What I expected …
The South Africa trip turned out to be, as I anticipated, an awakening. But the awakening went far beyond my expectations for the experience. I was amazed by many of the things I saw and heard, so amazed that it’s been difficult to pull my thoughts together for the blog while extracting a succinct message. My expectations were to see a country in social and economic transition, to learn from it, and to partake in some great conversations about it.
What I saw …
Everything was an incredible experience from the people in the cities, rural areas, country sides and jungles to the sites and sounds in these same areas. From the businesses, restaurants, museums and homes we visited, to the buses that carried us most of the way, you could hear conversations about hope and despair, beauty and ugliness, death and life, wine and song, reconciliation and apartheid. I did see a country in transition — transforming its financial markets to be globally competitive as well as transforming their laws to provide opportunity for the blacks to participate in business through the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). I participated in great conversations about the contradiction of a nation riddled with extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS as well as a vibrant business system with huge conglomerates that run successful enterprises. And within that contradiction is the underlying power of South Africa—the HOPE of its people. What I learned from my experiences in South Africa I mostly learned from interacting with its people. It is a country that has suffered great social distress, yet, has focused their recovery toward the future, and there is constructive participation, social and economic, from the people and businesses, as well as foreign investors that want to be part of South Africa’s success story.
What I felt …
The paradox of emotions was draining at times. For example when we traveled from the AIDS Hospice in Tapologo to the opulent Sun City in a matter of 20 minutes. This emotional flux kept me concerned, interested, and yet hopeful at the end of the day…because of the people. The people of South Africa are its saving grace. Whether they are desperately poor (by our standards) or wealthy by the same, they all want South Africa to get better. They all want South Africa to rise from the ashes of Apartheid…and I believe they can, will and are well on their way. This is evident in their purpose, in their joy and in their diligence to move forward.
What I hope for the future …
I can’t help to think of Cuba in the middle of this emotional journey through South Africa. I am filled both with ire and hope to someday be able to help Cuba recover from its years of oppression on its people; if the opportunity comes to fruition with the new Obama administration. I can’t help to see the parallels and contrasts between the long years of Apartheid in South Africa and the 50-year Castro government in Cuba. The parallels, the lack of political, economic and religious freedoms, make me hopeful that Cuba can join South Africa one day as an emerging market; that the lessons learned in South Africa can be shared with Cuba to help it climb back up to become, like South Africa, a country full of optimism, expectation, happiness and possibilities. The contrasts, the education and racial caste systems, are the circumstances that require more diligence in South Africa’s recovery. Again, I saw great hope to reconcile the socioeconomic disparities in the Bafokeng nation’s education program, Old Mutual’s financial idols that are trained work with and educate the poorest communities and make them self sufficeint farmers, the BEE, Clover Dairy’s Mama Africa project that provides a matriarchal role model per township to educate the people in those areas. The program promotes child nutrition, health and safety, and, most importantly, self sufficiency through education. Last but not least is Coca-Cola South Africa’s recycling promotion in the schools. This program is not just about teaching kids to recycle; it educates the children regarding environmental and social responsibility at an early age. It engages and challenges them to take care of their communities. It is a catalyst for social change that the children can carry into their lives when they become adults and professionals.
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