Education, AIDS/HIV, and Public Policy

With much anticipation and preparation, we knew that today was going to be emotionally draining. During the morning we walked through the township of Langa and we visited some of schools. After that, we went to the University of the Western Cape (UWC) where we visited the apartheid archives and attended a lecture on HIV and AIDS. We were also given the privilege of visiting a HIV/AIDS hospice, ran by Peter Marais and a local pastor. Following out visit to the hospice, we were invited to Mr. Marais home where his wonderful wife cooked a fantastic traditional African dinner for all of us.

At the township pre-school, we got a chance to interact with the little kids. The youngest children in the school were about 3-4 years old and they did not really understand English, yet they enjoyed giving the group high fives and thumbs-ups. The middle age group was around 5-6, and they were busy working on their drawings and practicing their coloring. The older children in the school ranged from ages 6-7. They were kept busy with the tasks of cutting out pictures, coloring in the lines and learning common phrases of English. Although the children were residents of a very poor township with high rates of unemployment and poverty, it appears that they are receiving a strong education compared to the education of wealth white schools.

While at the University of the Western Cape we spent time touring the campus. Here we visited the Apartheid Exhibit where they archived many artifacts and letters from political prisoners who were imprisoned on Robben Island during apartheid. The letters received and sent by the prisoners had to be censored and much of what had been written was crossed out by prison guards. This practice was implemented in order to control the knowledge that the political prisoners received or messages sent to members of the African National Congress (ANC), who were instrumental in the fight against apartheid. Following our visit to the archives we enjoyed a delightful lunch in ÚWC’s “The Barn”. We were able to eat a “gapsy”, which is a sub-sandwich filled with many different local items. After lunch we attended a lecture about HIV and AIDS led by James Lees. We learned a holistic approach to preventing and treating HIV and AIDS. This lecture prompted a debate among the class. We all had a different perspective on the way society should view and treat AIDS/HIV and this left us pondering what should be the best approach to dealing with such a sensitive and the world’s most important problem. The lecture and discussion was a great lead into our visit to the hospice.

We were very apprehensive about what we would find in the hospice, but the facilities really impressed us. Our group overwhelmingly felt that the Hospice staff provided a strong sense of support, community, and love for their patients. Mr. Peter Marais and Pastor Larry have set up a great way for those affected not only by AIDS, but cancer and TB, to be taken care of in a loving and caring environment.

After the AIDS hospice, Mr. Marais invited us into his home where we had an amazing dinner cooked by Mrs. Marais. We began our visit with Mr. Marais with a question and answer period where Mr. Marais discussed politics and policy. The discussion was vital to understanding some of the complexities that exist in South African society. Preceding our talk with Mr. Marais we enjoyed an evening of the musical talents of Mr. Marais, his daughter, and our fellow classmates. Today had its highs and lows, but overall was very educational and informative. The experience ended on a great note and we want to thank the Marais for welcoming us into their home.