozed and they were forced to relocate to the Cape Flats Township almost 25 kilometers away.

In 1994 the District 6 museum was built not only as a remembrance to the tragic events of the apartheid era but also to the rich culture the area had before removals. One of the museum’s greatest displays is of the large street map of District 6 that is located on the floor in the center of the museum. The District Six Museum Foundation welcomes former residents to come in and personally write notes indicating where their homes used to be. Some other interesting features of the District 6 museum include street signs, historical explanations of life before the forced removals, and perhaps most importantly a meeting place for former residents to come and share their stories and memories of District 6.

Our group was fortunate enough to have Linda Fortune, author of the “House on Tyne Street” give us a tour of the museum where she shared personal memories of her experiences in District 6. Linda experienced apartheid firsthand including forced removals and relocation. She also gave us a tour of a secluded beach where people used to live in caves in order to escape living on the streets.

This is our group standing on what used to be one of the main streets in District Six.

This is a display of old streets names that used to exist in District Six before apartheid destroyed the former community.

Johannesburg by Gabrielle

For our final weekend in South Africa, our group was fortunate enough to travel to Johannesburg. The city of Johannesburg played a major role in ending the apartheid and several anti-apartheid activists have lived or still live there. We arrived in Johannesburg fairly late, but found our stay to be quite comfortable. We stayed at a beautiful home that is commonly used for backpackers. I was even happier with our stay there when I found the two dogs that live at the house!

Jess with the cute dogs!

On Saturday, our first stop was Constitution Hill. While we were there, we took an extremely interesting tour of the prison grounds. At the height of apartheid, several South Africans were imprisoned for pursuing their beliefs in human rights and/or for not obliging to the inhumane and unequal rule of apartheid. This prison kept people like Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Luthuli, and Robert Sobukwe captive for years in attempt to prevent the destruction of apartheid. But, as we all know, these people were not terrorists and nor were they criminals. These people were freedom fighters and were willing to risk their lives to rebuild a South African nation that is not ruled by racial discrimination.

A photo of some of the prison cells. If you look closely, you can see that at the end of the row of cells, the door is shut. This cell is haunted and that is why the cell door is shut and locked.

After we toured the prison grounds, we visited South Africa's highest court, also known as the Constitutional Court of South Africa. There are 11 judges for each of South Africa's official languages. The waiting room outside of the court room was so beautiful. It was very modern and had beautiful light fixtures. I thought it was great to see such bright colors in such a serious and historical place. But it does make sense because South Africa is the rainbow nation! The court room also had a beautiful creation of the South African flag. For lunch, we went to a casino and a few people from our group tried out gambling.

Once we were done eating, we went to the Apartheid Museum and the Nelson Mandela Exhibit. It is extremely difficult to explain how powerful these museums were. They brought the apartheid alive through images, videos, quotations, art work, music, and personal stories. One video that moved me was a short documentary that contained real footage from riots in the late 80s. It is so hard for me to fathom the violence that people experienced and the violence that people participated in order to defend apartheid rule. This video made me very upset because I know that similar violence still exists all over the world. Later that day I was walking with Sly (one of our tour guides/the coolest guy ever!) and talking to him about apartheid. I asked him what he did when Nelson Mandela was elected and he was almost speechless. He could barely put his emotions into words and our conversation put everything I have learned into a different perspective. I don't know why, but everything he had to say really impacted me and allowed me to views things in a whole new light. Like many South Africans, Sly is a living piece of history who worked so hard to achieve equality and to take down the apartheid rule.

These sticks and the different colors represent the many characteristics Nelson Mandela represented. At the end of the exhibit, each person has the chance to make a promise to the world by choosing the characteristic/quotes they admire most about Nelson Mandela. By choosing a stick and placing it in one of the many holders, you promise that you will live up to Nelson Mandela's words. I chose a green stick and placed mine in the very last group.

Sly and I.

On Sunday, our group traveled to Soweto--a township in Johannesburg and a historical landmark. We toured Soweto on bicycles and it was so much fun! Soweto is an extremely diverse township because there are shacks, apartments, and even homes with ADT security services. We were able to see the home that Nelson Mandela once lived in and we also saw Desmond Tutu's home. A very memorable part of our bike tour happened right in front of Nelson Mandela's house involving a crashed bike, but I won't mention names!

