Over the weekend, we visited the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Thanks to our fabulous guide Prakesh, we rubbed noses with impalas, giraffes, rhinos, elephants, lions, baboons, and many other exciting creatures!
Left to right: Chris, Kit, Pauline, Jacob, LubabaloEarly in the week, we met with Pauline at the Tokologo Self Help Centre in Soweto (the largest township in South Africa). We created several resources for the Centre's residents to help with finding employment. Furthermore, we worked to assist in the development of a sustainable centre that would support residents through businesses on-site (laundry mat, store, newspaper office, etc).
We took time out of our schedule to visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto. Hector Pieterson was killed on June 16, 1976, at the age of 12 as he protested the implementation of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in South African schools. The memorial remembers resistance acts against (specifically the Soweto Uprising) the brutal Apartheid government.
Left to right: Kit, Lubabalo, Kepi, Justice, and ChrisOne of the highlights of our week was a trip to the Hauteng North Digital Village. Each week, Kepi and Justice provide basic computer training for people with disabilities. They assist their students with resume development and maintain a resume database to connect their students with jobs. We spent our time at Hauteng North learning more about the center and making several suggestions to improve the efficiency and quality of the database.
Thank you so much for posting these great pictures and entries- I'm learning so much more about South Africa from reading these!
ReplyDeleteNext time I am packing away in a suitcase and coming with. These pictures and stories are incredible.
ReplyDeleteThank you for describing Hector Pieterson. His story demonstrates that heros act in the pursuit of justice, no matter their age. Amazing heroism for such a young individual.
ReplyDeleteLoved your pictures and stories. Loved your work at the Hauteng Digital Village! South Africa has such an interesting and volatile history--makes for a very interesting landscape of disability issues. I'm learning a lot from your blogs! Thanks
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you have the opportunity to experience different aspects of South Africa (not only the disability dimension but also nature and history)! If possible, I would love to hear more about the resources for employment you created at the Tokologo Self Help Centre in Soweto in a future post!
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