Sunday, July 28, 2019
Learners at United Church School
Apartied ended less than 30 years ago and the country of South Africa 🇿🇦 has come a long ways but there is much to be done. We were the honored guests of United Church School, a Methodist school 🏫 with outstanding matric scores. With limited resources, strong 💪🏾 leadership and energetic learners, this school is creating young people who plan to change the world 🌍. Alex, my ambassador, and his friend Zamantungwa, sat with me during assembly and introduced me to their class: 4b. Mr. Thabani Bhebe was kind enough to host us in his class of 27. The students were full of questions, mostly about sharks 🦈 that might be off the coast of Rhode Island.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
The Power of a Contemporary Witness
During apartheid, groups of people were moved out of large areas or townships to make room for whites. Often these spaces were located close to city centers or in desirable tracks of land. We visited the District 6 Museum where we spoke with a gentleman whose family was moved from that area. Although the space is mostly empty today, and people have proof that they own the land, the government will not return it to them. Mr. Noor did an excellent job explaining his frustration and the hardships that he has experienced since this event back in February 1966.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Empowering Young People through Art
Our first two days have been spent trying to understand how South Africa 🇿🇦 is coping since apartheid ended in 1994. One way communities are addressing the many needs of their young people is through the arts 🎭. In two days we visited the Rainbow 🌈 Academy geared towards 17-21 year olds and two NGO’s: SOZO and the a Butterfly Arts Project located in Vryground. All three programs are working to educate the youth, give them marketable skills, and validation that they are worthy.
Once again, there is POWER in the arts to treat trauma and create futures.
Monday, July 15, 2019
Preparing for South Africa
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