Soweto is a historical landmark because it is known for the Soweto Uprising. On June 16th, 1976, black students began huge riots against the Bantu Education Act--an act that (among several other things) forced all black schools to use Afrikaans as a language of instruction. Because the students did not speak Afrikaans and because Bantu Education was just another way to implement apartheid/white supremacy, the youth of Soweto revolted and literally started the beginning to the end of apartheid. Several children were murdered by government officials and police officers. But their lives and sacrifices are honored in Soweto with an extremely beautiful and symbolic memorial. I am so grateful that we got to experience Soweto because I think we all took home a very valuable life lesson: we all have the power to make a change, no matter how young we are.

The picture that I am standing next to is of Hector Pieterson. Hector is the boy that is being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo (following behind Mbuyisa is his sister, Antoinette). When Mbuyisa saw that Hector (a stranger to Mbuyisa) was injured, he carried Hector away from riot in hopes that Hector's life could be saved. This photograph made Mbuyisa so famous that he fled South Africa. Apartheid rulers deemed Mbuyisa as a terrorist when he was merely attempting to save a young boy's life. No one knows where Mbuyisa is now and he may still be alive. Hector was one of the first of many children to lose their lives in the fight against apartheid. This photograph is a visual representation of the beginning to the end of apartheid.

Here's a great music video with pictures from the Soweto Uprising and very powerful lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LE0c3iTfGk&feature=related

Wine Tasting by Fei

The schedule for today revolves around wineries around Stellenbosch. The day started out with our first Winery called Groot Constantia. This winery is supposedly THE oldest in SA according to our guide. The winery was in a beautiful area with a fantastic view of the mountains. We had a guided tour of both the processing floor and storage facility. We learned about the production process of both red and white wines, especially how temperature is important for white while not important for red. The red, however, takes much longer to ferment (couple of months) compared to the white. The red is much more flexible in terms of temperature and can be kept around a larger range of temperatures. She said that the grapes in the Constantia area are especially good for wine making due to the cool breeze from the Atlantic from the northwest.

We learned that the color of the wine entirely depends on the color of the grape skin. While white wine can be made from both red and white grapes, red can only be made with red grapes. The color is achieved with the "pump over" process where the wine is pumped from the top and redumped on the top through the layer of skin floating on top. This is done several times until appropriate color is achieved. We were then taken into the barrel room where French handmade oak barrels were stored. She said that the barrels are quite expensive and completely imported. The oaks can only store wine THREE times, each giving off distinct flavors and characteristics. Experienced wine makers can mix the first with the third and second with first, etc to achieve the desired the effect. We were then taken into the tasting room where five glasses were on display in front of every seat. One was a dry white, one rose, two reds, and one Port (sweet) wine. She went on to explain the lightness of the white and rose and how they are good for picnics; heaviness of the red and how they are good with red meat; and the savoriness of the port and how it is a dessert wine. Not really knowing what I was doing, I went through the motion of swirling, smelling, and tasting each wine. I liked all the wines but I especially liked how the flavor of the red and how the flavors would rush in your nostrils after you take a sip. Many of us ended up purchasing the Gouverneurs Reserve since it was the winery's stable and we rather enjoyed it.

Our next destination was Klein Constantia, which was supposedly part of Groot Constantia a long time ago. This winery was famous for the Van de Constantia, which is a sparkling white wine that Napoleon once enjoyed. We started with the typical dry white and Marlbrook red. All of these were really just leading up to the Van de Constantia. The wine was almost like sweet grape juice and I could barely taste the alcohol content. I asked the bartender why it was so sweet and he said that it is mainly because of the grapes that they produce there, which are especially sweet.

Our last winery had a fantastic view of the vineyard. Although we did not taste any wine at this place, it was hands down the best winery experience. As soon as you walk through the building, you a greeted with a fantastic view of the vineyard with crisp blue sky and cloud shrouded mountains in the distance. While most of us took a break and enjoyed the scenery from a distance, a few of us ventured into the vineyard itself. The scenery was simply stunning and we took pictures after pictures of the grapevines meeting the sky. Although a bit strenuous, the excursion was worth it in every way and we went away with THE vineyard experience we can boast about to anyone.

