No Water?…Really, there’s no water in all of Zonki?!
Yup! Out of all the things I just knew to prepare myself for while living in Zonki for two weeks,I never imagined that the entire township’s tap could be turned off at any moment without a notice…two days in a row and there is NOTHING you can do about it.
I know you all are thinking, “What? You couldn’t drink water?” That was the least of my worries. What I was most concerned about was how 60 children and 10 staff members were supposed to each a starch-filled meals and use toilets that wouldn’t flush. As I rudely found out in the middle of the night…we would just “do it.” LOL. The toilet stories never end.
It’s so funny how during the school year I was used from getting done with one thing while starting the next. The last week of school I was moving out of the dorms, packing up for South Africa, studying for finals, and finalizing all my duties of African American Celebratory’s 7th Annual Graduation Ceremony all at one time.
In Zonki it gets dark at 6:00p, and after then it is absolutely nothing to do but read. Now, I’m fall asleep at about 9:30p…something I didn’t even do in middle school. While us Americans are used always being in a rush to get something “important” done, I realize that we lose a sense of just living. “Boredom,” if it is even justified in being called that, has been one of the most exciting tasks I do each day.
May 19, 2009 (Tuesday) UmtholoUmtholo Primary School (UPS) was the second school I was able to visit here in South Africa. Umtholo translates to “tree,” and the school emblem is a tree growing out a book to symbolize the growth of knowledge and academic achievement.My experience at UPS was very interesting. On one hand I recognize the socio-economic disadvantage this school is facing, but on the other I am extremely critical of the apathy and lack of confidence teachers possess in their students. In one 4th Grade class, the math teacher arrived 40 minute late to an hour class and then kept the students through part of their lunch hour to finish her lesson. While students are required to be to school on time or be locked out until the guard decides to let them in (sometimes it an hour and sometimes it not all day), teachers arrive late to classes and spend a majority of the time punishing students for unfinished work or incorrect answers.I am not at all trying to desensitize the affects of poverty, lack of parenting, poor health care, and the many other hardships these students face that may affect their education. Yet, many of the excelling students I have talked with are highly supported by one or two faculty members that strongly believe in their potential. I am pushing to emphasize the power of one – the power that teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students. No, rather the RESPONSIBILITY teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students that lead to academic engagement.As Mr. Mavundla, a Social Science teacher at Zonkizizwe Primary School, shared, “What I like most about my job is seeing that these students have a strong will to survive through hard times. They come here with happy faces. I did not begin teaching at Zonki Primary School by choice, but I don’t regret being here. The area itself has made me a better person.”*Umtholo students making the most out of life*Phumzile (the young girl that is taking me from school to school) and I*Phumzile and I with a 6th grade class at UmtholoUmtholo Primary School (UPS) was the second school I was able to visit here in South Africa. Umtholo translates to “tree,” and the school emblem is a tree growing out a book to symbolize the growth of knowledge and academic achievement.My experience at UPS was very interesting. On one hand I recognize the socio-economic disadvantage this school is facing, but on the other I am extremely critical of the apathy and lack of confidence teachers possess in their students. In one 4th Grade class, the math teacher arrived 40 minute late to an hour class and then kept the students through part of their lunch hour to finish her lesson. While students are required to be to school on time or be locked out until the guard decides to let them in (sometimes it an hour and sometimes it not all day), teachers arrive late to classes and spend a majority of the time punishing students for unfinished work or incorrect answers.I am not at all trying to desensitize the affects of poverty, lack of parenting, poor health care, and the many other hardships these students face that may affect their education. Yet, many of the excelling students I have talked with are highly supported by one or two faculty members that strongly believe in their potential. I am pushing to emphasize the power of one – the power that teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students. No, rather the RESPONSIBILITY teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students that lead to academic engagement.As Mr. Mavundla, a Social Science teacher at Zonkizizwe Primary School, shared, “What I like most about my job is seeing that these students have a strong will to survive through hard times. They come here with happy faces. I did not begin teaching at Zonki Primary School by choice, but I don’t regret being here. The area itself has made me a better person.”*Umtholo students making the most out of life*Phumzile (the young girl that is taking me from school to school) and I*Phumzile and I with a 6th grade class at Umtholo
As I shared earlier, VVOCF is an orphan care center in Zonkizizwe, a shanty town outside of Johannesburg. It stands for the Tsonga (one of the 11 South African languages) translations of “Our Children’s Future” – Vumunzuku-bya Vana.
As I visit the schools throughout the day, during the afternoon I volunteer at VVOCF working with young children and youth that have been orphaned due to HIV-AIDS. Their stories are amazing. Many of them have overcome hardships that I could never imagine. Some of our youth live in child-led households – meaning no adult lives with them. And anybody in Zonki would tell you, that would have to be hard with the poverty this community faces.
There are many stories to share, but I just want to present one:
Tulani is one of our HIV-positive youth. When his mother became very ill due to AIDS she asked another woman in the community to take care of him; she did not know he was positive because she never tested him. Since then Tulani and his younger sister live with this woman and are regular attendants to VVOCF programming. In this picture Tulani is writing his letter back to his U.S. pen pal. Staff members at the center make sure he is taking is medication regularly, feed him three times a week, and provide Tulani with appropriate, healthy, and consistent adult support. He is truly ONE of our MANY success stories of overcoming the odds.
The various personalities here remind me of many of my friends at home. There are the sassy girls, the smart aleks, the funny kids, the loud mouths…basically we have them all. Through images in the media we are taught to be so “sympatheic,” but removed to young people in need in Africa. But I have learned that is it not just about playing with “poor” kids and making them feel better. It is simply about making connections with other human beings. While I am sure that I have given inspiration or put a smile on one of these young person’s face, they have done much more for me by just being themselves. I have learned so much!
