29/5

We woke early (7:45) to head to the University of Western Cape. Today was spent meeting the research team, acquainting ourselves with the Uni, getting visitors passes, and getting the tour of Khayelitsha.

Before heading to the Uni we picked up a PhD candidate studying under Thandi in Langa, the first township. Most of the houses were formal residences, and while the level of poverty seemed shocking at the time, looking back it was fairly nice. The homes were permanent, which is more to say than most other townships. Since it had been established there for so long it had had time evolve into a community.

Afterwards, we drove by the airport and FINALLY PICKED UP MY LUGGAGE!!! YAAAAAAAAAY. I had been wearing dirty dirty clothes, living in the same pair of pants I flew in for the past few days. I purchased cheap shirts to change into, but it was sooooooooo nice to finally have my stuff, my toiletries, my socks.

The University is nestled in the trees off a main road. The campus itself is very nice, all brick building, separated into two main areas. A masters student from Rwanda who spent his undergraduate in Zimbabwe showed us around, bought us tea, and shared an hour of conversation. We returned to the Public Health building and met Sybil, the woman who would be translating at the health clinic for us. We jumped in her car and she drove us around Khayelitsha, drove us by the two clinics, and up to Lookout Hill where we could see all of the township plus some.

I am not quite sure how to describe my initial reaction to Khayelitsha. I had imagined rural-esque huts with dirt roads and tumble weeds rolling across them, with infants running naked, flies everywhere, the kind of poverty and hopelessness you see on T.V. This could not be farther from the truth. Khayelitsha is a HUGE, bustling community. Though people live there awaiting permanent residence, most have made the most of their situation. Each child attends school, beginning with pre-primary through to secondary. The Universities around the city volunteer in the ‘high schools’ and mentor the students through college, career choice, etc. Vegetable gardens are scattered throughout, established by members who could not afford to buy fresh food, now a symbol of the sense of determination to have a better life that fills each of my senses.  A community center at the base of lookout hill draws parents and families for arts and crafts, which are then sold at the Waterfront to tourists and locals alike, town meetings to discuss shortcomings and possible improvements, and health and safety seminars (when we passed, a class was being held for all primary school teachers to learn health tips for their classes, including hand washing, and HIV risk and prevention. Posters were passed out afterwards for them to hang in their classrooms). NGO’s had set up “Hope Centers” throughout with day clinics, HIV clinics, counseling centers and more in one centrally located place. Government municipal buildings were scattered throughout, the country’s attempt at acknowledging this demographics existence. Some of the families had made their homes into shops, selling chips, gum, drinks, candy, basic things. Others had turned their residences into meat markets, cutting, cooking, and selling outside their front door (including sheep heads!). People were hanging out outside, watching the street from seats, walking, listening to music, playing soccer. It was so motivating to see poverty such that I could only have imagined and to be able to walk away with feelings of hope and change.

There are two health clubs, one for Side A and one for Side C. We will be working on Side A, which meets Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two CHW’s manage the clinic, with about 53 members. It is located next to a primary school, which was just letting out as we pulled up. The children all waved enthusiastically as they were met by older siblings to walk them home. The clinic was much bigger than I had imagined. It consists of an entry hallways, with bathrooms on each side, and a doorway to the kitchen. It then opens into a large great room with posters lining the walls. A bar area links the kitchen and main room wall. Plastic furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, probably allowing for exercise. We met the CHW’s briefly (SiSi and Madge) then continued on our tour. We will return here next Thursday and meet the members for the first time.

After the township we went back to UWC and set up our visitor passes and Internet rights before going home for the evening.