Robben Island by Taylor

We took a trip to Robben Island by ferryboat to tour the prison that held various political prisoners during the apartheid era. Located in Table Bay, just seven kilometers off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, Robben Island is roughly three kilometers long and two kilometers wide. Several prominent political figures in South Africa were held prisoner there, most notably former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Nelson Mandela.

The tour was comprised of a bus tour around the island to view the former leper colony, penguins, lighthouse, and stone quarry where the prisoners worked as well as a walking tour of the prison. The tour of the prison was given by a former political prisoner that was held on the island. He was able to give a firsthand account of the living conditions and especially the food since he worked in the kitchen during his time there. On this tour of the prison we were able to see the bathrooms and sleeping quarters as well as the kitchen and recreation areas. The most memorable part of the tour was viewing Nelson Mandela’s former cell, in the high security area. Although it has been repainted, the furnishings remain including a mat for sleeping, a chair, and a bucket for the restroom. The cell was incredibly small as seen below, and it is where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.

For more information: http://www.robben-island.org.za/

St. Joseph's Home for Children by Leah

Many of us (Mike, Taylor, Anita, Arianna, Fei, Kelsey, and Tayler and I) have been placed at St. Joseph’s home for children which is a home for chronically ill children. Many children are HIV positive, have had cancer, or are diabetic. We had a very warm welcome from Luis who is in charge of fundraising. He had very interesting stories for us and was very grateful to have us volunteer.

Mike, Taylor and Anita worked in the Sunflower ward which was home to infants and toddlers who were all HIV positive. I know they enjoyed their time at St. Joseph’s and learned a lot. Mike kept telling our class how much he has learned and how he fed a baby for the first time! Anita and Taylor would come home talking about their favorite kids and I know it was a very sad good-bye for them.

Arianna, Fei, and I volunteered in the Daisy ward. Daisy was home to girls who ranged anywhere from 2-10 years old. We all had a blast in this ward. Arianna and I taught them songs and dances almost every day. Their favorites were the banana song and the macerena. We even got this mean nun to do the dance with us and the kids. We went to the toy library or the park everyday until the girls went to school.

Kelsey and Tayler worked in a ward called Sweet Basil which housed boys anywhere from 2 -11 years old. I know they always came home exhausted because the boys have so much energy. I don’t think I ever saw either of them without a boy crawling on their back. Many days Sweet Basil and Daisy would play together in the toy library or at the park and it was always a fun time.

St. Joseph’s was very warm to all of us and we all created bonds with the children and each other.

Khayelitsha Township by Jeanita

Today we visited our second township, Khayelitsha. As I walked around the township I saw numerous shacks, and some would called this an impoverished area or the ghetto. However, I saw a community not simply a township, which has not forgotten the hardship of apartheid, but embraces the future. Before I continue, I deem it necessary to differentiate between a community and a township. In my opinion, a township describes an impoverished area where blacks live in shacks. However, a community is where a group of people work together to not only empower themselves, but also the next generation. Thus, I will no longer refer to Khayelitsha as a township, but rather a community.

This community has over one million residents, but one resident inspired me greatly and her name is Mama Thope. Mama Thope is an entrepreneur who turned her garage into a bed and breakfast. I had the opportunity to have lunch at Mama Thope’s bed and breakfast and the food was great. I was also impressed with the design of the garage, in which over ten flags was displayed along the walls including the United States. Mama Thope joked that she has had the United Nations in her home. However, I was more impressed with the story of why Mama Thope deemed it necessary to start a bed and breakfast. She stated that many tourists would come in vans and view Khayelitsha and take pictures, but did not understand the history of the community. The bed and breakfast not only allows tourists to learn about Khayelitsha, but gives tourists the option to stay in the community over night to provide a realistic experience of life in the community.

