The beautiful city of Cape Town was our third stop of our month long work in South Africa. It was amazing to see the tall Table Mountains tower over the city, while the Atlantic Ocean washed the coastline. The trip would be significantly short giving us a small holiday from our hard work at the University of Zululand and the schools of Cato Crest and Mayville. Although we were on holiday, we still held one day of teaching to twelve Red Cross HIV home care workers, and six peer facilitators. Instead of teaching, we visited historical sites such as District Six and Robben Island to gain more understanding of the history of South Africa and the effects left by the Apartheid System. During our stay here we have been blessed with many memorable experiences, being in the presence of living history.
The District Six Museum was an emotional visit. We met a man named Mr. Joe Schaffers, who lived during the displacement of all colored people living in an area called District Six. His stories and eye witness accounts were powerful, and brought history to life. Mr. Schaffers stated how people were not fighting about the better race, but rather how they were all trying to fight the oppressive system of apartheid. He did not exhibit any anger towards the white race but rather how the system prevented him from living his own life.
The next day was followed by a tour on Robben Island. Everyone had this sense of excitement and anxiety to finally visit a place we have read about in Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, “A Long Walk to Freedom.” We were led by an ex-prisoner, Mr. Derek Basson, who was charged with sabotage at the age of seventeen.
Our Robben Island experience came full circle as we met Mr.Ahmed Kathrada. I was surprised to be meeting a person who impacted the formation of the New South Africa, and was a leader along the side of Nelson Mandela against Apartheid. We were privileged and blessed to have the opportunity for Mr. Kathrada to take time out of his schedule to meet us. As he talked with us, he never exhibited any resentment of the adversity he experienced but how the others outside the prison suffered more.
These opportunities of meeting different historical figures, whether great or small, have inspired us in our work with the HIV module as well as our own work at the University of Michigan. Their experiences encourage us to fight the social injustices affecting our communities locally, nationally, or globally. Through their stories we are able to learn from the past, apply it to the present and hope for a better future.
Signing off,
Jerry Ilar- Teammate of the Pedagogy of Action
The group at Shakaland
Bharat is the only student missing since he insisted on taking the picture with his camera :)
Week 1 - Unizul
Mama Gugu, Nesha, Mama Zethu
Introductory Meeting
A meeting with the Rector of Unizul
We visited Shakaland, a traditional Zulu Village, and were learning about the structure in this picture
We headed to Mtunzini Beach for some fun in the sun after a long week of travel and meetings
Even though it was a day off, we did not forget our Pedagogy!
A group of students learning the module at the University of Zululand
We were just coming back from our first day of teaching!
Bharat, Christina, Lydia and Lys with a group of our students
Step Routine by Zakiyah, Erika and Brown that we performed for the graduation ceremony
Some of our students and their certificates
Our four wonderful assistants presenting Mama Gugu with a gift
Right before we got on the bus to Durban
Week 2 - Durban
Our welcome sign at the Rainsgrove Lodge
Marissa, Jerry, Erika and students at Mayville Primary
Erika and her students at Mayville
Brown and his students at Cato Crest Primary
Cato Crest students and their certificates for doing a great job!
Week 3 - Cape Town
On Robben Eiland
We met Mr. Ahmed Kathrada, who spent 26 years in prison fighting for the new South Africa, and his former warden after our tour of Robben Eiland
Mr. Kathrada's quote
The building where Nelson Mandela gave his first speech after getting out of prison
Cape Point
Cape of Good Hope, the most South Eastern Point of Africa!
Pedagogy of Action Ladies Posing at the most Southern Tip of Africa! (Where was Lydia?!)
Week 4 - Johannesburg
A student teaching back the module in Pidgin English at University of Witwatersrand
Nesha, Lebethe and Gita handing out certificates at the Wits graduation
The Crest of the Constitutional Court, which represents the traditional way that rules were made in South Africa, under trees.
Inside the Consitutional Court