The last stop of our Soweto tour was to an area called Kliptown. We visited an informal settlement. To reach this settlement, we walked through a muddy field until we were greeted by a gentleman who would guide us around the settlement. He advised that three (3) families share one (1) bathroom & that there is no electricity at night. The residents live in tin shacks that are falling apart, as a temporary residence, until the government can build them a home. With the number of homes that must be built, these residents could very well spend the rest of their lives in these dilapidated tin shacks.
From the moment we arrived, we were surrounded by children. The children were excited to have visitors & most came out to greet us. Their clothes were dirty & many of them did not have shoes. They took our hands, hugged us, walked with us, and wanted to be thrown up into the air. They also asked many questions. From the mouths of Kliptown babes:
1. What is your name?
2. How old are you?
3. Where are you from?
4. Do you go to school?
5. Do you pay to go to school?
6. What do you do in America?
7. Are you coming to live here?
8. Do you have business ideas for South Africa?
9. Can I have money?
I went into one of the homes. In this home that was far smaller than our bathrooms, was an older lady & her grandson. Both had a cold & she was struggling with arthritis. The space was neat and orderly. It was evident this small family takes great pride in one another and in what they do have.
After exiting this humble home, the children still wanted to play. We were advised against playing with the children due to various viruses that would be foreign to our systems & harder to fight off. This, however, did not discourage our group. Each one of us continued to hold hands, hug, & answer questions. I think we could have stayed with them for hours, mutually enjoying their smiles, their curiosity, their desire to learn, their innocence, and simply the companionship. .
We had a minimum of four (4) PMBA cohorts represented by 21 students. Many of us didn’t know one another prior to departure & will return to Atlanta with no more knowledge of some than when we started. This aside, what I saw at this informal settlement in Kliptown was a glimpse into the hearts of each of my peers . . . warmth, love, caring, concern, and delight in children – moreover, HOPE.
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