Mama Thope has not concealed the secrets to her success from her neighbors, but has also showed others how to start a bed and breakfast. Mama Thope is not afraid of competition from her neighbors, but rather thinks of it as empowering others to improve their economic status. I was truly inspired by her overwhelming generosity and thought to myself where would this world be if we all empowered each other. Thus, Mama Thope is more than an entrepreneur, but also an innovator and a humanitarian. I would never forget the valuable lesson I learned that day, which is to empower others.

Guguletu and Nyanga by Mike

During the time in which South Africa was governed with the policies enforced through apartheid, blacks and coloreds were forcefully removed from their homes in major city-centers to townships located further away from downtown areas. In Cape Town, two specific townships that we have spent time in on our trip have been Nyanga and Guguletu.

The first township that we visited was Nyanga. We had lunch one of our first days in Cape Town prepared by Ivy at her brother, Andrew's house. While in Nyanga, the first thing that I noticed about the neighborhood was the sense of community that hovered over the area. We saw kids playing in the streets and adults sitting nearby conversing. This is a stark difference from neighborhoods in the suburbs where families tend to keep to themselves. The kids were quick to run up and want to play games with us and everyone was extremely welcoming.

In Guguletu, we had dinner at a well-known meat restaurant, Mzoli's. The way that it was set up was that there was a butcher shop in the front where you could pick out what meat you wanted to eat and then as you walked through, there were numerous grills before hitting the patio area where everyone was dining. The setting was very informal, comfortable. Loud music blasted from the DJ booth and families and friends gathered around large tables to accommodate guests. In my opinion, the meat was no less than stellar; it was rich in traditional South African seasonings and extremely filling.

Emily with one of the little girls who came to greet us at lunch in Nyanga.

Meat on the grill at Mzoli's.

-Mike

Heaven's Nest- Emily and Yap's Volunteer Site

Kids with Auntie Shireen during school time!

Over the last two weeks I have been able to spend a lot of time volunteering at Heaven’s Nest, a home for children who have been infected or affected by HIV and AIDS, and children who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. The children stay at the home until they can be placed back with family members, fostered or adopted.

Upon arriving there Yap, my partner from class, and I were greeted with smiles and hugs. The children and staff immediately welcomed us and tried to get to know us. Heaven’s Nest is well run by a very knowledgeable staff. These caregivers pour their whole heart in to their job, following the home’s motto, “A child in need is our child indeed.” During our time there we got to work with two different staff groups and with other volunteers. The staff alternates from Auntie Sherieen and Auntie Natasha, to Auntie Janie. All of the women were joys to work with.

It was very educational for me to see the way that assorted cultures approach childcare. From Yap, who grew up in Singapore, to two German volunteers, and the ladies that run the home there were many different types of caring that seem nontraditional to me. This helped to reinforce for me that there are so many ways to care for people and raise children. I was happy to find the local staff singing songs that I remember from childhood and from working at camp. Even though we live miles apart, the children at Heaven’s Nest will have some of the same happy childhood memories that I have.

The days at Heaven’s Nest are set on a schedule to give the kids stability with their daily lives. Before Yap and I arrived at the home the children were usually already fed and dressed. A couple mornings Yap and I helped out with breakfast prep and then eating. After breakfast the kids, no matter how old, have school time. During this time all the children got together and went over basic vocabulary, numbers, alphabet, songs they know, and other mind stimulating activities. This time period if followed by play time outside. While we were there it was very hot. In addition to playing with the children, and pushing them on swings, they were given a couple days that they could spend playing in the pool. After playtime comes lunchtime followed by nap time and bath time. During the down times caregivers catch up on laundry, house chores, food prep, and other tasks that need to be completed to keep the home running.

Heaven’s Nest has been so blessed with support, donations, and volunteers. Beyond childcare, Yap and I were able to assist with laundry, food prep, dishes, organizing, and cleaning. I had a wonderful time getting to know the staff and the children. Maybe someday I will be able to come back and volunteer here again!

