Our 4th day in Cape Town began with a trip to St. Anthony’s pre-school where the young students were happy to receive us, “the white people are here, the white people are here.” They greeted us with morning grace and their national anthem; they were full of hugs, high-fives and eager to put on a show for our mesmerizing cameras. We spent some more time in the townships, supported local artists who profits go directly back into enriching children’s’ activities within the community and discussing our feelings. To continue our emersion in South Africa’s education system we went to a public R-8 school where we discussed with the Principal curriculums, funding or lack-there-of, academics, nutrition and the many other challenges faced in educational institutions. One of the most striking facts was that the school which already has an average of 54 students per classroom (with only one teacher) has to continually turn many away during enrollment times. Although education is compulsory, many require dues, uniforms that have to be supplied by families and transportation, as bussing is unheard-of---all which can be difficult. Children begin learning Khosa (in this community), or their native tongue, in the primary grades then they learn English and Afrikaans from third grade up. There is standardized testing for third and sixth grade on mathematics and the languages and the government is continually reforming curriculum guidelines as well as teacher. At this particular school the Principal explained how one to two students in every class are living with HIV/AIDS and many more have lost both of their parents.
We continued to see the effects of HIV/AIDS as we visited a Hospice, impacting everyone in the group, as this issue which often gets swept under the rug in America is quite the blatant pandemic, in South Africa, that cannot be ignored. Any notions we had of this country, our expedition in it and our places in this world were thrown by the wayside…we were not prepared. The positive attitude and unrelenting faith of the gentleman running the Hospice had clearly impacted the success of the organization. After a few deep breaths and a few tears Professor Summers and Toni explained to us all that the full experience of this foreign country is not only seeing the beautiful and historical sites but experiencing the reality of the extremes that are joy and sorrow.
Another issue is the communities wrought with addictions, which affect children as young as six. Three years, eight months, and five days—the distance between one man’s addiction and his sobriety. A man with a kind face but timid speaking voice (at first) ushered us through a rehabilitation center that he himself once called a haven. Drug dealer turned community ma, he barely acknowledges the sacrifices he makes daily: staying past hours, accompanying anyone to his or her place of worship, and adding any heart he feels necessary to keep this institution alive. He reasoned, with simplicity but severity, that the home needs to keep going. Not only do they have tertiary care but they also implemented some preventative measures that take shape in drug abuse programs at local schools and various support groups.
South African youth of all backgrounds shine at universities like University of Western Cape. What was a historically Colored university (because of apartheid) now welcomes all; it now draws students from across the globe. One could confuse its campus with any American college. UWC has a vision for an even brighter future: a state of the art science building and continued work in their Mayibuye Center—an archival research institute dedicated to shedding light on the freedom struggle. After a student guided tour, we experienced the talented faculty first hand. A lecture from Dr. Lees impressed upon us the broad-range of issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He impressed upon us the importance of, not only treating the people with the virus, but also, healing the culture that allows it to continue to spread. Providing some staggering statistics, he shared the fact that the current life span in Canada has now increased to 80 years while Sub-Saharan Africa simultaneously decreased to 40 years. Dr. Lees challenged us with the ever-important question of, “How do you heal a nation?” In his opinion the only way to decelerate the spread of the disease is to change the mentality of those who are most likely to spread it.
Former Premier of the Western Cape, Peter Marais, spoke candidly with all of us, within his home, as to the current state of affairs not only in South Africa but the United States and the other countries competing for power. He addressed the various issues of prominence currently plaguing the globe and South Africa from health care to economics and his message repeated the message of “Educate! Educate! Educate!” This former politician understands the value of ensuring civically responsible adults are the products of our schools and the fact that these students (as well as the current mass of un-skilled laborers) need to be able to actively participate in the working world. He answered our questions and brought many issues such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic into another perspective for us to digest. The continued guidance and support of Magdalene and Toni has answered many of our auxiliary questions and made us feel although we are truly getting a taste of this way of life which is so different from any of ours back home in the states.
The truth we have met at every turn in this sobering journey has been the fact that people are the reason for the success stories. Those devoted, passionate leaders who refuse to let all the statistics, all the hardship, and all the pain break them—they are the heroes. They are the ones who are determined to heal the trauma accumulated by 350 years of colonialism and 60 years of apartheid and unite a new, successful, progressive South Africa.
