At the Center

May 18, 2009 (Monday)

At the Center

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)

Potty Talk

May 15, 2009 (Friday) – Part II
Potty Talk

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

Mr. Mavundla

May 15, 2009 (Friday) – Part I
Mr. Mavundla

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.

First day in the schools

May 14, 2009 (Thursday)
First day in the schools

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

A Lesson on Getting No Sleep

May 13, 2009 (Wednesday) – Part II
A Lesson on Getting No Sleep

If you ever wondered how you can stay up and alert all night…..ask Lisette and I.

So it was around 10:00p (note that around 6p it is pitch dark outside, so at 10p we were already half asleep in bed). We heard a loud thumb against one of the homes around us, then we heard Spe (Nomusa’s oldest boy) yell a terrifying “Ahhhhhhh!!!!! Mommmaaa!!!!” Lisette and I jumped out of bed, being socialized within a culture of fear of Africa (thanks to Universal Studios, Third Grade History, and Blood Diamond) we immediately jumped out the bed with alarming heart rates.
As I peaked out the window I saw two young men walking towards our zozo (the name of the type of house in which we sleep in), and I just knew they were coming for us (thanks again US for helping us have an exaggerated since of self-importance).
So, we stayed up all night and watched the window and noted every single pop, crack, and thumb in a mile radius. I remember telling Lisette around 1am in the morning, “This will be funny tomorrow.” She said, “Yea, but it’s not funny yet.” I thought, “Yea, she’s right.”

In Zonki I am White, Indian, and Black….at the same time

May 13, 2009 (Wednesday) – Part I
In Zonki I am White, Indian, and Black….at the same time

Never in my life was I ever considered “White”, but on my way to visit Umtholo, one of the local primary schools, I was WHITE. LOL. When Lisette (considered Indian in US) and I (considered Black in US) were called “white twins” I laughed. Lisette said, “It’s so funny how race is different depending on what country you are in. It shows how it is so systematically constructed in South Africa and in the US.”

Just to show how relative it is, two minutes later I was Indian when some men asked how much I could be bought for. LOL….ok, not that funny.

I thought maybe my face had changes since I hadn’t looked in a mirror since I was at the Amsterdam Airport. I had to take a picture of myself just to make sure.

In Zonki I am White, Indian, and Black….at the same time; it just depends on how you look at me. (MRULE in action. Gotta love it!)

*The picture I took of myself to make sure my face hadn’t changed

VVOCF Staff

May 12, 2009 (Tuesday)
VVOCF Staff

Yesterday we arrived to VVOCF with tons of supplies in our 50-pound suitcases. We brought new t-shirts for staff. They loved them.

The staff at VVOCF are amazing. These young women and men are community volunteers that lend five days a week to helping the orphans who have been disadvantaged by aids.
They young woman on the far right with the little baby (Sneh) is Sister Nomusa. She is the CEO of VVOCF. As a young woman she was diagnosed with HIV. It is amazing to see her resilience and strength in fighting for the lives of others. She truly is an inspiration.

First day at Zonki!

May 11, 2009
First day at Zonki!

Zonkizizwe is village located an hour outside of Jo’burg (the slang word used for Johannesburg, South Africa). “Zonkizizwe” translates to “Many Nations.” It is inhabited by people from various South African tribes.

It is considered a “shanty town” because it is poverty-stricken due to the negligence it faced during apartheid. This are is estimated at having a 40% HIV-AIDS rate.

Here we are working with VVOCF, Vumunzuku-bya Vana – Our Children’s Future, a community center for youth in Zonki. This center provides adult care and attention to youth orphaned due to parents dying of AIDS. South Africa has the largest percentage of individuals with the disease, and with insufficient health care and lack of knowledge about rights and resources concerning HIV-AIDS, many adults have passed, leaving their young ones to fit for themselves.

On the first day I arrived children came to the center to welcome us. They sang us a beautiful song and we had a little dance-off!

*This is a picture of the young people gathering inside the center

We almost missed the airplane!

May 9, 2009 (Saturday)
We almost missed the airplane!

On the way to Amsterdam, Lisette (the MSU intern that I am traveling with) and I almost missed the plane. I know you are probably asking, “Why? Didn’t you arrive to the airport 3 hours before take off?” Yes, we did. But we…well, I…was so busy getting food in my stomach that we estimated more time than we actually had. While we were walking into the bathroom stalls we heard, “This is the final call for boarding for NW flight to Amsterdam. Passengers Lisette D. and Courtney H. please report to check-in immediately!”

This began the journey of our interesting bathroom adventures. LoLz :D

*Lisette and I

Before Take-Off (Thursday)

Two days before I left for South Africa I got the opportunity to meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He spoke as the 2009 MSU Commencement speaker, and a few students who have done work or research in South Africa was chosen to meet him.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was instrumental in establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Africa after the official demise of apartheid in South Africa.

*Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the MSU Cowles House