Inizamu Yethu: by Abiodun Adesope

Imizamu Yethu
Hout Bay Main Rd. Clinic

This is the health clinic at Mandela’s Park. I do not even know where to begin. I can’t put everything into words. The clinic isn’t that big but it so crowded. OVERCROWDED!!! The clinic as a whole is divided into two main sections. One is the waiting area and the other is the waiting area for the TB patients. There really isn’t much division however. The TB patients wait in a hallway with their masks on, though sometimes it gets so busy that they sit with other patients who do not have TB. I must be honest however; I was overwhelmed at first. It is nothing like I had ever seen before. On our very first day we were put to work.
Jenitta was in the reception room and I was in the triage room. You will never imagine what I did on my first day and how strenuous it was without having a medical background. They call nurses “Sisters”. The sister I was with was not very talkative at first. She did something once and from there on out, I was on my own. On day one, I gave several pregnancies test, STI tests, I weighed babies, and I weighed adults. I took blood pressures, temperatures, saw a real tapeworm (YUCK), and even witnessed a man get his HIV results. Day one was so busy. I was drained. I was not impressed with the sanitation of the health clinic. The sister did not always were gloves when dealing with bodidly fluid. But what schoked me the most was the urine cups. A patient would use a urine cup rinse it and leave it for the next person to use. The things these women do everyday, I could barely handle for one. What I noticed was that no one, and I mean no one, said THANK YOU. The nurses didn’t even acknowledge that I was there. My feelings were hurt, but the reality was that in this field, your job becomes a routine and you never expect a thank you. After day one, I was sure that this would be a very intense experience. I spent the rest on the week dealing with sick patients, HIV babies and TB patients. My first week was rough and I truly felt unappreciated.

The urine cups!!! Petients grab one, use it, rinse it and put it back!!

I went in week 2 with a positive attitude. I was not going to let this defeat me. Surprise Surprise!! These nurses remembered my name and even took the time to talk to me. I tried something different. I worked with HIV patients and watched the nurses draw blood and counsel. This was a different experience. I cried when a 1-month-old baby came in with his mother. He was infected with HIV. This was the first time that I realized how serious what I was doing was. It is one thing to read about HIV but to actually work with people who live and fight the virus is a different experience. The sister talked to me about blood work and CD4 counts. I worked with her that week and I worked hard. You know what she told me for the first time that week, Thank you! She told me that she appreciated what we do and how much it really helped. Hearing that made me feel really good.

This preciuos little girl came in on the day we gave out the dolls and she was attached! So was I!

I left this experience with a great sense of understanding. People hear of Africa and think of how rampant HIV is. What I learned working at this clinic was that- Yes HIV is the disease but having a strong sense of community is the treatment. These people are so close and really believe that it takes a community to raise a child. The sister I was working with mentioned that stigma is our biggest crime in the states. We judge people who are HIV because we know they have it based on their lifestyles. She said that there, in Mandela’s Park, they tell their patients that this must not defeat them. The patients must talk about it and stay adherent with their medications. Freeing yourself from HIV, by talking about it, is the first step and it is what we as Americans lack the most. Without completing step one, step two will be almost impossible. This clinic and the people their have honestly changed my life and my outlook on HIV. These people are really needed by the community and so is this clinic. They prolong so many lives a day and it is truly amazing. I am going back to the U.S. as a changed person and a new perspective on life. I wouldn’t change this experience even though at times I wanted to. No good deed goes unnoticed and now I truly know the value of that saying.

Another baby on the day we took in the dolls that Jan's friend made. They loved it!!

She loved that doll

Observatory by: Anita

The neighborhood that our BEAUTIFUL seventeen bedroom house is located in is called Observatory—called “Obs” by some of the locals for short. The house appears to be very small from the street; the pictures do it no justice! The house is actually three floors with a large living room, dining room, and kitchen. The living and dining room are ideal for group discussions and for dinner together, everyone always has a place to sit.

Our house is just a couple blocks aware from the main street in observatory where many restaurants and shops are. We’re lucky to be very close to the Kwik Spar as well, which is the local grocery store. This comes in handy a lot when we need to pick up bottles of water, snacks, or go to the ATM before we leave for our day. We have a lot of restaurants by us with varying cuisines. We’ve managed to make it to a lot of the restaurants close by because of the excellent food and the convenience!

