Toluu

When not in Africa. . .

Africa is a land of mystery and wonder; a land of the ancient kingdoms and beginnings of civilization; of untamed, giant beasts; of fascinating peoples and cultures; a beautiful sunset in a picture; a special on the national geographic channel; a battlefield of innocents; tyrants, and neo-colonizers; a vast expanse of poverty, disease, and hunger. Africa is a continent of grand beauty and awe, but also a continent of excruciating pain and strife; a land of death and equally of life.

exploiting whitenessOctober 13

24 May 2008

Saturday - John Metzler's (MSU Professor) study abroad group stopped in the morning to see the center. It is just their first week spent in Pretoria and now on the Durban. It was interesting as usual to throw college kids into the harsh environment of the informal settlement especially during violent times. They talked with some of the older kids from the center and went on a walking tour to see some schools, the library, clinic #2 and everything in between. Some of the MSU students had good questions - some did not.

When they left (John was sure to check if we had an "exit strategy" - xenophobia) we planned on relaxing with the older kids until China sauntered up - again called me Mr. Napoleon Hill and inquired if we were ready for church. We all were very reluctant to go (somewhat interested) mostly because he planned the day without consulting us. Needless to say the Church of the Nazarean is far from a traditional African take on Christianity or a remnant of colonial legacy. Founded by their prophet in 1920, after he saved Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) from a tsunami - depicted on the front of a prayer book and based on Exodus 35 (keep holy the Sabbath) with your cars, cell phones, and portable music players. It turns out after three and a half hours (we were told 45 minutes) the "temple" of the Nazareans was a hot tourist spot in Zonke and we were encouraged (somewhat forcefully) to take pictures and there was an expectation to donate to the off

definition of development (revisited): beauty in the palm of your handOctober 6

Last summer I wrote about the definition of development after having a conversation with an incredible Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana who was really making the most of his time and abilities. The conversation that we had really made me think about the term 'development' and what it really means. Before that conversation and since I have been working to create my own definition, or rather I have been working to make the term stand for what I believe development should be all about.

This is what I wrote from Ghana on 7 June 2007:

This discussion with Alex really made me think about 'development' as the word was thrown around a lot that night. Alex has said that he really likes the Peace Corps model because it deals with integration. A volunteer is placed in a village or area and works with the people to improve their situation. This as opposed to some large organization or institution just giving out money to big plans they believe will work. But, what is the definition of development? Who gets to determine what development is? Who is allowed to call one developed or developing or underdeveloped? Is development all based on a desire or push to become Western? Yes, I think in the very recent past it was and really still is to a degree, but for me development holds a different definition. Dev

community organizing as an outsiderSeptember 15

Previous posting and following day's entries: eruptions from fault lines: race is class

19 May 2008

Nothing seems weird to me (as many might think it should). As I look out across the settlement, across rows of RDP housing and sheet metal 'peoples' housing, across the open hazy sky dotted by tall, almost prison-like lights, across a silence broken only by crickets, the occasional rooster and the fighting dogs - nothing seems odd or out of place. Nothing screams at me, "you should not be here!" Yet again I feel "at home" in an African community abroad, and I can't help but ponder, why? Is my family and home so bad? Is the USA so undesirable? Is there a welcoming atmosphere here that I am overtaken? The question remains unanswered, but will gain an answer as I open dialogue with my family when I return.

the dilemma of organizing
The difficulties of community organizing as an American 'developed' worlder: when is it ok to step in on community decision making? when is it ok to correct obvious, but mis-taught information - and how do you approach the correcting process? when is ti too over-reaching to make suggestions and execute programs? Evaluate!

We went to the library today - very nicely built, small inside, very slow internet, very very slow. . .

Vumundzuku-bya Vana 'Our Children's Future'
the children are the future and

steel villages and concrete fencesAugust 30

13 May 2008

Everyone waves from their steel-corrugated shacks, children smile and get excited, parents and elders are welcoming - looking out over the shanty town roof tops that extend as far as the eye can see in each direction you can't help but wonder that within this poverty and desolation mixed with laughter and happiness - what potential can be harnessed, what community action can be inspired to make South Africa's future brighter by and for those who live here.

The government built lavatories and sinks for the informal settlement so sanitation is good. They provide building materials for brick houses through the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP), but where are the education improvements? the health support? the food subsidies? A government can't do it all and so places like VVOCF exist!

This all made me think more about the African health worker crisis as I see the direct result of it, the effectiveness of government funded healthcare, and the access to nutritional information and education.

15 May 2008 - The Barking Dogs

It is never quiet here. There is always noise during the day; children going to school, women cooking and cleaning, traffic outside, chickens, men arguing, whistling, people gambling, anything - and especially Zonke lights up after school and work; loud music, flying kites, children running around everywhere at the center, adults trying to relax with friends and relatives - and then t

agency in community developmentAugust 29

Previous entry: a first glimpse: zonke

13 May 2008

South Africa is much the same and different as many African countries that I have visited. Same in the sense of the smell of burning oil and gasoline, shipping containers as buildings, the red dirt, the friendly people, passenger vans as taxis, crazy driving, dogs for security, chickens and goats roaming everywhere, and the seemingly common practice of taking things as they come. The differences and nuances come in the country's history - white minority oppressive rule. White people are not unheard of in this area of Africa and South Africa specifically - uncommon, but not unseen. You get a sense that you are always being watched, but in a different way than what may be experienced in other African countries without such a history. It is more of a, "why are you here" look instead of the, "oh! You are white." The history of white oppression and the current issue of white organizations taking away from the communities makes the dynamic similar in skepticism, but different in why.

Today there was a meeting of the parents and guardians of the children at the center. I was not surprised to see that the majority of the guardians in attendance were women. The meeting was excellent in that it is incorporating the families and parents with the work of the center, since everyone is working towards the same goal - the children'