back to school • 18 comments • The last place we visited during our township tour was a day care/elementary school. This school is funded by school fees paid by parents in the township, and is considerably larger and more modernized than the school in the informal area of the township. The kids who were playing outside came and pressed themselves up against the window when they saw us. They seem to have this secret "thumb-shake", whereby they come and put their thumb against yours. We weren't fortunate enough to meet the kids while they were in class, since they were either napping or cleaning up their toys. We seemed to be joining them around lunch time. Their lunch was prepared with wholesome, locally sourced ingredients, and looked healthier than anything we've ever seen served in a school. The children were notably well behaved. Before we left, the all got together and sang us a few songs, and inundated us with high-fives.
golden • 20 comments • The flower, pictured above, is made entirely of recycled cans by Khayelitsha resident, Golden Nongawuza. Our tour took us into Golden's workshop/gallery/home, where he treated us to a step-by-step demonstration of his technique for building one of his signature flowers. Years ago, while struggling to find work, Golden claims to have been sent a message from God, through his dreams, to find a solution to his poverty in a junkyard. Using aluminum cans, he started making a variety of flowers for tourists. As his technique has improved, so has his creativity. Sunflowers, roses, lilies, are a small sample of the variety of flowers on display in his workshop. Golden has earned enough from his flowers to send all his daughters to school, even though he himself struggles to read. He is assisted in his workshop by his daughter who opted not to go to school. The small space is filled with cans and paint supplies in addition to postcards and letters from fans all over the globe. He also has several posters of Obama on his walls! Golden and his family continue to live in Khayelitsha and fabricate the flowers. His English is limited, but he loves visitors from around the world.
kids of khayelitsha • 23 comments • We visited one of the largest townships in Cape Town and we'll be posting about experiences, in Khayelitsha, over the next few days. All of the children were so excited to follow us around, asking us to taking photos and then demanding to see the camera screens. It seemed like some of the girls had been watching too much Top Model because they were actually posing for the cameras. The kids especially liked Alex and one little boy wouldn't let go of his hand the entire time we were there.