From the moment we all took our brief walking tour around Observatory, we all got a very good vibe. Observatory is a very diverse neighborhood, complete with students from abroad, people from other parts of Cape Town, and people who were born in South Africa but moved around. Historically, Observatory was one of the few “grey areas” in South Africa. This meant that during apartheid, people of all races and ethnicities were allowed to live together in Observatory. This accepting history seems to be the reason why Observatory is still so diverse today.

The houses around ours are all brightly colored and seem very cheery and welcoming, different from the neutral colors that most houses are in the states. We’re down the road from some homes that other interns can stay at when they come to visit South Africa and have gotten a chance to see a couple of those during our stay here. All in all, our neighborhood has been very inviting and we all feel very safe and have enjoyed our stay in this neighborhood thus far!

Beth Uriel by Kelsey

January 11th, 2010

Tonight we had the pleasure of sharing dinner with some of the family members of Beth Uriel.
“Beth Uriel is home to 26 previously disadvantaged men between the ages of 16 and 24. Each of these men have their own story and have chosen to live in Beth Uriel to better their life. Beth Uriel is committed to the passionate pursuit of independence for each of their family members. With Christian principles and family values at their core, the Beth Uriel family is dedicated to creating opportunities for those who would otherwise have none. Wrestling with issues of poverty, lack of education, and the effects of HIV and AIDS on youth, Beth Uriel aspires to offer comprehensive care in every aspect of their program. Because Beth Uriel is one of only three facilities in Cape Town that caters to youth over the age of 17, they know very well that they may be the only chance that many of these youth have got.” (Beth Uriel flyer)

When we first arrived we met some of the guys and then learned more about the organization from Marielle, who has been a volunteer at the home for 3 years. She explained to us about how the organization was started, how the guys help out within the home, how they make shirts as fundraisers, ect. After having a great question/answer session with Marielle, we had dinner with some of the guys. We were able to learn more about them and what they are doing with their lives. One of the guys sitting next to me has a great passion for music and hopes to come to the United States someday to pursue a music career playing his guitar. Another guy has even recorded his own CD! It was great to hear about their schooling and future plans. We also got a tour of the house and spent a great deal of time in their Me Kasi room. This is where they make all their merchandise. Almost all of us bought a t-shirt or sweatshirt with the special Beth Uriel logo on it. Before leaving, we were entertained by some of the guys. Several of them were singing, drumming, and dancing on the back porch for us! It was fun to see them having such a great time. It was so inspiring to see how Beth Uriel has changed these young men’s lives, and given them hope for the future. Maybe one day we will see a family member of Beth Uriel as South Africa’s President!

*For more information visit their website: www.bethuriel.co.za

Imizamo Yethu by Yap

This is the first township on our itinerary. Imizamo Yethu is located near Hout Bay, where we visited a few days ago on our Cape Peninsula Tour. It is heartbreaking to see how the luxurious houses along the coast and the appalling living conditions of the people coexist in the same area. Our friendly guide Kenny led us through the township. He is part of the committee that helps raise the quality of living for the residents by building brick houses in place of the shacks made of metal plates right now. Throughout the tour I sensed Imizamo Yethu to be a really united and optimistic community, from the enthusiastic children who followed our group, the elderly sitting outside their houses waving to us, and the various amenities in place to help the people like computer labs, clinics etc.
The township is set in a gorgeous backdrop of mountains. We saw 4 public toilet cubicles that 50 families shared. There was a whole load of garbage at the entrance of the township, and residents are employed to clear it.
There was a craft shop opened to sell handmade items made by the residents. There were all sorts of items made of tea bags, like handbags, notebooks, cards, and even a table surface. It is nice that the shop owner came up with this idea so that more residents can gain income.
There have been volunteers from other countries coming to Imizamo Yethu to build brick houses for the residents. There is still a long way to go and many more houses in demand, but it seems that everyone is happy and filled with hope of a better life. We went into a shack occupied by a humble lady and I am impressed by how well-maintained the inside of the house is. I could not have imagined that by seeing the outside of it.
The new brick houses that are being built are well-equipped with a bathroom and two bedrooms. The residents are even given a choice of the color of their house. The community also has a clothing shop, several barbers, church, medical clinics and they look sufficient enough. Near the end of our tour, we saw a plot of barren land that may be used to build amenities like a fast food center as that is what the people want. Overall, I enjoyed the tour and feel really happy that the people there are receiving the help they need.