Despite the significant differences of opportunity and access between youth in Zonki and most in the U.S., they inherit a light that is like no other. With empty stomachs they go to school every day. With broken homes they create family amongst themselves. With limited resources many forge their own opportunities. And most of all, through hardships they not only are full of joy, but they spread it.
*VVOCF Children (the little boy writing the letter is Tulani)
So remember when I told the story of almost getting left in the Metro Detroit Airport while beginning to use the restroom? The potty stories don’t stop there.
The first night Lisette and I realized that it got dark around 6pm, and decided to use the restroom so we wouldn’t have to go out in the middle of the night. It was already pitch dark, so all we could do was laugh at how funny it was to use it in the dark, outside. Then the next morning I didn’t realize that the toilet stalls were locked. So I took 3 minutes to practically pull the door as hard as I could, then finally concluded with grabbing a good ole’ bucket in our zozo. Little did I know, the bucket I decided to use had a small crack in it. You can guess the rest….LOL.
That evening the only working toilet broke (today later we discovered it was because some neighborhood kid stuck a 10 lb. “brick” down it. But what was so funny is that the plumber cam out to take a look a dug a 5 feet hole in the ground to get to the pipes. He began digging through them with his bear hands, and it stank. All I could here him saying was “Shit!” And I thought, “Yes, literally.”
*The Toilet (and the washer) *Nomusa dodging the overflowing toilet *Plumber man
Today was my second day visiting Zonkizizwe Primary School. I stayed with Mr. Mavundla all day, and it was a blast. He had a commanding presence and a resonating deep voice that could be mistaken for being aggressive and insensitive, but he was in fact very passionate and caring towards the learning of his students.
I sat in on him giving a 6th grade Social Science lesson on “Poverty and Development” and it was phenomenal. He began by asking the class, “What do you think poverty is?” Student responded with, “lack of education,” “lack of shelter,” “unemployment,” and “lack of food.” He wrote those on one side of a table and on the other column wrote “Development.” “Now,” he asked, “How can we fix these today? You all are sitting here getting an education that will help you for tomorrow, but your parents are suffering today. What can you do today?”
In response to “lack of education,” students noted that the government could build more schools for adults. He chimed in saying that the government could do this through investing more in the Adult Basic Education and Training program. He wrote this on the ‘Development’ column.
In response to lack of shelter, students noted that the governments could build more RDP (Reconciliation Development Program) houses like the ones they already see in their communities.
In response to “unemployment” students said, “Our parents can go get jobs.” Mr. Mavundla said, “Where? There are no jobs. Factories are laying off people all the time. Where will they find jobs?”
The room became silent then he got frustrated because students were not thinking of ways to alleviate unemployment. He yelled, “If your parent does not have a job stand up.” Out of a class of 41, 14 students stood up.
He then yelled, “Now you, you one’s standing up. What can be done today?” One girl standing up said, “Factories can pay less and keep people longer.” He said, “Yes they can do that, but there are people who didn’t even get factory jobs in the first place.”
After more seconds of silence, he referenced the Mbuntu (Sp?) people from ancient South African history. “Who are the Mbuntu people?” he asked the class. “They are our great ancestors. And before the Egyptians and the Chinese they created a civilization. They thought for themselves. They worked for themselves, so must you!” “Go home and tell your parents to be self-sufficient. Don’t go looking for jobs because there aren’t no jobs!”
Lastly, in response to “lack of food” he pointed to a picture of a corn stalk on the wall that was put up for the Natural Science course. He said, “What is that?” The class responded in unison, “Maize.” “And what do we use it for? Do we not make pop (a South African side dish) and maize from it?” “Start planting these damned things in your own back yard!”
I learned a lot from his teaching. Though seemingly “authoritarian” he intended to teach the kids at where they were at. Later when I got a moment to converse with him he shared that he was taught under apartheid at a Teacher’s College for Blacks. “Here we learned how to be practical. While the Whites were at universities learning the philosophy and theory of education, we learned how to teach.”
When I asked what could help him do is job better he said, “Government support and openness to consult with teachers.” This is when I knew that I was on the right track with my interest in Global Urban Education Policy.
*While the kids at VVOCF were eating their meal, I captured an image of an RDP house on the background. The little girl with the pony tail in Black was actually in Mr. Mavundle’s class earlier today.
After getting absolutely no sleep last night I got ready at 7:00am to go to Zonkizizwe Primary School. I was so excited to finally get to sit-in on some classes.
Throughout the day I trailed three Social Science teachers who taught 4th through 6th grades. It was a learning experience. In America, we are often taught that our way of education is the best. Yet, we fail to realize how it takes on a very different purpose in another context. What I thought was so special about the curriculum in Zonki P.S., and the Republic of South Africa (RSA) at large, was that it was built with the purpose to create socially conscious and responsible young people.
The National Curriculum Statement aims read, “1) heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights; 2) improve the quality of life of al citizens and free the potential of each person; 3) lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by the law; and 4) build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.”
Each of these aims is quite commendable. However, as I continue going through my school visits I will see how much schools live up to these standards.
*Mr. Tsotetsi, a phenomenal 4th grade Social Science teacher’s, and his class
WHAT I TRY TO LIVE BY::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"If I died today, I know that I would be okay."
"Skip the eurocentric haters."
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)
"Fantasy is what people want, but reality is what they need. And I've just retired from the fantasy part." - Lauryn Hill (MTV Unplugged 2.0)
"Confusion......Anger......Understanding....Resolution."
"If they only knew love..." -Lauryn Hill (The Passion)
