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!