Farewell to my program

Our last day was supposed to be a free day for us, but Marjorie found a site that we could go to, so I went with 11 of the other to the Nonceba Family Counselling Centre. This is a counseling center in Khayletisha for women and children who are abused (sexually, emotionally or physically). 1 in 3 young girls will be raped before turning 21 in Khayletisha, so a place like this is very much needed. The story behind the center is sad and uplifting: a young woman, Ashley, was working to raise money and awareness for this organization in the 1990s and she was killed by a drunk driver. A memorial fund was set up by the Rotary club of hout bay in Cape Town and shortly after the center was constructed and opened (2008). Don Peters showed us around and spoke to us about the center for awhile. He is amazing, and puts a lot of time and effort into this program. The building is new and beautiful, and the organization sounds like its working really well. Don said that one day he hopes they will have to close shop because there won’t be a need anymore, and that’s a real statement. Like, all this work and money went into this great organization that is doing wonderful work, but on the other hand, it wouldn’t need to be there if rape and abuse weren’t so prevalent in the community. I was glad I got to go on this adventure today, and I hope to bring back the information I learned to share with friends and family and maybe help make a difference here.

This is Ashley

This is Don, with a doll

The building is sustainable!!

Don with the wall of dolls, each child get to pick their own doll when they arrive, during their counselling session. They also get a comfort box: with hygiene products and other nice things

These dolls are all made locally

Karen and the cutest child ever. He spoke Xhosa, which is the most adorable thing for a kid to speak

Playing Catch

The counselling center

Then some of us met up with the coordinators of the UWC peer education group at Mzoli’s, a South African Braai in one of the local townships. This place is huge, and quite popular, among locals and tourists. We drove in on a large van, and I felt a tad out of place driving down the tight streets with a van full of tourists looking out the windows. And then I felt even more out of place as a white person amongst all the locals walking into the place. But after we got a seat it was better, and I realized that people really didn’t care what was happening around them. So this is how braai’s work: you go up to a counter full of freshly butchered meat, pick out how much you want and they braai it for you (or bbq it). Then they bring it to you table on a HUGE platter. It’s crazy. We didn’t go pick out the meat, the UWC people did, and I didn’t partake in the eating of the meat; it was kind of gross actually. But everyone enjoyed it, so I’m happy for them. It was a fun time, and I am glad we got to meet up with the UWCers again. While we were inside hanging out, there were some men outside setting up for a festival tomorrow. They were setting up a stage and tents above it (reminded me of MSA/GPC tech at MU J). So we are watching them for awhile and all of a sudden, the cinderblock wall that was beautifully graffiti-ed  and was serving as a support for the tents, fell over! It was insane. No one was hurt. We left shortly after this extravaganza.

The wall

More wall

the meat platter....

No more wall

We had our farewell dinner tonight as well. It was bittersweet because I am sad our program is ending, but its been a jam packed few weeks so I am kind of ready to take it easy and spend some time reflecting on my experience. Sometimes it’s difficult to reflect while the events are taking place, and while I am in the settings. So I think going home, and really realizing my privilege, will be a humbling experience for me. I do have one more week here, and hopefully we will be able to venture out to UWC again and work with the peer educators, or go to Mitchells Plain to help out again!

After dinner we all went out to go dancing, South African style! We found a dance club walking distance from our hotel and 10 of us ventured off. It was really fun and the dj played a mixture of American dance music and some local music. All the South Africans there had dances for the local songs and they taught us some and included us in the dance circles. It was really cool and I had a great time! I am updating yesterday’s blog now because we didn’t get home til late!