Cape Point/ The Cape of Good Hope by Arianna

In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck established a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company, today that site is a beautiful hike to the most southwestern point of Africa. We climbed up to the lighthouse and back down and over to catch one of the most breathtaking views on the continent. Along the way we saw a variety of wildlife from lizards to ostriches. The path was narrow, steep, rocky and invigorating. Here are a few snapshots of our voyage to the top.

The most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast with a range of 63 km.

We climbed to the top of the most SouthWestern point of Africa...and then continued to swim to Antarctica!

Our Arrival by Gabrielle

On December 28th, we left Chicago for London. The plane ride was about 8 hours and for many of us, this trip was our first internationally. Some of us were lucky enough to sit by another classmate, but others had to sit by themselves. We were very lucky because we had TVs in our seats and had a great selection of movies, TV shows, and music. I watched the latest Harry Potter movie because I couldn't fall asleep on the plane.

Once we got to London, we went through customs and bought our tickets for the Underground. We had a 12 hour layover and had a few sites picked out that we wanted to see. One of the first things we saw was Big Ben--it was really cool because right when we stepped outside, all we had to do was look up to see it!! We also saw a statue of Nelson Mandela so that got us really excited to get to Cape Town. A lot of us took pictures by the red phone booths and saw our first double decker buses. For lunch, we had to split up into two groups because a lot of the restaurants were either too small or too busy to serve our large group. My group went to a really nice pub. The environment was so relaxed because we got to eat and drink by fireplaces. A lot of people ordered London's staple meal: fish and chips. After lunch, we walked around some more and visited musuems. Overall our layover was great (even with the very cold and rainy weather)!!

We had to head back to the airport 3 hours before our flight left to insure that we would make it through security. This left us a lot of time to explore Heathrow and to get to know everyone better. Many of us walked around Heathrow, checked out the shops, and stopped at the restaurants to get dinner. Once we got back to the airport, all of us were so exhausted and just waiting to get on the plane so we could get some sleep.

Once we were on the plane, I fell asleep the second I sat down and it was some of the best sleep I have ever had! Everyone was able to sleep on our 11 hour flight to Cape Town, but some of us were woken up by a lady sitting in the row behind Brendon. The woman was extremely upset because the man in front of her had his seat back. So instead of asking him to move it up, she decided to hit the back of his seat and eventually started hitting his head. It took a few flight attendants and quite a bit of persuasive talking to get her to calm down. We also had another great selection of movies and music. On this flight I watched 500 Days of Summer and listened to Calvin Harris, David Bowie, and Athlete.

After a long flight, we finally made it to Cape Town! It was so amazing to see the sun and palm trees. Jan was waiting for us, along with a few others that we were excited to get to know. I was also fortunate enough to be reunited with my sister for a few days, who is spending the year studying abroad in Kenya. Our house in the Observatory neighborhood is a quick drive from the airport. During the drive, we saw our first township and the Atlantic Ocean. Our house has quite a few rooms, even though it looks very small on the outside. Ivy, our cook, made us a great welcome meal--it was traditional South African food and was SO delicious. After our meal we headed to the beach. The water was very cold but we still had a great time. We had our first rock climbing adventure on the beach and got to experience a part of Cape Town that a lot of tourists visit. For dinner we went to a restaurant called A Touch of Madness. Jess, Jan's daughter who lives here in South Africa as she earns another degree, works there. It was a delicious meal and we all shared our food so we could get a taste of everything. I had a stuffed mushroom, kudo with chips, and chocolate cake. Kudo is antelope and I though it tasted pretty bitter but other people enjoyed it very much. An interesting fact about the restaurant is that it is haunted and Jess has even seen the ghost that stays there. After we finished dinner, a 4 hour process, we went home happy and full!

We had a great first day in South Africa! :)